Investigation on Spraying for 

 Woolly Aphis 1916 



By E. Leroy Childs, Experiment Station, Hood River 



[Editor's Note. — Attention is called to the 

 fact that these series of experiments refer to 

 Hood River conditions. In other districts other 

 methods may be found satisfactory. Therefore 

 it is the Editor's suggestion that fruit growers 

 in each district, where they do not understand 

 how to control woolly aphis, should consult 

 with their experiment station or other reliable 

 horticultural experts, who have had experience 

 in controlling woolly aphis and the knowledge 

 of how to do it founded on success.] 



W7"00LLY APHIS infestations have 

 \^ been rapidly increasing during the 

 last two years in many orchards in the 

 Hood River Valley. This fact makes 

 experimental control work advisable in 

 order that the most advantageous 

 method of control may be determined. 

 Though an old enemy of the apple, and 

 an insect upon which much experi- 

 mental work has been done, there are 

 many obscure points relative to its life- 

 history and control which demand solu- 

 tion before entirely satisfactory control 

 measures may be developed. 



From the preliminary observations 

 made during the past fall we found the 

 insects pass the winter, for the most 

 part, hibernating as nymphs or young 

 insects. On severely-infested trees, 

 countless thousands of the small mite- 

 like aphids will be found under the old 

 bark scales of the trunk and larger 

 limbs. They are also found in large 

 numbers in protected places on the 

 smaller limbs and twigs, especially on 

 twigs which bore a severe infestation 

 during the past year. 



Any good contact insecticide will kill 

 these young aphids if it hits them, but 

 owing to their secretive habits it be- 

 comes necessary to use a material 

 which will work into these places of 

 protection. Oil applications possess 

 greater penetrating qualities than other 

 contact sprays, and they are therefore 

 recommended for this purpose. Of the 

 oils that may be used, a standard mis- 

 cible oil is suggested. This material 

 will readily mix with water and the 

 great loss of time that occurs when 

 using crude materials is avoided. 

 Crude-oil emulsion can be used, but 

 often growers will experience consid- 

 erable difTiculty in preparing a com- 

 plete emulsion. Oil, if not properly 

 emulsified, is liable to injure the trees. 



In our preliminary experimental work 

 we have found that the addition of 

 soap tends to increase the penetration 

 and spreading qualities of the oil. The 

 following formula is suggested for use 

 in combating the woolly aphis: Mis- 

 cible oil, 4 or 5 gallons; w^hale-oil soap, 

 2 to 3 pounds; water, 100 gallons. If 

 leaf-roller is present in the orchard, 

 increase the oil to six gallons. 



Pruning the orchard before spraying 

 is attempted is found to lessen the 

 work to a large extent. In so doing 

 many of the out-of-the-way twigs and 

 branches which are infested with the 

 insects are removed. These twigs are 

 the ones that are usually slighted when 

 spraying and, if removed, the chances 

 of an immediate reinfcstalion of the 

 sprayed trees is materially reduced. 



BETTER FRUIT 



Page 27 



4Bi|Secrets 



The four bed-rock foundation Secrets of Fruit Fortune ^ 

 are now set down, for the first time, in Stark Bro's brand- 

 new idea in Fruit Books. You can learn these four big secrets 

 FREE by sending your name and address on a post card. Send 

 today. Take advantage of the opportunity NOW to get this 

 s^,, library of fruit learning — 4-colors, just off the press— to find out 

 ^ exactly how orchardists have grown rich— how they get $12 a 

 ' barrel for apples— $2.70 a crate for peaches— how they made money 

 from spare land. Send for this definite, systematic knowledge on 

 how Dou can make fruit growing pag big, today. 



J. H. Hale Peach Trees, 1 Oc 



Special offer to readers of Better Fruit 

 STARK BRO'S handsome, well-rooted 

 2-foot trees, packed and delivered F.O. B 

 Louisiana, Mo., at 10c each. 



This special offer good only when trees 

 are purchased in bundles of ten, and 

 this ad is sent with order. 



FREE FREIGHT to pou brings our 

 famous nurseries as near to you 

 as your railway station. 



The new book also tells you how to get 

 FREE Landscaping Plans drawn by ex- 

 perts to your order, and describes Orna- 

 mentals which will increase your prop- 

 erty value in dollars as well as in liv- 

 ableness. Send for this Fruit Book and 

 Catalogue with its hundreds of life-size 

 photos, rich natural color plates. We'll 

 gladly send it FREE. Write NOW. 



STARK BRO' 



Remember the name of the town 

 LOUISIANA, MO. BOX 3501 



DOUBLE CUT 



RHODES MFG. CO., 



S20 S. DIVISION AVE., GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. 



YHE only 

 pruner 

 made that cuts 

 from both sides of 

 the limb and does not 

 bruise the bark. Made in 

 styles and sizes. All 

 shears delivertd free 

 to your door. 



Write for 

 circular and 

 prices. 



Have your • 

 harness dipped 



Let your harness dealerdipitocca- 

 sionally in Eureka H.irness Oil. 

 Quickly done, costslittle, but adds 

 years to the life of your harness. 

 It pays. 



EUREKA 



Harness Oil 



protects tlie leather from sweat, mois- 

 ture and dirt by filling the pores with 

 preservative oils. Ask your dealer 

 today. 



Standard Oil Company 



(California) 



WHEN WRITING ADVERTISERS MENTION BETTER FRUIT 



