268 Ajfjfle mid Pear Sncler 



of damage to plants if used in excess. Before I begin the description 

 of my experiments with regard to different insecticides, it would be 

 correct to state the particular times for spraying apple trees for apple 

 sucker. I was very late last year owing to many difficulties. The 

 proper time for spraying is before the floral buds have opened. The 

 eggs begin to hatch as soon as the foliage buds open and there is a great 

 interval before floral buds blossom. If put off too long the spraying 

 will shake the pollen from the flowers and the ovaries will remain 

 infertile. In no case should there be any spraying when the blossom has 

 opened. The setting season begins and the petals begin to drop off and 

 the fruit become set. Then there is another chance of spraying the 

 stragglers — the nymphs which may have been unfortunate enough in 

 the previous larval stages. This final spraying combined with the 

 previous one will completely exterminate the apple sucker from the 

 orchard. 



It is a curious fact that spraying at different times in the day has 

 varying results. The same mixture was sprayed over the apple trees 

 at different times : 



Spraying time Result 



112 noon. It was light and All died instantaneously, 



windy and hot. 

 5.30 p.m. It was cool. All died eventually, but at the time of 



examination 10 or 11 were still 

 struggling for existence. 



These variations can be explained. On a bright, hot, windy day the 

 soap solution dries up immediately and the creosote acts very effectively ; 

 while, when it is cool, the insecticide does not dry immediately, and 

 creosote seems to be very slow in its action. 



These experiments will at least show that the different times of 

 the same day have different effects, though the insecticide may be 

 the same. 



Different ivashes used. 

 (1) Rosin Wash, 

 {a) Composition : 



Rosin . . . . . . 2 lbs. 



Washing soda . . . . 2 lbs. 



Water . . . . . . 20 gallons. 



(b) Action. As the stuff gets dried, rosin is deposited on the 

 surfaces of the insects and blocks the air holes, the stigmata ; the insects 

 are suffocated and thus killed. 



