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If we consider for a moment how minute is the quanlity of arsenic that can, under 

 the most favourable circumstances, remain in the calyx of an apple, we shall see at 

 once how absurd this fear is ; for even if the poison that originally killed the worm 

 remained intact one would have to eat many barrels ot apples at a meal to get a 

 sufficient quantity to poison a human being. Moreover, much of the poison is 

 washed off by rain and some of it thrown off by natural growth of the apple, so that 

 there is as a rule nothing left of the poison in the garnered fruit. Add to this the 

 further fact that few people eat apples raw, without casting away the calyx and 

 stem-ends, the only parts where any could, under the most favourable circumstances, 

 remain, and that these parts are always cut away in cooking, and we see how utterly 

 groundless are any fears of injury, and how useless any prohibitive measure against 

 American apples on this score. " 



THE EYE-SPOTTED BUD-MOTH. 



{Tmetocera ocellana, Schiff.) 



Attack. — Early in the spring, a small, dark brown, caterpillar, about J inch in 

 length, with head and collar black, and having the body dotted with small protube- 

 rances, each of which bears a slender short hair, is found destroying the fiuit buds 

 of apple, pear, plum, and some other trees belonging to the large Eose family. 

 Frequently, having destroyed the flower buds, these little caterpillars do much 

 harm by boring down the centre of the twig. 



In 1885 I found in Nova Scotia some small larvae, enclosed in silken cells, 

 which they had spun in the roughnesses of the bark of fruit spurs upon apple 

 trees. Upon one or two occasions last year the method of passing the winter 

 of this insect was discussed at scientific meetings, but there seemed to be doubt 

 about the matter. This winter I have made careful search upon apple trees 

 and upon some twigs, which were sent to me by Dr. Young, bearing the larvae of a 

 small Coleophora. In every case I have been able to find the larvae of this moth 

 enclosed in small silken cells, covered over with, apparently, the excrement of the 

 caterpillar, so that I am convinced that for this part of Canada and Nova Scotia, 

 this is the usual mode of passing the winter. • In early spring these small cater- 

 pillars leave their cells and crawl to the nearest opening buds and begin their 

 aggravating work of destruction. Later they attack the leaves, two or three of which 

 they attach together. During the past season the Eye-spotted Bud-moth has been 

 very abundant, so much so that it has probably been the most notable injurious 

 insect of the season. During May and June many letters were received : 



" May 6. — I send you to-day apple-blossoms. You will find in them a small, black 

 worm, which is cutting them before they open. These blossoms were picked off my 

 place in the township of Grantham, county Lincoln." — P. G. Stewart, Homer, Ont. 



" May 25. — Enclosed find specimens of leaves containing little, brownish-coloured 

 grubs. They are found near the points of twigs of both plum and apple trees. 

 They are sometimes found in a little whitish covering, surrounded by a curled leaf. 

 They are quite numerous, as many as half-a-dozen being taken from a two-year-old 

 tree." — F. Mulholland, Yorkville, Ont. 



'* May 25. — I send you a few peach buds, which have been destroyed by a small, 

 brown worm, from -J to f of an inch in length. They seem to be more destructive 

 on the smaller and younger trees than large ones. We also find the same worm in 

 both plum and pear trees. My neighbours are also noticing them in their trees." 

 — Geo. Lentz, Bartonville, Ont. 



" May 28. — The bud-moth, of which I spoke to you in a former letter, has been 

 exceedingly abundant in this section this spring, every tree being disSgured by its 

 attacks. I think we must be careful to take steps to destroy it another spring, or it 

 will materially lessen our crop of apples, pears, quinces and peaches." — L. Wool- 

 VERTON, Grimsby, Ont. 

 7p— 13J 



