94 Bulletin 142. 



as large in many parts of Europe as it is in America. Conservative 

 estimates put the annual loss from its ravages, in all countries where 

 it is noticeably destructive and but little is done to check it, at from 25 

 to 75 per cent, of the crop of apples; but with pears the loss is usually 

 considerably less. Where modern methods of combating the insect 

 are practiced this percentage is often reduced one half or more. 



We have seen but two estimates of how many dollars this pest may 

 cost fruit-growers annually. In 1887, Professor Forbes, after making 

 careful experiments and observations, and making all allowances for 

 modifying circumstances, reached the conclusion that the annual loss- 

 due to the apple-worm in the state of Illinois must reach the enormous 

 total of $2,375,000, or one-half the value of the average apple crop. 

 In 1892, the insect is said to have caused a loss of $2,000,000 to the 

 apple-growers of Nebraska. 



Through the kindness of the American Agriculturist in furnishing us 

 with the statistics, we will hazard an estimate at the annual tribute 

 which our New York apple growers pay for the ravages of this pest. 

 The average annual crop of apples in New York now amounts to 

 about 5,000,000 barrels; as $1.50 per barrel would seem a fair average 

 valuation, the total valuation of the annual crop may be estimated at 

 $7,500,000. Although many New York fruit-growers are fighting this 

 insect with modern methods, we think that the wormy apples would 

 constitute at least one-third of the total crop. That is, New York 

 fruit-growers yearly furnish $2,500,000 worth of apples to feed this 

 insect; and there must be added to this at least $500,000 worth of 

 pears (certainly a low estimate for New York) which the same insect 

 renders worthless. This makes a tax of $3,000,000 which a single 

 insect levies and collects each year from the fruit-growers of our state. 



Its Food. 

 The insect feeds mostly upon fruits, and is, above all, an apple pest. 



ft 



It has also worked in pears from the earliest times ; in fact, it was first 

 named a *' pear-eater " in 1635 (see this quaint account in figure 126). 

 Sometimes the insect works in pears as freely as in apples, but usually 

 the percentage of wormy i)ears is considerably less. Wild haws, crab 

 apples, and quinces are also quite freely eaten by the worms. Some- 

 times the insect works in the stone fruits. In 1868, Saunders reported it 



