The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1949-06-30

trolling peach tree borer, the
most important pest of peach
growers, now are available in
circular form at the county ex.
tension office. The information is
In the form of an experiment sta
lions circular written by Edward
w. Anthem. assistant entomolO-
gist at the Tree Fruit experiment
station, Wenatchee.
Borer injury is recognized by a
jelly-like gum mixed with dirt
and small pellets or refuse ex.
creted by the borers at the ground
level. The larvae feed on the soft
inner bark at the base of the
trunk or on the adjacent roots,
seriously injuring and often kill
ing the trees. Now is the time to
watch for evidence of infesta-
ton.
Propylene dichloride is the
preferred, material to use In kill
ing the borer. This material has
been used experimentally only
on peach trees three years and
older and therefore its use on
younger trees would be entirely
on the growers own risk.
Growers with only a few trees
should purchase a commercial
preparation of the propylene di.
chloride emulsion rather than
prepare his own unless he has
quite a few trees, satisfactory
mixing facilities and reliable
technical help.
Best time to apply The emul-
sion is around September 20 to
October 2 because then It can
kill the larvae when they are
young. That prevents approx.
mately four months of feeding.
The material is applied by first
making circular trench one to
two inches from the trunk of the
tree. The emulsion is then pour.
ed into the trench and covered
with soil to prevent evaporation.
This kills the larvae by produc-
ing a poisonous gas which is
heavier than air.
FARM FIRE DANGER
Farm and forest fire danger Is
much greater now than for sew.
eral years. Unless everybody is
really careful this year there's
not likely to be much of a vaca.
ton season ahead for either the
farmers or tourists. 1t will take
effort to keep Washington
green" this year.
Weeds, brush and forests have
been as dry this month as they
usually are month later. II dry
continues conditions will
be worse just at the time more
tourists are travelling. Already
many forest areas are being clos
ed and logging is being curtail.
ed. Smoke from fires, Of course,
ruins visibility for vacationers.
who are expected to be travelling
more than ever this year-not to
possible loss of lives
and property.
A big reason why fire is such
a peril this year is that two UNI
usually wet years have produced
a large amount Of brush and
weeds. This debris now chokes
roadsides, woodlands and almost
any non cultivated land. It's
dry and getting drier while the
human hazard is becoming
greater.
WHEAT PRICE STORAGE
Prospects for wheat prices and
for solution Of the storage prob.
lem for Northwest grain have
taken turn for the better the
past few weeks.
Karl Hobson, Washington State
Colleges extension price expert,
said today that the critical price.
storage outlook has eased be.
cause of two factors: prospects
for a smaller wheat crop In the
Northwest, and Congressional
legislation insuring action on
emergency storage.
Hobson pointed out that dry
weather is likely to cut the
Washington wheat crop by 20 to
80 percent under last years
yield. That means less wheat to
crowd available storage space.
In addition, the liberalized
storage program announced by
Secretary Of Agriculture Charles
Brannon will help to hold cash
wheat prices near the loan level
at harvest time.
The outlook q few weeks ago,
Hobson said, indicated wheat
prices would be at least IS cents
per bushel below the loan rate
by harvest.