Report of the State Entomologist. 1(51 



Answer was returned that it was not difficult to kill the apple-tree 

 aphis, Aphis mali Fabr., shown in Fig. 3, and to arrest the attack, 

 if the means be used at the proper 

 time, with proper apparatus, and 

 in the right inaurier, as herewith 

 given: 



1. The proper time to attack the 

 aphis is eax'ly in the spring, before 



the trees are in leaf. Later, many YflTJ&N^^ $ K ^9fjt 

 of the insects will be so protected 



in the folds and curls of the leaves 



. Fig. 3.— Apple-tree aphis, Aphis mali; 



that the applications can not reach wlngbd and wingless forms. 



them, and contact with the insecticides is essential to their destruc- 

 tion, since they can not be killed by poisoning the foliage of the tree, 

 as their food consists only of its sap. The best time to reach the pest 

 is during the late autumn or winter, when, if the leafless trees be 

 thoroughly sprayed with a kerosene emulsion, the eggs will be killed. 

 The emulsion may be made by violently agitating (through the use of 

 a force-pump or otherwise) until in a homogeneous mass, two gallons 

 of kerosene to one gallon of a hot soap solution, made by dissolving 

 half a pound of common soap in one gallon of water. For use, dilute 

 with nine parti of water — a quart of the emulsion to nine quarts of 

 water, or in the same proportion. 



The best time to kill the aphis, if it has been neglected in the egg 

 stage, is just after its hatching, while still gathered upon the unopened 

 buds and portions of twigs adjoining. Without the work of preparing 

 the kerosene emulsion, which involves considerable labor, most if not 

 all m&y be killed at this time by spraying with strong soap-suds or a 

 tobacco solution, say half a pound of tobacco to a gallon of boiling 

 water. As these solutions often fail to kill the old matured aphis, 

 and as it matures in about ten or twelve days after hatching, a second 

 spraying, and a third if found to be necessary, should follow at about 

 a week's interval. 



2. The proper apparatus to be used is a force-pump of sufficient power 

 (no farmer or fruit-grower can afford to be without this implement), 

 and a nozzle which will distribute the liquid in a fine spray or mist. 

 There are a number of nozzles which will accomplish this which have 

 been made for use in large orchards. Among these, the most popular 

 ones are the Nixon Climax nozzles, made by the Nixon Nozzle Company, 

 at Dayton, Ohio; the Boss nozzle, and the Graduating Spray nozzle. The 

 Hallowell Brass Company, of Lowell, Mass., have recently put upon 

 the market an atomizer and a nozzle which promises very efficient 



21 



