The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-05-05
g.: ;:::: ~ FARM PAGE 80
CONTROL OF INSECTS ONE o d. F."
OF COUNTY'S BIG PR OBI EMS
.Frisbie Cautions I Against
Delay in Spraying
...>,. Program g1a,>.
By E. T. FRISBIE

In recent years the great in
crease in the number Of different
Iinds Of insects, and the serious
ness of the insect attacks have
made the fighting Of insects one
Of our greatest problems in Hen
dcrson county. Today the farmer
must be a master OF insects if ne
IS to make profit from most Of
om. truck crops year IN and year
out. ...
MANY thousands of dollars are
sDent in this county each year for
spray materials TO combat insect
rests. However, if we did not
practice control measures thai we
do we would have to abandon the
growing Of some of our most
profitable crops, or receive redu2--
ed returns from lower yields, and
poorer quality Of products to be
but on the market.
For the purpose of control m
sccts are divided in two classes
chewing and sucking. Tho chew
inc insect group makes up the
larger number Of our insect pests
in the county. This class Of in
sects does a greater part of our
damage. The Mexican bean beetle,
Colorado potato beetle. pickle
worm, cabbage worm. and cut
worms are our most important in
sects Of truck crops belonging to
the chewing class. Our most M
portant sucking insects are: iIar-
icqum cabbage bug, OF Fire
Bug" aphids, or "Plant Lice" tie
squash bug and a few others.
The chewing insects are so
grouped because they all have
chewing mouth parts. They bite
off portions of the foliage OF
plants. chew it up and swallow it..
This class of insects may be con-
trolled by one of the following
stomach poisOns. Arsenatc Of
lead, calcium arscnate, dutoX, or
barici de. Care must be used IN
the preparation and use of these
materials as they are deadly poi
son to people as we'll as insects:
The use of too much arsenate OF
lead or calcium arsenate Will
cause a burning of the leaves OF
plants. These two materials are
not very highly recommended for
use on beans as they burn the
leaves badly. To insure safety in
the use Of the stomach poisons the
directions for use should be care
fully followed.
Sucking insects are different
from the chewcrs in that they
have a sharp beak or bill. They
pierce the leaves or tender shoots
of the plant and feed on the sap
of the plant. Since these insects
do not eat the plant they cannot
be killed by a stomach poison, but
must be killed by some agent that
kills by contact with the insect.
Nicotine sulfate, or "Black Leaf
Forty" strong solutions Of soap
suds, and oil emulsions are our
best contact sprays.
Clean cultivation of crops, the
destruction of the remains Of a
crop after harvest, and the clean
ing up of fence rows and rubbish
will help in the control of all
forms of insect life. Most of our
insects pass the winter in the
adult stage under rubbish and
trash, or in the residues left from
crops. A systematic destruction
of these natural hiding places will
reduce the number of insects to
attack next years crop.
All insect outbreaks can be
more easily controlled if vigor-
Gus control program is put under
way as soon as the insects appear
in the spring. To delay starting
the spraying program means a loss
to the farmer. If the insects get
a good start it will require more
labor and materials before the
outbreak is checked, and there
will be a big decrease in the yields
of the crop also. The quality of
the crop is often lowered by in
sect damage. .'.":t.
Trap crops are frequently used
to good advantage in the control
of insects. A few rows of turnips,
mustard or kale planted on the
side of the cabbage patch is a help
in the control of the "Fire Bug"
The "Fire Bug" is very fond of
these crops and will collect to feed
on them before they eat the cab
bage. They may be controlled by
spraying with kerosene, or de-
stroying by hand. ,r.
To summarize the control of in
sects we have the following point:
First, Know the insects, their
habits and injuries.
Second, Practice clean cultiva-
ton. .''. ...'
Third, Destroy crop residues.
Fourth, Frequent applications
of the proper material for the
crop and insect.
Fifth, Follow directions care
fully. ....' Oh, ..''i ".-. ..H.
Sixth, Keep all sprays away
from reach of children.