﻿SPRAYING FOR THE CITRUS MEALY BUG 257 



of the breathing organs of the leaves and to the photosynthetic action within 

 the leaf. Probably no scale insect is more prolific in the production of this 

 honey-dew than is the mealy bug. Of course the greatest damage is to the 

 fruit, because the scrubbing in the washer, necessary to remove the smut, 

 greatly reduces the keeping qualities of the fruit. This is especially true in 

 regard to the lemons, which must be subjected to a long period of curing. 

 The following letter from Mr. Robert Ramsey of N. W. Blanchard's Packing 

 House gives some idea of the damage to the fruit caused directly by the citrus 

 mealy bug : 



"Mr. Essig. Dear Sir: In accordance with your request for data concern- 

 ing the probable percentage of loss on oranges and lemons that can be traced to 

 the presence of the mealy bug. have made an analysis of two years' results 

 as follows : 



Increase in the proportion of culls to selects in 1909 over 1908 7% 



Increase in house decay in 1909 over 1908 65% 



Increased cost per packed bo.x handling in house 1909 over 1908 13.4% 



As to oranges it is very difficult to ascertain just how much decay was 

 due to mealy bug, because of the fact that in previous years, with no mealy 

 bug, weather conditions have made the fruit soft and non-keeping and on 

 the other hand, this past year with mealy bug, the fruit has kept better than 

 for years (19l0). It is significant, however, that the cost per packed box 

 of handling in the house in 1909 over 1908 is considerable greater, as follows : 

 Increase in cost of handling per packed box in house 1909 over 1908...17j^% 



Trust these figures, which are taken from the records, may prove of 

 some use to you, and if there is any other information that you desire, that 

 we can furnish, advise and will look it up. 



Yours truly, 



R. S. Ramsey." 



To ascertain the eiifect of the sprays upon this smut, the fruit from the 

 sprayed trees was carefully separated in lots according to the spray used. All 

 the lemons which were coming into the packing house from the mealy bug 

 sections of the orchards were washed with much difficulty, and required a great 

 deal of hand scrubbing after they left the washer. The cost therefore was very 

 great, simply in the washing of the fruit, regardless of the loss through decay. 



Two lots of fruit were separated and data recorded of the sprayed lemons 

 as follows , from report of Mr. T. Dougherty, foreman of the Blanchard 

 Packing House : 



THOSE SPR.AYED WITH LIME-SULFUR SPR.\Y. 



"Wash very clean and easy. No visible marks or spots from effects of 

 spray. No hand brushing required." 



