—Lancaster Farming, Friday, June 15, 1956 10 Helicopter Spray Operations Over Solanco May Warrant Aircraft By ERNEST J. NEILL Dr. C. M. Voss, entomologist at Gettysburg, Pa., today advis ed Lancaster Farming that in terest in helicopter crop spray ing in southern Lancaster Coun ty has created a desire to pro vide a permanent local helicopt er spraying service to growers of Lancaster County. Operating like an Army task force, the helicopter moved into Solanco last week to meet an invasion of pea aphids on the Gibbs Food, Inc, farms near Quarryville and at the experi mental farm near Little Texas. Casualties, when estimated, proved almost a 90 per cent kill. Presence of the whirly-bird aroused no end of interest copters and two Super Cub among other farmers, both those cruisers to agricultural a\ ala growing peas for Gibbs, and tion, for spraying, dusting and those producing crops on their seeding In addition, the firm own. Gibbs was the first to con- does commercial flying and tract fpr use of the helicopter photography Pilots during the in Lancaster County, and the Lancaster County stay were one in use came from Helicopters Tjj c jj a rd Case, former Marine for Agriculture, New England l ... „ . .. „ , . „ T „„ c . pilot, from Connecticutt, and Helicopter Service, Inc, State SAVE AND EARN With Lancaster’s Oldest Building and 4% currently paid on 3% on 3q/ on optional shares credited /Q semi-annually Your money invested in first mortgages on 1 Lancaster County homes "American Mechanics Building and Loan Association Call or See Joseph R. Byars, Attorney, 58 N Duke St, Lancaster, Pa. 1 , We're in a trading mood! If you act now, we'll offer you a top price for your present tractor on a new John Deere. Here's your big opportunity to own a modern John Deere Tractor —at sub stantial savings—and enjoy easier, more profitable farming this year and for years to come. F. H. SHOTZBERGER J. U. NEUHAUSEB & SONS WENGER IMPL CO. Elm, Pa. Ph’ Manheim 5-2141 Airport, Warwick, Rhode Island Should demand warrant in vestment in a helicopter, it would be based at Gettysburg, where Dr Voss headquarters. Control of insects and plant dis eases could be handled on a moment’s notice, so to speak. It must be considered, however, that the investment would be in I the neighborhood of $40,000 or more. I Through Veryl (Dutch) Barr, [manager of the experimental (farm at Little Texas, who super vised'the spraying program here, more was learned of the aerial spraying service. The company which did work in Lancaster County has applied five heh- Loan Association shares full paid shares - payable semi-annually installment We have just the tractor you need adM we'll gladly demonstrate its unmatched lugging power, economy, and ease d handling right on your farm—and mffie you a real money-saving proposition. Phone us or drop in soon. If you wish, your purchase canjbe arranged on convenient terms throSjh the John Deere Credit Plan Bird-In-Hand Ph. Lane 3-0723 Helicopters for agriculture came into reality locally last week with the spraying operations in the southern end of Lancas ter County where a 90 per cent kill of pea aphis was reported on Gibbs Foods,' Inc., Dr. Voss. Assisting in refueling and reloading operations was Gale Melms of Colorado. Advantages of the helicopter requirements. Growers can are many in agriculture Winged P°* nt out * rom helicopter aircraft face danger of stalling, boundaries and spots of in speeds must be maintained at a befoia spraying or high level to prevent -stalling; fast pull-ups are necessary for trees, telephone and high ten sion lines, and hills As a result some portions could be missed in a field being sprayed, and as all pilots well know crop dusting at one time held a high casualty rate Hills and woods of Lancaster County make the helicopter especially desirable. Loading of spray and dusts can be done on the grower’s property, as the landing arga re quirements of the helicopter Buck, Pa. Ph. BUTLER 4-44b7 Lancaster Farming by Helicopter are small. This gives the grow er complete supervision of the program, custom-tailored to his by marking the fields with a newspaper page or piece of cloth thereby eliminating mistakes or misunderstandings. Flies at 35 Miles Per Hour Since the helicopter can fly 'at much lower speeds (opera tions in southern Lancaster I County were at an approximate 35 miles per hour) more chemi cal is forced into and under the I foliage, and danger of drift is j lessened The downwash of the rotor gives better penetration of spray or dust and under-surface J coverage, as well as smooth, even spread of chemical across the swath Helicopters are able to get into tight corners and ob structed areas. Spot treatment of heavily infested areas and slow er flight to increase the deposit can be easily accomplished. | Helicopters can safely handle rough and hilly lei rain and caa .spray with winds in excess of ten miles per hopr with good insect control. Perfect visibility and rapid control response help the pilot do an efficient job and swath control with short turns can be veiy accurate There are many ways the I helicopter can be ot use m Lan -1 caster County, such as was 'shown by the emergency call jmade by Gibbs Proven applica tions have been made on can ning crops for pea aphids, bean , beetles, corn worms and beetles, tomato and potato blight and in sects In fruit crops, the heli copter has checked 'coddling moth, mites, scab and other dis eases in apple?, and has applied stop-drop hormone Brown rot and insects in peaches have been curbed. Legume and crop insects, tobacco blue mold and insects have been stopped Helicopters have been used in mosquito and fly conti 01. Cank er worm and gypsy moth in shade trees have been eliminat ed and weed control on field crops has been proved success ful For commercial applications, brush control on hillsides and power-line right-of-ways ' has been successfully accomplished by the helicopter | mw - -cV. 200 Acres Spiayed Here According to “Dutch” Barr, 1 200 acres were sprayed, both on the Gibbs experimental farm and on the farms of contract grow ers. Possibilities of its applica- experimental farms near Little Texas. This photo shows how close the helicopter can operate "to crops, forcing chfemicals between the plants, to the underside of leaves to the ground. tion in tobacco and tomato in festations and ailments are also reality. I To show its flexibility, while at the