32 B.C. Entomological Society. 



The poiut I want to underline here — to exaggerate if necessary — is the fact 

 tliat every operation performed in the orchard has its influence on the final product; 

 also upon the efhciency of all operations depends the success of spraying, of pruning, . 

 of cultivating, and of all other phases of orchard-work. If you neglect one, you 

 lose most of the value of the work expended ou all the others for the current year. 

 On an orchard of my own, I thoroughly cultivated, I carefully pruned, I properly 

 thinned, I effectually sprayed for codling-moth ; but the result of these operations 

 l)roduced a large per cent, of small gnarly fruit. Each operation cost money — money 

 advisedly spent if the final product had been up to standard. Gentlemen. I neglected 

 to spray for rosy apple-aphis because I thought I could save about $5 an acre by 

 so doing. In tbe end my product was ^yorth from $50 to $100 an acre less. But 

 that was not my only loss ; I had expended from $10 to $15 an acre to thin. Where 

 and when was I to get that back? A conclusion to me was self-evident: A fruit- 

 grower cannot aftord to allow any insect pest which directly or indirectly injures 

 the quality of the product turned out to go uncontrolled, or he will not only lose 

 tlie value of the crop, but also the cost of producing it. 



If the cost of production is too high, the grower must reduce it, not by neglect 

 of any single operation, but by making one operation aid another, by more thorough 

 work in fewer operations ; in fact, by better balancing of all the factors which make 

 for the production of No. 1 fruit. 



In controlling orchard pests, economy Is just as essential as in other lines of 

 business. If the orchard is infested with several different insects, endeavour at 

 one operation to destroy as many as possible by using that combination of sprays 

 which scientific research and practical application have jjroven most effective. 



Many orchards in the Okanagan are infested with woolly and green apple-aphis 

 and scale-insects. Thanks to the work of entomologists, we know something of the 

 life-history and habits of these insects, and what class of sprays is effective against 

 them. 



The best time for the application of .spray material, were we treating these 

 insects separately, would vary, but it is possible by thorough work to kill the one 

 which is doing the most damage, or the two which are of greatest economic impor- 

 tance, and also very effectually cheek the third. Thus, had I an old orchard infested 

 with these three pests — woolly apple-aphis, green apple-aphis, and oyster-shell scale 

 — under Vernon District conditions I would spray as follows : Previous to the 

 opening of the leaf-buds in early spring, apply with power-sprayer and pressure of 

 at least 175 lb., winter-strength lime-sulphur, dilution 1 part concentrated lime- 

 sulphur to 9 parts water, to which is added 1 part of Black Leaf 40 to every SOO 

 parts of the lime-sulphur solution. This combination should kill all over-winter 

 woolly aiihis above ground, as well as oyster-shell scale, when thoroughly brought 

 in contact with insects. Be sure every crevice and crack in the trunk and limbs 

 is drenched with the spray. This will not, however, kill all the green apple-aphis 

 eggs. The addition of Black Leaf 40 seems to be much more effective in killing 

 both the woolly aphis and the scale than the lime-sulphur alone. In the Vernon 

 District the past season, which was a late one, this spray was applicable April 

 5th to 15th, inclusive. 



Should the orchard in question be principally infected with green apple-aphis, 

 as are many of our younger-bearing orchards, an application of spring-strength lime- 

 sulphur, 1 part to 30, to which is added Black Leaf 40, 1 part to 900 parts of diluted 

 lime-sulphur, applied after the leaf-buds h.ave just opened, will kill effectually the 

 greater part of .green apple-aphis, which have mostly emerged from eggs but have 

 not yet had time to curl the leaves. 



I consider the spring spraying the most important and essential, as the killing 

 of all aphides present in the orchard at that time gives the trees an opportunity 

 to make good, strong growth before reinfestation. The woolly apple-aphis requires 

 special attention in this section. I do not believe growers appreciate the damage 

 caused by it. I cannot but attribute a large amount of the diseased cankers on 



