48 ACRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



is being practiced more and more, especially as the fruit has 

 been somewhat smaller in size than is desirable. A few prefer 

 the mulch system and some beautiful fruit has been produced 

 by this method. 



Only a few thin their fruit, but those that have done this are 

 enthusiastic over the results they have obtained and will do 

 more of it from now on. 



Renovation is being carried on steadily and is rendering land 

 more and more valuable. Fewer varieties are being planted 

 and the growing of fruit is being put upon a more business-like 

 basis. 



INSECTS OF THE ORCHARD. 



Green Aphis. In point of numbers the green aphis has been 

 our worst pest. On the tender shoots of young trees they have 

 been particularly abundant, checking and sometimes completely 

 killing back the growth of the season; on the older trees, es- 

 pecially those that have been trimmed heavily, the tender growth 

 has been badly infested and hard to treat efifectively. 



On the fruit itself, evidence of their work has been discov- 

 ered, it being slightly misshapen and presenting a stung appear- 

 ance. Undoubtedly the lime-sulphur, as the dormant spray, 

 killed many of the eggs and aided greatly in controlling the 

 pest. Summer sprays, kerosene emulsion, tobacco infusion, 

 soap solutions, etc., have been both satisfactory and unsatis- 

 factory in places used; kerosene has tended to injure the foliage 

 to a greater extent than the other materials, but this has been 

 clue to lack of care in preparing and to too concentrated solu- 

 tions. Ivory soap, i pound to 10 gallons of water, was used on 

 some orchards and proved very effective. It has been found 

 that these sprays are all more effective when used in damp 

 weather, or in the late afternoon, than wdien applied on warm 

 sunshiny days; this may be due to the rapid evaporation, but is 

 certainly true. Under unfavorable weather conditions the 

 twigs were partially infested, even after being completely im- 

 mersed a short time in properly made solutions. Greater care 

 must be exercised in the future if we arc to successfully con- 

 trol this pest. 



Blister Mite. The rapidity with which this orchard mite is 

 increasing in numbers is alarming the orchardists through the 



