82 THE KANSAS CHERRY. 



INSECTS ON THE CHERRY. 



By Peof. J. M. Stedman, of Missouri. 



There are not so many insects which prey uj)on the cherry as upon 

 the apple. The New York weevil and the imbricated snout beetle 

 feed on the young and tender bark and foliage and sometimes upon 

 the buds before they oi^en in the spring. We know little of the life- 

 history of these insects and must fight them upon the tree itself. At 

 a time when the trees are leaved out it is diflBcult to reach the twigs 

 which are covered with the leaves, but it can be held somewhat in 

 check by spraying with the arsenate of lead. 



Tent-caterx)illars of both species work on cherry trees, and can bQ 

 fought as spoken of in the apple. The fall web- worm can be twisted 

 out with a forked stick if you take it in time. The cherry borer is 

 found only in a few localities. It is not general in the state. It is 

 difficult to fight in a very successful way. Use the same wash that I 

 recommended for apple borers. 



Cherry leaves are eaten by a number of lejDidopterous insects 

 Spray with arsenate of lead in preference to Paris green, London 

 purple, arsenate of lime, or soda. 



To make arsenate of lead, use eleven ounces of acetate of lead and 

 four ounces of white arsenic to fifty or seventy-five gallons of water. 

 This formula is for any biting insects on the cherry. The leaf- 

 crumpler will damage the cherry more than the apple. The canker- 

 worm also feeds upon the cherry. Give all of them the arsenate of lead. 



The curculio is difficult to fight ; much more so than in the case of 

 the plum. It makes the wormy cherries. These do not drop from 

 the tree like the plum, but hang on and ripen with the good cherries. 

 It is often difficult to distinguish them from the good ones till you 

 eat them. Cherry trees are usually too large to jar successfully. 

 Spraying does not pay, rarely reaching fifty per cent, of them. Birds 

 can keep these insects in check. 



A CURCULIO PREVENTIVE. 



Clear the ground under the trees of undergrowth of any nature, 

 then stir the soil about one inch deep, and apply on top ( in early 

 spring, before any fruit is set, or, if soil will permit the working, be- 

 fore bloom falls) the following: One bushel of air-slaked lime, one 

 bushel of wood ashes, two pounds of concentrated lye, two pounds of 

 copperas, ten pounds of sulphur, one package of salt ; mix with a hoe, 

 and apply through an old sieve. Protect the hands while applying it, 

 or they will sufPer much. — Rural World. 



