Proceei)INi;s. l!)l:!. 31 



SOME PROBLEMS IN APHIS-CONTROL. 

 By L. L. Talmer, IIorticiltiiust, Coldstream Estate Co. 



No one should appreciate the value of the present me<3tings more than the fruit- 

 growers and farmers of British Columbia. The men actuallj' engaged in the cultural 

 operations of their farms, day after day, need to get away from local conditions. 

 Such a change broadens the scope, and they go back to their work witli renewed 

 energy and zeal. 



Individually and collectively, the growers of British Colnmbia are facing a great 

 economic problem. Not a phase of the fruit and gardening industry of our Province, 

 from the different cultural operations to the wide questions of marketing and 

 distribution, that is not being systematically and thoroughly studied, in the endeavour 

 to place our industry on a par with the industrial enterprises of our cities. 



This work must not be left to the Government alone. Without the co-operation 

 of the growers themselves the greatest good cannot be accomplished. The tinal 

 product will measure up to the standards, which as a united body we are aiming 

 to attain, directly in proportion to the manner in which each farmer and producer 

 turns over his finished product to the public. 



There is not one single operation in the proper care of orchards that may not 

 influence the quality, the size, and tlie aiijiearance of the fruit produced. These 

 operations the individual owner or director must control, and upon his knowledge 

 and ability to apply that knowledge depends the success of the Industry. He must 

 kuow his own local conditions, so that he may prune wisely; that he cultivate 

 advantageously; that he may spray timely. The Government cannot study each 

 separate ranch so minutely and practically as the owner ; but what the Government 

 can do. and is doing, is to furnish scientific principles and definite knowledge which 

 must be applied to peculiarities of each varying location. 



Of all the orchard operations, none tax the ability of the grower more than the 

 prevention and control of the insect pests and diseases to which his special district 

 is subject. This is a question upon which the grow-er must continually renew- his 

 store of knowledge, because great progress is constantly being made as to improved 

 methods of control and as to actual information regarding life-habits of economic 

 insects. Mr. Winslow has given us a grasp of the amount of damage done annually 

 to our fruit-trees by insect iiests. As fruit-growers, it is our duty to be sure that 

 we are not, by neglect on our part, adding to and influencing the cost of decreasing 

 such a loss. 



Chief among the economic pests of British Columbia are several species of 

 aphides. These sucking-insects are very generally scattered throughout fruit-growing 

 regions, and cause the grower a large amount of trouble. It is not my purpose to 

 give you a detailed description of the life-history and habits of all different sjiecics 

 of aphides which may be found in different parts of British Columbia, nor will 

 time allow me to give a discussion of the relative merits of different sprays used in 

 controlling these. Many experimental stations have printed good descriptions and 

 effective methods of spraying, which are gladly furnished upon written application. 

 I want to call your attention to some of the problems the grower faces in combating 

 aphides in the Okanagan, and the relation of other orchard oi)erations to this 

 important factor in the production of "quality fruit." 



When a grower's fruit falls below standard, some operation, or series of opera- 

 tions, is at fault, unless the grower is so unfortunate as to be trying to produce 

 under adverse soil or climatic conditions. Did he plough the past spring so as to 

 get the greatest good from soil conditions? Was his orchard subject to seepage? 

 Did his pruning result in forced growth? Did ho skip his usual spraying? Many 

 (piestions will arise, any one of which answered negatively may have been the cause, 

 directly or indirectly, of his poor results. 



