The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1949-09-02

AqeMt...
By LAWRENCE I. BROWN
County Extension agent

especially, who have been gett.
ing termination and purity ana
|lysis tests run on samples Of their
seed this year. I'm sure the work
Of the Crop Improvement associa-
ton have had much to do with
this increased interest.
Members of the county associ.
alton will be visiting wheat
growers again, soon, to pick up
samples of their seed wheat.
These samples will be sent to
the laboratory for analysis. They
will also be planted in plots to
check their growth under similar
field conditions!
Anyone wanting an analysis
Of their seed can obtain one by
sending a sample Cat least 500
grams) to the seed laboratory,
Washington State college, Pull
man.
The cereal seed distribution
committee Of the county crop i'm.
provement association will be
meeting the second week Of Sep.
TENDER. Anyone wanting foun.
dation or certified RE seed
wheat should get their applica.
ton in Immediately.
KEEPING SPRING IN LATE
SUMMER LAWNS
Lots of water and occasional
moving aren't all the attention
needed by the home lawn In late
summer.
The average lawn has gone
into q summer slump during the
time the family might enjoy 1t
most, and lots of water just
seems to help the weeds. Most
folks hesitate to use commercial
fertilizer in the summer for fear
Of burning the grass and having
it look worse.
But a new product which both
weeds and feeds the grass has
arrived on the market, and both
the Department of Agriculture
and the u. 8. Golf association
have shown its practical value.
The product is a combination Of
fertilizer and 2,4.D in powder
form and is used dry. It has
been found safe in hot weather
and even on bent grass. Watering
should be avoided the day it Is
applied. It will Suppress clover
temporarily but will not kill it.
Heavy shade on lawns is aro-
Their August problem. If the area
gets three or four hours Of sun.
shine a day a special shade seed
is not needed. If it gets less sun
shine, then seed which tolerates
reduced sunlight, is advisable.
It's we'll to watch the soil mo.
isture under trees. That's be-.
cause protection from the sun
reduces evaporation. The upper
inch or so of soil may remain
relatively moist while the under
soil may be dried severely by
the trees roots. AS a result, the
tree may not be getting enough
water because trees roots are in.
side the area protected from rains
by the branches and leaves.
BEETLE BoRER THREATENING
Now's the time to inspect trees
for possible shot.hole borer dam.
age. "a
The destructive tiny black
beetle has been unusually &C.
tive this season, attacking stone
fruit trees weakened by winter
injury. The borer has been found
generally throughout orchard
areas. Types preferred by the
borer include cherries, peaches,
prunes and apricots. Apple and
pear trees are also likely to be
attacked. ..
The small beetle tunnels under
the cambium or first layer Of
bark and lays its eggs in the
tunnels. The eggs hatch into lar.
vac which overwinter under the
bark. The tunneling may kill
the limb, and even the tree II
the infestation Is heavy enough.
Control measures must be ap.
piled to the adult beetles, since
the xrubs in the wood cannot be
reached. ......... -..s
The adult beetles have been
emerging and that the peak OF
emergencies would probably be
reached In several weeks. The
tiny black beetles, measuring
about one.eighth inch in length,
can be seen on twigs. =
Growers should carefully OBJ.
serve weakened trees for indi.
| cations Of damage by this insect.
II attacked, the tree will show
shot holes In the twigs and
branches, often around the buds.
The small, round holes are about
arapeshot or BIB size.
That first step In control Is
sanitation. Removal of all in.
tested twigs and branches Is
urged. The dead limbs, branches
and twiRs should be taken out
Of the orchard and burned. To
control the adult beetle, spray
thoroughly with DOT immedi.
ately following harvest.