How to Protect Fruit from Insects.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1797, 12 January 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

How to Protect Fruit from Insects.

Fbuit and forest trees, shrubbery, vines, and flowers have been more infested with bugs and worms this year in this part of the country than for a long time, and gardeners are put to their wits' end to know how to get rid of their enemy. The advice given below is selected from the writings of experienced horticulturists, and Forest, Forge, and Farm recommends the trial of some of the remedies. " Oils of all kinds are deadly to most insects. Kerosene cau only be used by diluting with water. To mix oils with water, first combine them with milk, then dilute, as desired, with water. Sour beer and molasses attract moths, spread on boards placed in the orchards or on trunks of trees. Paris green is very effectual when it can be well applied; one pound mixed with twenty-five pounds of flower of plaster is sufficiently strong? Of London purple use only one part by weight to fifty parts of flour or plaster. The commom ground beetles, the lace-winged flies, and the well known 'lady bugs,' are old friends of the horticulturist, and should be protected. As regards the noxious insects, the coddling moth ranks, for destructiveness, nearly at the top of the list. Paper or cloth bands are used, applied every ten days through epr'ng and early summer, and in connection with the use of a proper wash. The apple tree borers, of which there are several kinds, are enemies of the apple, the quince, and some other trees. When observed, cut the larvae out with a knife and place a sheet of tarred roofing felt about the collar of the trees to prevent further ravages. Dustinga of lime are effectual with the cherry and pear slugs, abundant in moist regions, such as about Puget Sound. The plum curculio, which is not here yet, but is perhaps on the way, ia an enemy that at present cannot be conquered. There is no remedy known except the jarring process, to commence as soon as the fruit sets, and jar the tree three times a week for a month. This shakes off the curculio bitten fruit, and it should be gathered up and destroyed. The steel blue beetle known as the grape flea beetle nips the vine in the bud ; the larvre feed on the leaves in the summer. The beetles are jarred off the vines in the early morning, over an inverted umbrella, or lime is used; for the larvas, alum water. One ounce of alum to a gallon of warm water destroys the strawberry worm ; so does white hellebore. Hand picking is about the only remedy for the gooseberry fruit worm. The currant borer is troublesome. Gut out and burn all infected branches. Do the same with the raspberry twig girdler."