Lice Threaten the Hop and Apple Crop, and the State Says Spray Now

TACOMA, Aug. 13. — [Special.] — Secretary Tonneson, of the state board of horticulture, finds that hop and apple leaf lice have been increasing rapidly in Western Washington during the past few weeks. He says:

"Spraying in hop fields must now be pushed vigorously in order to save the crop. If another good spraying is given young apple trees it will perhaps suffice this season, as the wood should now begin to ripen up. The most safe and practical remedy for these plant lice in this part of the state is the quassia chips and whale-oil wash. Soak eight pounds of quassia at least twelve hours in eight gallons of water. Dissolve seven pounds of soap by boiling in sufficient water to cover it; strain and add the two ingredients together, stir thoroughly and dilute to make 100 gallons, used for the hops. For the apple leaf lice it may be necessary to dilute only with seventy-five gallons of water, as these are more difficult to exterminate than the hop lice. Some experimenting may be necessary to determine the amount of water to be added when spraying young apple trees, as the foliage of some varieties is very tender. The solution must be of sufficient strength to kill the lice, yet there should not be enough soap to destroy the leaves."

Commenting on the fruit crop and markets, Mr. Tonneson says:

"The large fruit crop of Eastern Washington is now being picked and sent to the Sound, also to through markets. Daily advices from Garnett Bros., Chicago, show that Pacific Coast fruits are holding up well in price. Bartlett pears have been selling from $1.50 to $2 per box, and plums, prunes and pears from $1.40 to $2 per box. The markets at St. Paul and Minneapolis are generally about the same, and the demand very good. If the fruits of this state could reach there in good condition there should be a good margin for the producer, but here is the great difficulty — fruit growers of Washington must do better."

Some of his picking and packing ideas are as follows:

"The fruit must be picked before it is fully ripe so it will hold up ten days, then graded, wrapped and boxes well filled. Several shipments have come from North Yakima to the Sound which will not begin to compare with fruit of a like variety packed further south on this coast. The fruit was over-ripe, it was not wrapped, the plums were put into peach boxes and the boxes were not well filled; consequently, while the fruit might be of as good quality and the quantity equal, it sold for only about two-thirds the price paid for like fruit where boxes were well filled. The profit or loss of fruit growers of Eastern Washington this season now depends on how they pick and pack their fruit."