CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



ous examples; they infest nearly all orchard trees, especially the al- 

 mond, prune, and plum. The eggs of the red spider are ruby-red 

 globules, as seen with the magnifier, and are deposited in vast num- 

 bers upon the bark of the tree, and leave a red color upon the finger 

 if it is rubbed over them. The eggs may be killed with winter 

 strength of lime sulphur, but treatment is most effective when ap- 

 plied in the spring and summer after the mites are hatched out. The 

 popular remedy is a thorough dusting with sulphur. On a large scale 

 the sulphur is applied in a cloud by means of a modification of the 

 broad-cast barley sower or with the sulphur machines specially made 

 for this purpose. On a small scale it may be applied with a bellows 

 as for grape-vines, or shaken from a cheese-cloth bag at the end of a 

 pole. Sulphur sprays have been found most effective in controlling 

 the red spider. The ingredients of the sulphur sprays will be given 

 later. 



Phylloxera. This pest of the grape-vine is closely allied to the 

 aphides, and lives both upon the root and leaf, though in this State 

 the root type prevails and the leaf form is seldom seen. No remedy 

 has yet been found effectual, but escape is had by using roots resisting 

 the insects, as described in Chapter XXVI. The insects are recog- 

 nized, by the aid of a magnifier, as minute yellow lice, chiefly on the 

 rootlets. Full account of the insect is given in Bulletin 192, Univer- 

 sity of California Experiment Station. 



The Woolly Aphis. A louse of dark red color, occurring in 

 groups, covered with a woolly substance which exudes from the 

 bodies of the insects. The woolly aphis is an almost universal pest of 

 the apple, though as shown by experience, some varieties are prac- 

 tically exempt from it. As the pest lives both upon root and top, its 

 annihilation is impossible, but it may be reduced so that the fruitful- 

 ness and vigor of the tree are not impaired. 



The woolly aphis on the roots may be prevented from collecting 

 in too large quantities on the root crown by the use of about five 

 gallons of fresh wood ashes, placed about the base of the tree at the 

 beginning of the rainy season, or by using about three pounds of 

 tobacco refuse in the same way. The rain leaches the lye from the 

 ashes or the juice from the tobacco, both of which are destructive to 

 the aphis. The soil around the tree may also be soaked with soap 

 and nicotine spray. By keeping the insect thus reduced at the root 

 crown, its presence on the tree itself will be reduced to a minimum. 

 More than this cannot be expected, because it is impossible to ex- 

 tirpate the insect, and it is present in nearly all the apple orchards and 

 old fruit gardens in the State. 



Woolly aphis on the branches and twigs can be reduced by spray- 

 ing with oil emulsion washes. Lady-birds often clear away the woolly 

 aphis, after reproduction has fallen below the normal, from the tree 

 above ground. Some attention is being given to trial of resistant roots 

 and it is likely that such roots will be generally used here as in 

 Australia. How such trees are grown is described on page 201. 



