THE RURAL WORLD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 387, 16 August 1911, Page 6

THE RURAL WORLD.

ERADICATION OF WOOLLY APHIS. W. H. Taylor Some experiments have been conducted at the Weraroa Experimental Farm on the eradication of woolly aphis—experiments based on an experience of seventeen years ago, when some trees were cleaned by me, and remained clean for years. The means then employed was a strong solution of lime, salt and sulphur, applied with a brush.

It has long been plain that to reach the aphis in their living-place by means of a spray-pump would require an unreasonab'e quantity of material, while a long time would be required in saturating each tree. It is still more impossible to do any real good in summer, when foliage makes effective work very difficult. I have applied a number of different materials in search of something that would be lasting in effect, easily and quickly applied, and not injurious to the trees. The following have been tried, with the results stated: Methylated spirits —too volatile; not lasting in effect. Kerosene emulsion without further addition of water, and neat kerosene — both injurious to bark. Neatsfootoil and castor-oil —to each of these oils kerosene waa added; it was found that with the addition of kerosene it took too long to apply effectively, and at the best the trees only remained clean until about midsummer.

My lest trial was with emulsified red-oils, Neptune and Vacuum. They are, in effect, the same. Trees were first sprayed with Neptune red-oil in the ordinary way; the rough places on trees caused by the aphis, and in which they shelter during the winter, were then treated with the emulsified oil without additional watur. A small half-worn paint-brush was used. I found the oil penetrated well, very little being necessary. Over two acres of treees were treated, mostly only partially, and less than a quart of oil was used. Some trees of Adam's Pearmain that were badly affected last year was thoroughly cleaned. These trees ajo still clean, though they have not been touched snee August. In cases where trees Were only partially cleaned blight is present on all parts not treated, but in no case has an insect of any sort heen found on a treated place, though many interested people have soni-ched. All the treated places snil the few trees that were !;ho.ro!i;_,!ily cleaned will require uo treatment, next winter. The time required for the brush is I very trifling. A moderate-she tree i.e., one capable of producing four cases of fruit can be treated in less than ten minutes.

I am confident that this method of treatment supplies a complete solution of the problem of' dealing with woolly aphis in a very thorough manner, and at about one tenth the cos' of incfiYetual summer spraying. The trees arc j here to see, una have been seen ami J critically examined. j Sunlight sap is being iailccd of as ; a cleanser of trees, I have made some ; experiments to ascertain its value. I One in particular is interest ine,. Karly in January I cleansed part of a badly blighted tree with red oil. as ahoy.,'. The next tree to it, oqii.Jl.Y baoly blighted, I cleaned (pa;-'; •<nl\) with Suniight soap, using the soa.p as strong as possible with a brush. In about a month there was nothing io show iimd anything had been done to the tr-.v treated with the soap, every part being, and still is. revered with aphis On the other tr?e the parts cleaned with oil are still ek-an. Where part of a rough place was oiled, the part, so I treated is clean, ami (!)■•> other part is covered with aphis. No injury ■■•!':;:'• lit in send out, ' asi year parth ularb- I iiiey wtre ruined by woolly a>'hi:-.. ;