LOCAL ORCHARD PESTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3979, 12 July 1915, Page 3

LOCAL ORCHARD PESTS.

SPRAYING CALENDAR COMPILED ADDRESS BY GOVERNMENT INSTRUCTOR. There was a good attendance ot local fruit-growers at Townley’s Hall on Saturday afternoon, when an address on fruit-tree spraying was delivered by the Government Orchard Instructor, Mr W. R. Lloyd-Williams. "I have prepared this paper,” commenced Mr Lloyd-Williams, “in response to numerous requests from farmers and . suburbanites who have small domestic orchards, and in doing so' I- have endeavored to put it into as simple language as possible. Before going any further, I think I should mention some of the essential elements which go to make success in the controll, by spraying, of the various pests and diseases which affect fruit trees. (I) Use only a reliable well-tested brand or mixture, (2) use the correct , compound (recommended by competent and unbiassed authorities), properly made and diluted to the right strength—guessing will not do, (3 apply at the proper time or times, (4) put it on with a good pump—one that willi , drive the liquid right into the cracks add crannies where disease is likely to lodge and one that is not at the blacksmith’s under repairs just when it is needed, (5) spray thoroughly anc! with a good pressure so as to cover every particle of the foliage, wood and fruit liable t-o be affected. This cannot be done without having the trees kept well open by pruning. Under present methods, successful control of disease is impossible unless each and all of those live conditions arc faithfully carried out, and those who are not prepared to fulfil'them would be greater friends to themselves and their neighbors it they went round their trees with axes instead of spray pumps. I consider that the fruit mdusuy in this district has a great future before it, and to those with small oomestic orchards I may. sav that, the greatest assistance they can give it, is to see that they keep their orchards clean, thus preventing the infection of commercial ones. I, therefore, strongly appeal to those, who have now, or who will in the future, have fruit trees, to make every effort to make their orchards clean and keep them so, thereby preventing the spread of disease from their own trees to others which have been kept cjer.n, reducing the cost of production an 1 putting us into a better position in compete in the markets of the wot Id. In making this appeal I do not confine myself to any class of grow.-r, the commercial grower equally with the man with a few trees, must assist. The hitter may have been somewhat handicapped in the oast through lack of knowledge, but it should not be so now, and here let mo say that if anyone is in difficulties and doubtful what to do, I shall, if he appeals to me, be only too pleased to assist in every possible way. The commercial grower is in a somewhat different position; he is earning Ins living by the production of fruit, and should therefore also make every endeavor to reduce disease so as to increase the quality and output of his marketable fruit. The question, at once arises Are you doing all that you can now towards having clean trees ? I regret very much to have to say that some of you are not ■ —you are not carrying out the principlesl of spraying which I have mentioned. for in too many eases your work is not sufficiently thorough, neither, in the ease of endlin moth, do you spray often enough. SPRAYING CALENDAR.

Now, coming to my spraying calendar, I desire it to he distinctly understood that as season;-' vary from year to year, so will the times for spraying vary. I shall, however, provide for tms by drawing attention to the fact from time to time whore necessary. Also let me say here that tins diary of spraying operations only cmhra.es the principle pests and diseases requiring annual control, as I do not wish to over-burden it. If any disease should occur amongst fruit trees which is not mentioned here, drop me a line and I shall be pleased to advise. As it may be said that the season's spraying ends with the last application for codlin moth in the autumn. I have decided to start the year’s work with the month of May. Details of the methods of preparing any mixtures I may mention will be given after completing the diary. MAY. Peaches and Nectarines. —If the trees have dropped their leaves this month, spray with Bordeaux Mixture (winter formula) to prevent Dicback. Lemons. — If suffering from brown rot spray with Bordeaux Mixture (summer formula) and top dress the soil well under the spread of the branches with two or three lbs of pulverised sulphate of iron and lightly work it in. JUNE. Peaches and Nectarines.—lf not done in May spray with Bordeaux Mixture (winter formula) to prevent dicback as> soon as the trees have dropped their leaves. Lemons. —Where necessary treat as advised for May. JULY. Apples.—To control mussel scale, San Jose scale and mealy bug and to lessen the attacks of woolly aphis, spray with Red Oil Emulsion. If the trees are badly affected use •• a strength of one part to 12 parts of water, if fairly clean make it one to 15 or 17. Pears. —Are greatly benefited by a spraying'of Red Oil Emulsion (1 to 15 or 17), as this keeps down the pear scale and also helps to control pear mite. Peaches and Nectarines. —Should these have San Jose scale or if they were attacked last season with black aphis spray with Red Oil Emulsion (1 to 20) while the treesi are dormant. Plums. —Especially the Japanese plums, are often affected with mussel scale, in which ease they should, while still dormant, be sprayed with Red Oil Emulsion (1 to 1.5 or 17). Gooseberrieso.o —When the sap is rising and the buds are beginning to swell up spray with Bordeaux Mixture (winter formula). AUGUST. Apples.—Providing they are still dormant and if not yet done, they may still be sprayed with Red Oil Emulsion as advised for July. Pears. —Early budding varieties may need attention for black spot or pear scab towards tlie end of the month. When the cluster buds open and the flowers are beginning to show color at the ends prior to opening they should be sprayed’ with Bordeaux Mixture (summer formula) or com'mercial lime-sulfar (1 part to 15 parts of water). Apricots, Peaches, Nectarines and Plums'—When the buds are actually swelling up and showing colour at the ends of the blossom buds, that is just before the flowers open, spray with Bordeaux Mixture (winter formula) or Lime-Sulfur (1 to 15) for the control of fungus diseases such as curly leaf, die-back, nhothole, etc. Oranges and Lemons.—Spray with Red Oil Emulsion (1 to 25) for controlling the black and red scales.; this will also remove the cause, of the black, sooty substance, so often, seen on tlio leaves of these tree's* SEPTEMBER.

Apples.—lf the buds have commenced to swell it is not wise to use the Red Q;1 Emulsion and if they have not already been done it would be safer to use the lime-sulfur (1 to 8), Rears.—Just when the cluster buds open and tbetflowers are beginning to show color at the "ends prior to opening, spray with Bordeaux Mixture (summer, formula) or Lime-Sulfur (1 to 15) to control pear scab or black spot, especially drenching the young flower stalks. •; . . Peaches and nectarines and' other

stone fruits which have not yet flowered and if not previously done, should be sprayed with Bordeaux Mixture (winter formula) or Lime-Sulfur (1 to 15) It is useless and exceedingly injurious to spray peaches and nectarines for curly leaf when it has once made its appearance—it is a case of prevention, not cure. Should the black aphis appear, spray at once with McDougal’s Insecticide or Tobacco Wash and repeat the application in five or six days’ time. OCTOBER. Apples and Quinces. —Towards the end of the month some of the earlier flowering varieties will have dropped tlioir blossoms—this is the right time to commence spraying for codlin moth, i.e., as soon as the blossoms have fallen and before the cavity at the topor eye end of the young forming fruit has' closed over. Use a good half ounce of arsenate of lead to each gallon of water. The object- of this spray is to place a small quantity of the fluid in the cavity I have mentioned so that when, as the fruit grows, the top of this is scaled over there, is a supply of the mixture in it which" will remain there throughout the season without any danger of it being washed out. The importance , of this will be realised when it is ; known that a large number of codlin ; grubs enter through this end. Now j I do not wish you to misunderstand j me—although this may protect the I eye end of the fruit, grubs will also j enter elsewhere unless there is a coat- j ing of spray all over to poison them j as they commence to nibble their way j in and, the fruit enlarging in size, ; soon outgrow s( this covering ; lienee the , need for frequent sprayings for codlin j moth, viz., every 15 to 17 days. Ap- I Eles in this district are hardly tron- ! led at all with the apple scab or black ! spot, except in the damper regions i such as Motu, but should it make its j appearance or should mildew affect the j tips of the young shoots add Lime- | Sulfur in the same proportion as I ] shall mention later for pears. ! Pears. —For codlin moth carry out the "Same treatment that I have de- ; scribed for apples, but for t-lie first two sprayings, so as to control pear scab or black spot, gdd one gallon of Limesultur to every 50 gallons of the arsenate of lead and water mixture; this would mean in small figures, two ounces of arsenate of load, two-thirds of a pint of Lime-sulfur to four gallons of water. The leaves of pear and quince trees that are not being sprayed for codin moth, as, for instance, yoiing trees which are not yet bearing, will often be attacked by a little black slug or leech which cats away the green surface. A good spraying with arsenate of load (half ounce to each gallon of water) as soon as it makes its appearance will soon cure it. Plums—Will! also bo affected by the leech and should be sprayed as soon as its presence is detected with Heleboro Powder.

Peaches and Nectarines. —Should the black aphis show up again spray with McDougal’s Insecticide (1 part to 50 parts* of water) or Tobacco 'Wash and repeat in five or six days. NOVEMBER. Apples and Quinces. —Spray with arsenate of load (a good half-ounce per gallon of water) for codlin motn every 15 to 17 days, if mussel scale and red mite have not been efficiently controlled oin the winter they will, towards the end of October and beginning of November, be emerging from under the mature shells or scales, when they should be attacked with Kerosene Emulsion (1 to 10 parts of water). If these pests are very bail and it is a question of getting into trouble for not having contorololedo trouble for not having controlled thorn J have often recommended a very weak Red Oil Emulsion, viz., one part of Emulsion to SO parts of water, there, is some little scorching of the foliage but this is quite compensated For by the effectiveness of the cure.

Pears. —The second spray for ecdlinmoth and pear scab with the coin"..ncd arsenate of lead and LimeSultur as recommended for October should go on 15 or 17 days after the first application, then drop out the Lime-Sulfur and use the arsenate of lead and water alone for codlin moth every 15 to 17 days. If the leech reappears on young trees give another application of arsenate of lead. Plums.—Spray again with Heleboro Powder should the leech become ■ active. DECEMBER. Apples, Pears and Quinces- —Continue spraying with arsenate of lead tor codlyi moth every 15 to 17 clays. Plums. —-Keep a look out for leech and use Heleboro again if necessary. Gooseberries. —Give a good spraying with Bordeaux Mixture (summer formula) or Lime-Sulfur (1 to 50) as soon as the crop is gathered for controlling leaf spot. JANUARY. Apples, Pears and Quinces.- —Towards the middle of January the codlin moths are hatching in very large numbers therefore it is nabshxoeoat numbers therefore it is absolutely nccessarv, if a bican crop'is to be secured, that a very thorough application of arsenate of lead (a good halfounce per gallon of water as before) should be made so that there will be a protective covering over the fruit when the young grubs start to eat Their way in. This should, judging by my experience of the last few seasons, he put on during the second week in January. Of course some of the early varieties will now be ready for picking and I might here mention that there is no necessity to spray within 10 days or a fortnight of picking, but at this season of the year they should be done not more than a fortnight before being gathered. Woolly anhis will now bo increasing very rapidly on apple trees and something should be done to keep it within bounds. Our instructor in Hawke’s Bay, Mr Campbell, recommends a resin and soda mitxuro combined with the arsenato of lead spray as being very effective. 'inis is made as follows: Boil 2 gallons ojbwatcr dissolve in it 11b of washing soda, add 1* Iba resin and continue boiling until the resin is thoroughly dissolved. Use three quarts of this to each 50 gallons of the arsenate of lead spray. FEBRUARY. Applos, Pears and Quinces —Almost the same remarks apply here as for January and the trees should therefore receive an application of arsenate of lead for codlin moth about the end of the first or beginning of the second week in February. Further spraying will entirely depend on *ue season. Should the weather break towards the end of the month and become colder the activity of the moth will be considerably lessened and the grower must use bis discretion as to the necessity for another apnlication, or if lie appeals to me I will always he pleased to advise. On the other hand if the summer is prolonged into March as has happened during the past three seasons, you may expect the moth to continue active and a spray with arsenate of lead should be applied the last week in February or the first week in March. I caiinot too strongly emphasise the noc-essity for those sprayings in January and February. There are, unfortunately, only too many in this district who spray religiously up to New Year and then slacken off. The inevitable result is late infection of codlin grubs in your late keeping and most valuable fruits. In many places since I first came to this district'have T found practically clean fruit up to the middle of January; going to these orchards a month later J. have seen a very considerable amount of grubby apples. lam sorry to say that this also includes some of our commercial orchards, and I most emphatically state after careful observation that the whole fault, in such instances, has lain in omitting the last two or three sprayings. I would therefore ask you to take, this ns a yew grave warning that by not efficcienfly controlling codlin moth you are seriously binder-.; ing a most promising industry. , .

{■ Woolly Aphis.— On apple trees j should be attended to as advised for ! January. MARCH. Apples, Pears and Quinces. —As advised under February an applica- } tion of arsenate of lead may bo necesj sary towards the end of last month ; or beginning of March for finally keeping the codlin moth under control. Woolly Aphis.—lf reappearing on apple trees should repeive an application of the resin and soda spray. APRIL. This has again brought us to our ! starting point and finishes the season ; so far as spraying is concerned unless ! possibly tlie woolly aphis may need at- - tention. During this month all spraying apparatus should bo thoroughly . overhauled and put into order so as ; t° he in readiness for future use, and I hero let me say that you should always keep your pump and hose clean | hy running through it plenty of dean water after each spraying, and after using oil put some washing soda in the water. You will find by giving your hose and pump these little attentions that you will prolong their days of usefulness, keep them m good working order and save yourself many a breakdown in the midst of spraying operations. (To bo continued.)