Reasons for Controlling Fruit Insects 



The importance of fruit in a well-balanced diet is receiving increasing 

 recognition. During the present war emergency the maintenance of 

 an adequate diet is especially important to the armed forces, to the 

 civilian population, and to our allies. The production of fruit of high 

 quality in large volume is virtually impossible unless adequate measures 

 are taken for controlling insect pests that, in the absence of such control 

 effort, often destroy entire crops of fruit. At the present time the control 

 of insects that attack fruit crops is a definite part of the war effort. 



Availability of Insecticides 



During the present war emergency, difficulty may be experienced in 

 obtaining needed insecticides. Some of the materials that enter into 

 the manufacture of insecticides may be needed more urgently elsewhere 

 in the war effort, manufacturing facilities ordinarily used in the produc- 

 tion of insecticides may be diverted to other uses, and supplies of insec- 

 ticides of foreign origin may be cut off. Recognizing the essential 

 nature of insect control, however, the agencies concerned with the war 

 effort are doing everything possible to insure a reasonably adequate 

 supply of insecticides to protect food crops. Because the situation is 

 likely to change rapidly, statements on specific materials will not be 

 made at this time. 



Growers should place their orders for insecticides well in advance, 

 to insure delivery when needed, or to allow time to obtain the best 

 possible substitute if standard materials are not to be had. Growers 

 should not, however, buy in excess of the current season's needs, since 

 this may deprive some other grower of vitally needed insecticides. 

 Spray materials should be used at the minimum effective strength, and 

 waste should be avoided. 



Current information on the availability of insecticides, or about sub- 

 stitutes for standard materials that cannot be procured, may be obtained 

 from county agricultural agents, State experiment stations or extension 

 services, or from the United States Department of Agriculture at Wash- 

 ington, D. C. 



Cautions To Be Observed in Using Poisons 



Many of the insecticides listed in this circular are extremely poisonous 

 to human beings and to animals, and should be stored and handled with 

 the greatest of care. Stocks of such materials should be kept in closed 

 containers and marked in such a way that there will be no danger of 



{Continued on inside back cover) 



