SPRAYS AND OTHER MEANS OF CONTROL 



1869 



used in this way. Dusts are easy to mix 

 and handle and are often of great service 

 to the farmer and orchardist. 



FldwiTM of Sulphur 



For a number of years flowers of sul- 

 phur was used alone as a remedy for 

 mites on citrus and almond trees. It was 

 distributed over the trees by hand or with 

 a blower in the early morning when the 

 foliage was damp, thus enabling it to ad- 

 here. The warm sunshine oxidizes the 

 sulphur, the liberated sulphur-dioxide be- 

 ing the killing factor. Accordingly sul- 

 phur is of little avail in the cool summer 

 weather of the coast counties or during 

 the winter months anywhere. However, 

 in the warm interior districts this is still 

 a very effective remedy for mites. 



Lime and Sulphur 



Even better than sulphur alone is de- 

 hydrated lime and flowers of sulphur 

 mixed in equal parts and blown upon 

 the trees with a power machine. In 

 citrus orchards this Is a very important 

 method of controlling the citrus red 

 spider (Tetranychus mytilaspidis) and 

 the six-spotted or yellow mite (Tetrany- 

 chus Vimaculatus) . 



Lime-Sulphur and Sal Bordeaux 



This mixture is prepared as follows: 



Dehydrated limo (finely powdered 



slaked lime) 40 lbs. 



Flowers of sulphur .^ lbs. 



Sal Bordeaux (a mixture of bluestone, 



charcoal and naphthol ) .5 lbs. 



Mix these ingredients thoroughly and 

 appl.v with a power blower. This is one 

 of the most efficient preparations now be- 

 ing used in controlling the almond red 

 spider (Bryodia pratensis). 



Essio 

 Hellebore 



Powdered white hellebore has been 

 used for many years as a specific remedy 

 against "currant worms," "rose slugs" and 

 other saw-fly larvae, and is very effective, 

 either dusted on as a powder, or in the 

 form of a decoction. In the field it is now 

 quite generally replaced by arsenate of 

 lead or even Paris green, but in the gar- 

 den it still holds its own. When applied, 

 it may be used pure, or it may be mixed 

 with two or three times its own weight 

 of dust, cheap flour, lime, or almost any 



other light, finely powdered material. 

 When used as a spray, steep one ounce 

 in one quart of boiling water and add 

 another quart of cold water when ready 

 to apply. 



It is also quite effective against certain 

 root maggots, like those affecting cabbage 

 and cauliflower. For these it is used in 

 the form of a decoction, one ounce in one 

 gallon of water and about half a pint 

 poured around an infested plant, from 

 which the earth has been drawn away to 

 facilitate soaking directly around the 

 plants. To be effective, the material must 

 be brought into direct contact with the in- 

 sects. Hence, it should be liberally used 

 and applied before the maggots get down 

 too far, or into the plant too deeply. In 

 the garden its use is quite practical; in 

 the field it has not been found so satis- 

 factory. 



Pjrethrum 

 This is commonly known as Persian or 

 Dalmatian insect powder, or Buhach, 

 and comes as a finely ground yellow pow- 

 der with a pleasant, rather pungent odor. 

 It is a contact poison, and most larvae 

 and softbodied insects are thrown into 

 convulsions when they come under its in- 

 fluence. Unfortunately it is not only 

 expensive but quickly loses its effective- 

 ness when exposed to the air. Its prac- 

 tical range is therefore limited, and it is 

 chiefly used on house plants, in the con- 

 servatory and in the garden. It is en- 

 tirely harmless to vegetation of all kinds, 

 and doos not spot or mark even the most 

 delicate flowers when used dry. It acts a 

 little more promptly and effectively if ap- 

 plied to the insects while they are moist, 

 or at least damp. If the dusty appearance 

 is objectionable, a decoction may be made 

 by steeping one ounce in one quart of 

 boiling water, and then adding two or 

 three quarts of cold water. Into this 

 material potted plants may be dipped, 

 or it may be applied with an atomizer. 

 Against plant lice on house plants this 

 makes a very clean and effective applica- 

 tion. 



KEPELLEMS 



It is apparent that certain materials, 

 applied to the foliage of jdants, are some- 



