226 Transactions of tiie 



that the insect eggs were deposited on the fruit while drying in the sun, 

 or that such eggs arc ever so deposited, and that they were deposited 

 in or near the fruit after it Mas dried and taken out of the sunlight. In 

 support of his theory, he relates bis experience in fruit drying as fol- 

 lows, which, being v sry interesting, and in regard to a very important 

 matter, we quote in full: 



"In the Summer of eighteen hundred and sixty-five my first attempt at 

 fruit drying was made. The product — about one thousand four hundred 

 pounds of apricots — was. after being dried, placed in a closely sealed 

 room of a new building, the doors and windows closed securely, and as 



the room contained nothing else, the fruit was supposed to be secure 

 from insi cts. The fruit was spread upon the floor. An examination of 

 the fruit in December following, revealed thousands of insects in which 

 there appeared no variety. The insects were recognized as our old 

 acquaintance, whose enmity we had incurred during our apiarian pur- 

 suits in former years, being nothing hut the moth in arva and pupa 

 states. Having satisfied myself of the nature of the disease, 1 began 

 to search for a remedy. Knowing that the direct rays of the sun were 

 destructive to the insects up to the fourth stage of its existence, and 

 also that the perfect insect is never or rarely seen on wing in full sun- 

 light, my course was plain, and was as follows: to secure the fruit 

 when fully dry, in such parcels as will prevent the ingress of the enemy; 

 be sure that the packages are close; avoid sacks and all fabrics and 

 rough lumber upon which the insect can find a lodgment for its eggs; 

 secure the fruit before the decline of the sun, or before dampness com- 

 mences; place the fruit in a dry storeroom — one free from moth is best. 

 If the packages are secure and the room is open to the moth, you may 

 find the larva of the insect on your packages or on the walls, but }"0U 

 will find none in your packages. 



"In the season of eighteen hundred and sixtj'-six, eleven tons of fruit 

 were dried — three shipments of which, pears, were made from the same 

 to New York; the first shipment being made in March, eighteen hun- 

 dred and sixty-seven, by steamer, consisting of two thousand two hun- 

 dred pounds. The two other shipments were made in July or August 

 following (the dates are taken from memory and may be inaccurate;,, by 

 sail vessels, around the Horn. The fruit sold for seventeen, eighteen, and 

 twenty cents per pound respectively. No insects reported. 



" ddie two succeeding crops, consisi ing principally of plums and prunes, 

 were packed in boxes of ten pounds each, and sold to A. Lusk A: Co., 

 San Francisco, the entire lot. The first of the two was s«dd in May or 

 June, and at the time of its sale no insects were discovered in the fruit. 

 A. Lusk & Co. sold almost the entire lot to liooler A; Co., Denver, Colo- 

 rado, who also purchased largely, if not all, of the next crop. The price 

 paid us was identically the same for each crop. As no insects were re- 

 ported, and as both lots avc re sold at the same figures, it is presumed 

 that none appeared. 



" From the crop of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, fifty boxes were 

 retained from sale; these we have now on hand, and by the courtesy of 

 -r-. - ■_ e & Boggs, First street, San .Jose, we are permitted to place 

 tie in — togel her \\ it h some samples of the crop of eighteen hundred and 

 seventy-four — in their store, for the inspection of those who feel an in- 

 terest in this industry. It is proper here to remark thai these fruits have 

 1 • n subjected to no process for the purpose of killing the eggs of in- 

 sects, but have been treated substantially in accordance with the method 



