Tabor City tribune. (Tabor City, N.C.) 1946-1991, 1954-06-16
Chemical Sucker Control
Effective If Used PROPERLY
BY r. f. LAY, JR. AND S. L.
JACKSON
AGRICULTURE TEACHERS

! JACKSON
AGRICULTURE TEACHERS
For years farmers have had to
spend long hours of hard work
breaking tobacco suckers by hand
Since certain chemicals have been
discovered to kill tobacco suckers.
the dreaded job has been made
much easier.
Most farm crops have been
mechanical in the past few years
and the latest development seems
to be the harvesting machine. Like
the move toward mechanization.
The chemical sucker control is Just
another great step in furthcring
the production of tobacco.
Since sucker control can be used
effectively, the labor situation
should be relieved considerably
during the harvesting season.
What is chemical sucker con-
troll? 1t is merely the application
of chemicals or oil to the top of
the tobacco plant where the top
was cut or broken off.
Nv" uocS lllc CleIliCal XIII the
suckers? The oil runs down all
sides of the stalk and comes in
contact with the small tender
suckers; therefore, they are burn
ed or killed by the oil.
Why doesn't the oil burn the
stalk or leaves? The stalk is much
older and tougher than the suck
ers, so 1t doesn't burn the stalk.
If Oil is dropped on the small
tender leaves at the top, they will
be burned every place the oil
comes into contact with the leaf.
How effective is chemical suck
er control? From experience in
the last three years, it is about
90" effective for controlling suck
ers. Some farmers get more than
49, control and others get less
due to the method of application
and care.
What is the best chemical to
use? There are several chemicals
on the market at the present time
and one is just as effective as the
other. The main thing is to read
the directions on the container.
If you buy oil that is in bluk with
no directions then you should mix
one gallon of water with each
gallon of Oil.
How much oil will it take per
acre? 1t will vary according TO the
| size of the tobacco and the num-
Der of hills per acre. An average
size stalk requires about three
tourthS of a teaspoonful of Oil.
Al TINS rate for an average acre.
one should buy two gallons of oil
and mix with two gallons of water
to give the $3.50 solution of oil
and water.
What are the harmful effects?
There are some dangers unless
sucker control is used according
TO directions. Sucker control is
used to the best advantage on
moderately warm days while the
sun is shining. 1t should not be
. applied during the noon hours
Of a hot day because il is subject
| TO cause leaf-drop or Stalk-burn.
1t should not be applied immedi-
ately after big dew or just be-
fore rain as the water will cause
1 the oil to run off on the ground
/ and the results will not be obtain
| ed. One should be careful not TO
apply too much oil as Soft-rot is
/ likely TO occur at the bottom of
oil Il
tic ground. If one follows the di-
- puts about three
'our.HS of teaSpoonful on an
average size stalk, soft-rot is no,
likely TO occur.
AT what stage should the oil
:" applied? II should be applied
when the blossom first opens.
Don't wait until the blossom opcrs
IN full because the suckers will
probably be too large. Don't apply
"'Cn he button has to be pinched
OFT because the little leaves are
20 close to the stGlk that they will
&C burned too. Sucker control viii
not kill suckers when they are
much longer than an inch. The
most ideal way is 10 top and apply
the oil to your tobacco when l/3
10 - of it blooms out. Then a
week or two later. top and apply !
OIL 10 iic remainder of il.
We want TO emphasize that YOU
should not use sucker control on
your whole crop unless you have
tried il before. We recommend |
that you use il on a few stalks or
rows for trial and then if YOU
like it. use 1t on as much as you
desire
If any further information is
needed. come by the Tabor CITY
Agriculture Building and VIC will