Expert: Richard Clark - 5/22/2004

Question
hey richard,

thanks for your help on my previous questions---i have another one for you---do you know in the early 1900's what farmers would use in substitute for pesticides since the chemicals were not around then?---specifically for apple orchards--if you have info on other crops too that would be great as well--thanks so much---keith

Answer
Thanks for the positive feedback, that was nice.
It would be my guess that what the worms did not eat the family was able to harvest. Here I have some apples, when there are just a few because of freezing or not being pollinated there is more damage by worms than when there is alot of apples. It should be the same back then. The other problem I can think of would be the birds. They eat more than a person would realize even now, so back then it might be worse because of the storage we have now. I would also guess they planted to make up for any loss, even though it cost more and most of them did not have the extra money.
Hope this gives you a little bit more to work with.
Richard