1746 Report of Farmers' Institutes 



to a " black mold " which grov.'s upon the honev dew. Ants are 

 very fond of this liquid and arc often attracted to the infested 

 trees in considerable nnnil)ers. 



The green aphis is a small, soft-bodied, sucking insect. For a 

 short time after its appearance in the spring the aphis is wing- 

 less and of a dark green color. Tn about two weeks winged forms 

 develop and spread by flight through the orchard. A number of 

 broods are produced during the summer, and females of the last 

 brood deposit minute green eggs about the bases of the buds and 

 in crevices in the bark. These eo-o-s later become shiny black in 

 color, in which condition they remain until hatching takes place 

 in the spring. As the buds begin to expand the eggs hatch and 

 the young lice make their Avay in large numbers to the green 

 ends of the buds. As opportunity is afforded the insects work into 

 the interior of the buds and seek the protection given by the 

 hairy growth of the unfolding leaves. As the leaves unfold the 

 lice gather on the under surfaces and also on the fruits, causing 

 curling of the leaves and pimpling of the young apples. The 

 extraction of the sap from the fruit stems causes a dwarfing of 

 the young apples, while the injury to the leaves is often a serious 

 drain on the vitality of the trees. 



Treatment. — Xewly-hatched lice are most susceptible to spray- 

 ing because of their exposed positions at the tips of the buds. Close 

 watch should be kept for them from the time the tips of the buds 

 show green and during the period when the leaves are expanding. 

 If the insects appear in goodly numbers spray the trees thoroughly 

 with % of a pint of " Black Leaf 40 " and 3 pounds of soap to 

 100 gallons of water. It is important to spray early, for if the 

 treatment is delayed the aphids are protected by the curled leaves 

 and they are then practically innnune to spraying. The tobacco 

 extracts may be used in combination with lime-sulphur solution or 

 boi-,lenux mixture, omitting the soap. Some growers combat the 

 apple aphis successfully with kerosene emulsion diluted with 8 

 parts of water, or whale-oil soap iu the propoi-tion of 1 pound 

 to 5 gallons of water. To obtain satisfactory results the spraying 

 mixture should be applied in lilici'al ([iiantitics with high pressure, 

 for only those insects are killed which are completely wetted with 

 the spray. 



