866 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 

 Fruit-wohms IX Nova Scotia. 



For a number of years fruit-growers have complained of the damage caused by 

 Fruit-worms and their inability to control them owing largely to ignorance of their 

 Uabits. During 1913, Mr. Sanders continued his studies which were commenced in 

 1 912, and found that instead of one species there were probably about twelve injurious 

 species belonging to the genera Xylina, Calocampa, and Scopelosoma. By far the com- 

 monest species is Xylina heihunei. Their injury to the fruit is responsible for con- 

 %'erting a large proportion of apples of grades Nos. 1 and 2 to grade No. 3. 



The winter is passed in the adult state, the moths hibernating under rubbish, grass, 

 etc. In the early spring the adults emerge and deposit their ^gs on the apple twigs. 

 The eggs hatch in about a fortnight and the caterpillars feed on the leaves and fruit 

 until about midsummer when they drop to the ground and pupate in the soil. About 

 two months later the moths emerge. In the spraying experiments the most valuable 

 •spray for Green Fruit-worm appeared to be that applied after the falling of the 

 •blossoms, the usual codling moth spray. Clean cultivation and destruction of rubbish 

 •is also an important factor in controlling this pest. The spraying experiments and 

 observations are being continued during the coming season. 



There is no doubt that when it is realized how the production and the proportion 

 of high grade fruit may be increased, that systematic spraying along the lines of Mr. 

 fiander's results will be more generally carried out, and for this reason the demonstra- 

 tion work he is doing will prove of inestimable value to the fruit-growers of the prov- 

 ince. Already there are signs of a greater inclination and desire not only to spray but 

 to spray systematically and with knowledge of the objects of spraying. 



The Curculios of Plum and Apple in Quebec. 



At Covey Hill,, Que., Mr. C. E. Fetch continued his studies of the Plum Curculio 

 (Conotrachelus nenuphar) and the Apple Curculio (Anthonomus qiiadrigihbus) which 

 were commended in 1912. The complete failure of the fruit crop in the district severely 

 handicapped the work. In the orchards in which the work was being carried on, 1,800 

 trees produced only a peck of apples, and very few plums were gathered from 200 trees. 

 Nevertheless, progress was made in a study of the life-histories of these species, suscep- 

 tibilities of varieties to attack and control measures. 



Apple Maggot in Ontario. 



A third season's work on the Apple Mag-got (Rhagoletis pomonella) was carried on 

 loy Mr. W. A. Ross. The insect was remarkably scarce, however, and in orchards which 

 had been previously badly infested, considerable difficulty was experienced in securing 

 adults. Most of the work was carried on at Bowmanville, Ont. In addition to further 

 studies on tlie life-history and habits of the insect the experiments on control measures 

 were continued. These included the testing of a number of soil insecticides, cultivation, 

 the use of poultrj^ and spraying with sweetened arsenicals. It was found that the 

 in&ect may remain in the soil in the pupal stage for two years. In July, 1913, flies 

 emerged from 1911 pupae. Healthy 1912 pupae were found which will no doubt emerge 

 in the coming season (1914). 



Mr. Ross commenced a study of the Aphides affecting fruit in western Ontario 

 where the aphids on apple are particularly injurious to the foilage of young nursery 

 stock and to young apples. The four commonest species on apple are the Apple Aphis 

 (A. pomi); the Grain Aphis [Hydaphis (Siphocoryne) avenc^l; the Rosy Apple Aphis 

 (A. sorbi); and the Woolly Apple Aphis {Scliizonenra lanigera'). The Green Peach 

 Aphis (Myzus persicae) was particularly abundant in the fall of 1913. 



OWAWA. 



