DISEASES AND PESTS OF PLANTS. 



45 



caterpillars, fall web-worm, pear-tree slug, etc. The most important points to 

 observe in the control of insect pests are: (1) Prevention as far as possible; 

 (2) strict attention to details in the preparation of the remedy to be employed; 

 and (3) thoroughness and timeliness of application. 



Preventive measures are usually the cheapest and the most easily accomplished. 

 They are, first, clean culture ; that is to say, not allowing rubbish to accumulate on 

 the land. When the crops have been gathered, remove, or destroy if necessary, all 

 waste material from the land; do not wait until the spring to do cleauiug-up; there 

 is too much other necessary work to attend to at that time. In the final cleaning-up 

 in the fall gather all waste material into convenient heaps on the land and allow 

 them to remain there until frosty weather sets in ; these will prove attractive traps 

 for a large number of insect pests which are looking for comfortable winter quarters 

 to hibernate in. They should then be burned where they lie. This will destroy 

 many pests. A further method of prevention which should not be neglected is that 

 of spraying before insect pests have commenced to do injury. This is also economi- 

 cal and will save a great deal of trouble and expense during the growing season. 

 There are, however, important 

 and essential points necessary 

 in accomplishing this success- 

 fully. These are, a knowledge 

 of what is to be sprayed for, 

 what spray to use, and when 

 to apply it; also of whether 

 the number of such particular 

 pests will be sufficiently great 

 or destructive to warrant the 

 expenditure of the time and 

 material necessary. It is quite 

 obvious that the grower, to be 

 able to decide this for himself, 

 must have a fair knowledge of 

 the pests he is about to contend 

 with. Unfortunately the gen- 

 eral conditions in British Co- 

 lumbia have reached a point 

 where it is in most cases neces- 

 sary to apply an annual dormant 

 spray in the orchards. If the fruit-grower cannot decide for himself what his 

 orchard actually requires, his local Inspector can give him much assistance in the 

 matter, providing the grower will take him sufficiently into his confidence. Many 

 growers seem to have a tendency to hide what may appear to them a slight infesta- 

 tion only of an insect pest, either in fear of dire penalties or else through ignorance 

 of the nature of the insect in question, which may not appear to be harmful. In 

 either case there is the great danger of ultimate severe losses, not only to the 

 individual grower, but to the whole community should it prove to be a serious 

 pest. 



In the present day of severe competition growers must endeavour to become 

 acquainted to some extent with the insect pests they have to contend with and the 

 proper time and methods of control. In this matter lies, to a great extent, the 

 secret of success in farming. It is a great matter to the grower whether he has 

 a 90-per-cent. perfect crop or only 25 to 50 per cent. Culls and injured crops have 

 little market value. Economy in production is an ideal basis to work on, but where 

 to economize is a problem to be solved by each individual producer, and he should 

 not make a start by reducing the quality of his marketable crops. 



Growers are particularly requested to send in specimens of insects with which 

 they are not acquainted, and these will be identified for them. This would materi- 



Fig. 13. Apple-aphis. (1.) Stage of development of 

 tin' buds when tirst control spray can be effectively 

 applied. (12.) In this stage of development spraying is 

 not effective. (3.) Stage of development when a second 

 application is most effective. (Figs from Circular 23, 

 l-.'j-pcriiiicnt Sta., N.Y.) 



