121 



Melander (A. L.). Some Observations on Orchard Sprays.— i^t'^^. 



Proc. 15th Ann. Meeting Washington State Hortic. Assoc, 

 Spokane, Ist-Sth December 1919, Olympia, Wash., 1920, pp. 

 40-46. 



In spraying experiments conducted during 1919, oil emulsions proved 

 better than sulphur sprays against San Jose scale [Aspidiotus pernicio- 

 siis], but their general use is hindered by commercial and technical 

 difficulties. Liquid lime-sulphur is still superior to the various dry 

 substitutes that have been introduced of recent years. Many of the 

 claims made for the dry preparations are mis-statements of fact. 



Work against codling moth [Cydia pomonella] has emphasised the 

 greater value of calyx spraying over that of all subsequent applica- 

 tions. If cover spraying could be as efficient, the pest would be 

 easily annihilated, even in a single season. As it is practicable to give 

 a perfect calyx spraying, the destructiveness of the pest is in proportion 

 to the effectiveness of the cover sprays. 



Thinning out infested apples during the occurrence of the first 

 brood is as important as late spraying. Theoretically the calyx spray 

 and thinning together should wipe out this pest, but in practice cover 

 sprayings are a necessity because thinning is neglected or incomplete. 

 The number of larvae entering the fruit is not lessened by using extra 

 strong sprays, and 1 lb. lead arsenate in 80 U.S. gallons remains 

 the right strength. 



Calcium arsenate is a promising new spray, and no scorching was 

 apparent in any tests with it. While the spray gun is excellent for 

 cover spra^dng, the clipper nozzle, crook, rod and tower method 

 still appears best for calyx spraying. 



The real need in arsenical spraying is for a spreader ; in these tests 

 soap gave excellent results in neutralising the waxy nature of the apple 

 skin ; about six bars of laundry soap were used per tank. 



MiLLiKEN (F. B.). Grasshoppers and their Control on Sugar Beets 

 and Truck Crops.— U.S. Dept. Agric, Washington, B.C., Farmers' 

 Bull. 691, March 1920, 20 pp., 13 figs. [Received 7th January 

 1921.] 



This bulletin, issued in revised form, gives the usual remedial 

 measures against grasshoppers, with notes on the more injurious 

 species and their natural enemies. 



Stockdale (F. a.). Two Insect Pests of Tea in Ceylon. — Trop. 

 Agric, Peradeniya, Iv, no. 5, November 1920, pp. 276-279, 

 2 plates, 1 fig. 



The first part of this paper, dealing with Xyleborus fornicatus 

 (shot-hole borer of tea), is based on the observations of Speyer and 

 Jepson. A short account is given of the history and spread of this 

 beetle in Ceylon, the regulations as to the removal of nursery plants 

 directed against it, its bionomics and the damage it does, and the reme- 

 dial measures employed. The latter are directed chiefly towards 

 the sanitary improvement of estates by the eradication of castor 

 plants, the removal of die-backs, and the treatment of prunings, 

 while good cultivation is essential. An insecticidal paint has been 

 evolved, but probably costs too much at present for general use 

 [R.A.E., A, viii, 110, etc.]. 



