THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
222 
LEAF-IIOPPKHS INJURIOUS TO APPLF TRFES 
F. II. Lathrop 
LEAK-HOPPEHS IMPORTANT APPI.E PESTS 
Serious injury to nursery uiul oreliard plantings in 
New York has been observed during recent years to re¬ 
sult troni attacks of three species of insects known as 
leaf-lioppers. These tiny creatures resemble minute 
grasshoiipers, scarcely more than one-eighth of an inch 
in length. They spend most of the time on the under¬ 
sides of the leaves sucking the juices from the plants. 
When the leaves are disturbed the young leaf-hoppers 
scurry away, dodging quickly out of sight, while the 
adults fly sw iftly to a place of safety. 
The loss of sap which these pests consume is detri¬ 
mental to the infested trees, but far more damage is 
done by the curling of the leaves and the destruction of 
the green substance of the foliage. Incidental winter 
killing of injured tissues in many cases greatly aggra¬ 
vates the damage done by certain species. 
CONTROL 
For the protection of foliage, especially of nursery 
stock or of new ly planted apple orchards, chief reliance 
should be placed on soap and nicotine mixtures of stan¬ 
dard strengths. In spraying, the apiilication should he 
made when the maximum number of nymphs in the 
younger stages are present, for the adults escape the 
spray by flying, and are probably resistant to the solution 
even wdien they are reached. In case of the apple leaf- 
hopper it is important to spray before the foliage has 
been curled, and for this reason it is well to examine 
nursery and young orchard trees from time to time during 
the season to determine w hether or not nymphs are suf¬ 
ficiently numerous to require treatment. Coarse nozzles 
and fairly high pressure should he used, applying suf¬ 
ficient material to wet thoroly the undersides of the 
leaves and, generally speaking, the most satisfactory re¬ 
sults can be obtained only by drenching the insects. 
With nursery stock and young trees, immersion of the 
growing tips into a receptacle containing a quantity of 
the spraying material is an effective method of treatment. 
In a series of spraying tests in which soap, nicotine 
and kerosene emulsion w ere also compared, a high degree 
of effectiveness was indicated for a spraying mixture 
composed of nicotine sulphate 1 pint, lump lime 60 
])ounds, copper sulphate 4 pounds, and water 100 gal¬ 
lons. The copper sulphate w^as dissolved in four gallons 
of water, and then the lime was slaked to form a thin 
jiaste. These were then mixed together and diluted with 
w ater to make the required amount, after w hich the nico¬ 
tine sulphate was added. After straining the lime thru 
a fine metal sieve directly into the tank, during which op¬ 
eration the agitator w^as kept in action to secure an even 
distribution of the materials, the suction intake w^as 
])laced ill the tank, when spraying was immediately un¬ 
dertaken. This formula or some modification of it, as 
may he suggested by future ex])erience, w ill probably he 
found to have as its chief field of usefulness the treat¬ 
ment of young non-bearing orchards where it is desired 
to combat tbe green ajihis as well as leaf-hoppers. 
For bearing orchards it is probably not advisable to 
make a special application to control these pests. In or¬ 
chards which receive the routine insecticidal s[)rays these 
leaf-hoppers are usually sufficiently controlled during 
normal seasons to prevent any appreciable reduction of 
the crop. 
One phase of this problem should, however, not be 
overlooked, and that is the activities of the leaf-hopiiers 
in transmitting fire-blight. Proof of a vital relationship 
betwmen these agents and the demonstration that the dif¬ 
ferent leaf-hoppers are an essential or an important ele¬ 
ment in the spread of the disease during midsummer 
would certainly prove additional incentives for grow'(‘rs 
to adopt some system of spraying. 
PAGHYSANDRA TERMINALIS 
As a ground cover there is nothing quite equal to the 
Parhysandra termmalis. When used as a groundwork 
for a choice evergreen planting, it adds so much to it that 
it is a w onder it is not more w idely used. Possibly it is 
because the supply is always short and the cost compara¬ 
tively high for a plant that has to be used in large quan¬ 
tities. 
The demand is likely to be maintained indefinitely as it 
is a plant for which there is unlimited use. Its attractive 
evergreen foliage is always pleasing, and many an un¬ 
sightly position under trees could be converted into a 
beauty spot by its use. It has always been a w onder lo 
the writer why the florists have not taken hold of it for 
their decorative work, especially at Christmas, as it com¬ 
pares favorably with English Ivy, galax, Andromeda, and 
ground pine. Possibly some enterprising florist will in 
the future and make a killing by exploiting it for that 
purpose. 
The plant does not appear to have any constitutional 
weakness, propagates readily, grows rapidly and seems 
to have all those qualities necessary to a jilant that is 
required in large quantities. 
One can readily conceive of it being grown by the acre 
to supply the demand for Christmas greens and interior 
decoration. 
It will grow" in any good soil, but does its best in loose 
soil in open woods, where it gets a little shade and plenty 
of moisture without being stagnant. 
Mrs. Theo Inglefritz desires to thank the National As¬ 
sociation of Nurserymen for the sympathy and floral of¬ 
ferings extended from the Convention upon the deatli of 
her husband. Mr. Inglefritz died w"hen tbe Convention 
was in session. 
July 14, 1919 
To the Editor:-^ 
Should membership in the American Association of 
Nurserymen be restricted to those nurserymen w ho be¬ 
lieve that the market development scheme is a profitable 
one, and are wiling to pay for it? The action taken at 
the Chicago meeting shuts out all others from memlx'r- 
ship. 
Moss-back. 
