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HOMEOWNER INSECTS 



Garden soil insects (including wireworms, seed and root maggots, and white grubs) 

 can be controlled by mixing in 4 ounces of 25-percent diazinon per 1,000 square 

 feet of garden area. Do not use aldrin, heptachlor, phorate, or other insecti- 

 cides that are labeled for corn soil insect control. 



Reports of cluster flies have been numerous this spring. These sluggish adult 

 flies, slightly larger than the common house fly, moved into houses during the 

 fall. They are now becoming active, moving out of wall partitions, and clustering 

 in large numbers at windows in the attic or upstairs area. To control these flies, 

 hang 20-percent dichlorvos (DDVP) resin strips in attics or other areas where they . 

 are present --but not in kitchens, or other areas where food is present, nurseries, 

 or rooms where infants, those who are ill, or elderly people are confined. 



One strip per 1,000 cubic feet will provide control for four to six weeks. A 

 pressurized spray can containing 0.1-percent pyrethrin, used as a space spray, 

 will give a good kill of the flies present, but will not provide residual pro- 

 tection in the area. 



Spring cankerworms , dark-brown to dark-green measuring worms, will be feeding soon 

 on trees like American elm and apple, as well as on other fruit and shade trees. 

 They attack early, feeding on developing leaf buds and newly developing leaves. 

 Sometimes they completely strip a tree of foliage, while other trees are only partly 

 defoliated. When full-grown, the worms drop to the ground by means of silken threads 

 that appear like streamers in the wind. By this time, it is usually too late for 

 control. 



As a foliage spray, use either carbaryl (Sevin) with 2 pounds of 50-percent wet- 

 table powder or lead arsenate with 4 pounds in 100 gallons of water. 



PLANT DISEASES 



MERCURY SEED TREATMENTS 



As you probably have heard by now, mercury seed treatments (Panogen, Ceresan, 

 Ortho LM, and Chipcote- -the ones we have recommended) should no longer be applied 

 to small grain seed, except to use up present supplies. We suggest the use of 

 Vitavax, preferably with thiram or captan added. Any seed- treating establishment 

 or farmer can treat up to 10,500 pounds of any small-grain seed under the current 

 Vitavax label. By itself, Vitavax does a good job against external and internal 

 smuts and some other seedling blighters, but is much less effective against other 

 fungi that help reduce stands and yields. This is where the addition of captan 

 or thiram will help give broad- spectrum control. Full clearance of these products 

 is expected by mid-summer, in time for treating winter wheat seed. 



GENERAL INFORMATION 



Cautions : Be careful when filling sprayers near wells. Many accidents have oc- 

 curred in the past. Keep the hose from the well out of the spray tank- -back si- 

 phoning can occur. Be careful not to spill concentrates alongside the well. Do 

 not drain sprayers by the well. Following these and other precautions may prevent 

 problems this year. 



