52 ANNUAL IMPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 1953 
for the control of pea aphids on peas in the Blue Mountain an 
Oregon and Washington. The tests also involved applications of the 
systemic insecticide SystOS and parathion against pea aphids. The 
equipment u-ed gave consistent and predictable rates 01 insecticide 
application. 
Complex Airplane Spray Distribution Patterns Confirmed 
Further research on airplane spray-distribution patterns at low 
flight elevations, in cooperation with the Bureau of Plant Industry, 
Soils, and Agricultural Engineering in the Pacific Northwest, con- 
tinned and extended t he findings of previous years. These and earlier 
studies show that spray deposits from low-flying aircraft vary greatly 
in any one flight, both laterally (across) and longitudinally (along) 
the line of flight. The variations primarily result from aerodynamic 
forces generated by the flight of the plane. 
These findings indicate that spray patterns may he significantly 
modified and improved by changing the spacing of nozzles, and the USB, 
within the zone affected by the propeller slipstream, of fine sprays 
inboard in combination with coarser sprays outboard. 
A high-lift Steanmui airplane with square wing tips showed few 
differences so far as basic spray patterns are concerned, except that 
spray caught in the wing-tip vortices is not carried so high as with 
the stock Stearman. With identical nozzle arrangements, there was 
apparently a wider effective swath with the high-lift plane. 
In general, tests with aerial applications of dusts bear out previous 
findings that it is extermely difficult to obtain consistent results and 
that thermal action is probably a factor more adverse than surface 
winds. 
Aerial Spray Application Controls Black Bean Aphid 
An aerial spray application of very fine atomization, with 1.8 
pounds of nicotine alkaloid per acre gave about 80-percent control of 
the bean aphid on trellised beans in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. 
This degree of cont rol is considered -at isfactory. Aerial -pray applica- 
tions of 0.4 pound of TEPP and an aerial dust application of 1.7 
pounds of nicot ine alkaloid per acre were ineflect ive in controlling this 
insect. 
Washes Tested for Removing Insects From Harvested Vegetables 
About 80 formulations were tested at Beltsville, Md., in a search for 
a wash thai may be used in processing plants to remove aphids from 
harvested kale. Twelve of the form id at ions tested removed more than 
90 percent of tin- aphids. There was no visible injury to the kale -_M 
hours after washing. All of the promising formulations contain l 
percent of Energine in combination with one of several different 
emulsi fying or wet! ing agents. 
Another 80 formulations were tested at Beltsville as washes for 
the removal of asparagus beetle eggs from asparagus. Nine of them 
removed more than 89 percent of the eggs without cnn^ine; more than 
a trace of visible injury to asparagus at the end of 24 hours. The 
more promising washes contained 0.5 percent of toluene phis 2 percent 
