-3- 



are being combined. (4) Addition of the arsenic ccid to the lime slowly over a 

 2-hour period. (5) Use of diluted r:,thor than concontrrtcd arsenic., acid. 

 (6) Slaking of the line for several hours' before adding the acid. 



So far as the fruit grower is concerned, calcium arsenate is still cr.lciujn 

 arsenate, but fundamental research such as that reported above is most encouraging 

 and it is bound to produce the desired results in time. ('vY. D. Vi/liitcomb) 



Rotonone Kills Bees and Other Beneficial Insects 



Dusts and sprays containing rotonone, pyrethrura, or both have made a defi- 

 nite place for themselves in the insect control program for vegetables. However, 

 there is still some question regarding their position in the fruit insect schedule, 

 but each year finds some of the more adventurous fruit grov/ers using them for one 

 p,urpose or another. Pyrethrura as a dust or spray is certainly a satisfactory 

 material for combatting IcafhopperSj rotenono gives control of European red mite 

 and cither of them should be a good substitute for nicotine in aphis control. 



In fact, the rotcnonc seems to bo a little too efficient in some cases, 

 and a recent article by R. S. Filmcr of the N. J. Experiment Station reports an 

 almost total mortality of 37 colonics of honey boos which had been exposed to a 

 ^fo rotenone dust applied to large fields of lima beans by airplane. Although the 

 beans were just beginning to bloom, the bees had been sufficiently attracted to the 

 fields to be killed by crawling through the dust and feeding on the fevir blossoms 

 of bean and other plants in the vicinity. Therefore, if you consider using rotenone 

 spray or dust about apple blossom time for aphis, think of the bees. 



At a recent Nashoba Fruit Producers meeting. Dr. Philip Garman of Connecti- 

 cut Experiment Station showed that a rotenone spray gave a very satisfactory control 

 of red mite but at the same time killed practically all of the natural enemies of 

 the red mite, thereby accomplishing the same result at considerable expense that 

 the natural enemies had done by themselves. The ansv/er is not so simple as that, 

 however, because sulfur killed the most important enemy, the Seius spider, and v;e 

 don't think v/e can get along without sulfur. 



The above reports are good examples of the reason that research workers 

 insist on studying new naterials for several years before making general recom- 

 mendations. (W. D. Wliitcomb) 



Nev/ Methods in Apple Curculio Control 



In a' recent report from the N. Y. Agr . Exp. Sta. we find some new light on 

 a troublesome pest of the higher elevation orchard, the apple curculio. A study 

 of the life history by 0. H. Hammer indicates that, as a rule, the beetles hibernate 

 in the orchard in mulch and rubbish under the apple trees. In the spring the 

 beetles migrate to the trees, usually during or directly after the blooming period. 

 Unlike the plum curculio, transformation from the grubs to the adults usually occurs 

 in the fruit. Most of the beetles of the summer brood emerge from the June drops. 

 In some varieties, however, infested fruit does not drop. The newly-emerged adults 

 feed on the growing fruit during late suirirnor and early fall, causing the typical 

 injury v/hich is seen on the fruit at harvest time. The apple curculio has proved 

 to be very difficult to control since most of the spray programs effectivo against 

 other common insects attacking apples have not proved particularly effective. In 

 light infestations somo beneficial results have been secured froa the us e of heavy 

 applications of lead arsenate in both the calyx and first cover sprays. For this 

 particular pest, lead arsenate is recommended at 6 lbs. to 100 gallons in these 

 two sprays. In addition to spraying, collection and prompt destruction of infested 

 June drops is recognized as a valuable supplement to the spray. A second collection 

 at an interval of two weeks is also recommended if the drop is rather heavy. Since 

 nK.ny of the adults emerge from apples that still renr.in on the trees, careful thin- 

 ning of infested fruits and destruction of these thinnings with the June drops are 

 also recommended. 



For heavy infestations it h„s been found that the above recommendations 



