546 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. D»c. 



If iu the foregoing paragraph we have nieutioiied the principal 

 pests of the orchard, we fortunately have at hand remedial measures 

 for each that will reduce losses to a minimum and at the same time 

 improve the quality, appearance and keeping properties of the fruit. 



The essential tools of the orchardists of to-day are the cultivator 

 and the spray pump. Both should he spelled with capital letters 

 and the proper uses of each be fully understood. 



If the orchard is unthrifty, the cause may be looked for at the 

 foundation of the trees; it may need fertilizing and cultivation. If 

 on the other hand single trees or a portion of the orchard are sud- 

 denly checked in growth, or give other evidences of injury, like wilt- 

 ing leaves or dropping of fruit, the cause may prove to be an attack 

 of fungus growth or an infestation of some insect. If the apples 

 drop soon after forming, or if they are wormy, the codling moth is 

 undoubtedly present. If the leaves are eaten bodily, some one of 

 the many caterpillars or beetles may be blamed. If the plums drop 

 before ripening, a little crescent mark on the surface proves the 

 curculios injury. If the trees bloom but fail to set fruit, possibly 

 the bud moth or case bearers are at work. If peaches ripen prema- 

 turely, or if they fail to grow the cause must be found. 



If ''honey dew" is abundant the aphides abound. If the leaves 

 and fruit of pears are blackened and sticky look for psylla. Ascer- 

 tain the cause of the trouble and apply the remedy. Every orchar- 

 dist should acquire some information relative to the insects and 

 fungous pests that surround him. A few leaves, twigs or fruits 

 that are not in normal condition can be mailed to your Experiment 

 Station with an explanatory letter. The various Stations have illus- 

 trated bulletins on the principal pests of the orchard. Study the life 

 history of a certain insect from the ef!;(i: state to the larva, the 

 cocoon,, the pupa and the adult. 



Classify, or at least observe, the difference in the habits of insects, 

 and you will soon learn where in the life of an insect a poison or 

 other remedy will be most beneficial. 



A small hand-glass one magnifying from 12 to 20 diameters will 

 be found useful. Fungous species are more difficult to classify, but 

 afford to ihe trained mind an unbounded field of interest. Bacteria 

 are known to be the cause of certain diseases of plant life and the 

 causes of two important diseases of the peach still remain obsciTre. 



It is along these lines that scientific students of entomology, my- 

 cology, chemistry and of horticulture have devoted their attention 

 in the past few years. The results of their work may be summed 

 up in the statement," that 't/iey'e'is a practicable remedy for the more 

 important pests that the orchardists and fruit grower 'must comhat to 

 live hy his hiisiness, 



