50 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



with an arsenical poison. Probably 80% of the larvse of the 

 moth enter the calyx end of the apple so that the importance of 

 the poison at that point is readily apparent. The cup closes 

 rapidly ^d if spraying is delayed too long it is impossible to 

 force the spray into the interior. 



SAN JOSE SCALE. 



Up to this last season but four infestations of the San Jose 

 scale had been found in this State. This year we found but one 

 infestation and that in a nursery in Eliot. One tree was dis- 

 covered badly infested and was at once carefully taken up and 

 burned. The remaining trees were gone over very thoroughly 

 but as far as could be determined at that time, no others were 

 infested. Specimen branches have been sent in and orchard 

 investigation asked for in some cases but always the pest has 

 been other than this scale. The chief danger of introduction is 

 through nursery stock, and provided trees are bought from 

 good nurseries at a normal price we should keep free from it. 



RAIEROAD WORM. 



Next to the coddling moth, the apple maggot, better known by 

 the popular term railroad worm, rendered the most fruit worth- 

 less. 



The Tallman Sweet, Fameuse, Nodhead and the sweet apples 

 in general suffered most, though the acid and sub-acid varieties 

 wxre not exempt. It is hard to control this pest in a satisfactory 

 manner, as spraying is not entirely effective and it is almost im- 

 possible to keep all of the windfalls picked up, especially those 

 which fall early in the season before reaching maturity. 



It is particularly hard to fight this pest if the neighbor on the 

 right or left neglects to care for his orchard, as the adult flies 

 are capable of flying from one orchard to another. 



The use of sheep and hogs has often been recommended as a 

 practical method for controlling this pest. Neither are entirely 

 satisfactory, however, inasmuch as the latter are apt to cause 

 post-season growth, resulting in winter injury and as the former 

 prefer the foliage and low hanging fruit to the windfall. 



Deep spring plowing has proven as effective as any of the 

 preventive methods and is to be greatly encouraged. 



