FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 437 



THE CODLING MOTH. 



Many insects, when full-fed, as larvae, seek some crevice or other place of 

 concealment in which to pupate. This habit of the apple worm — larva of the 

 codling moth — has furnished us with the only successful method yet practiced 

 for its overthrow. If cloth or thick paper bands be placed about the trees — 

 they may be fastened with tack or string — these will, in the absence of rubbisli 

 about the trees and rough bark scales on the tree-trunks, attract nearly every 

 larva that passes from the fruit. Some will leave the lianging fruit and crawl 

 down to the band ; others will escape from the fallen apples and pass up the 

 trunk till the band is reached, when they will crawl underneath, spin their 

 frail cocoons and become chrysalids. The bands should be in place by June 

 25. Should be examined by July 10, and thus on every 10th day till August 

 1, and again after the fruit is gathered. The best way to kill the insects is to 

 loosen the bands and crush with the thumb. Four cents a tree Avould cover all 

 expense, and by cooperation of all in a neighborhood it might be made even 

 less. AVill you neglect this longer? 



Many insects like the chinch bug — happily not troublesome in our State — the 

 squash bug, etc., hibernate in winter, crawling for protection iinder or into 

 rubbish heaps, under corn stalks left in the field, etc. Burning up all such 

 heaps in winter will not only cremate these pests, but add to the farmer's rep- 

 utation for neatness. 



It is well known that the chinch bugs and army worms, after devastating 

 one field, march with merciless tread to another. Deep furrows or ditches are 

 sometimes made about the threatened field, with steep side towards it, and as 

 this becomes full of the migratory pests straw should be added, and all burned 

 together. Trapping the codling moth in the cellar by having the windows all 

 closely screened in May and June, and forcing them to tarry and die where 

 they are impotent to do harm, is a wise precaution which should never be 

 neglected. 



DESTRUCTION OF EGGS. 



The eggs of most insects are too small and inconspicuous to be easily gath- 

 ered. In a few cases, however, this is a practical method. The clustered brown 

 eggs of the squash-bug underneath the leaves are quickly seen. The yellow 

 clusters of the potato beetle are conspicuous. The concentrated rows of the 

 currant saw flies' eggs, along the veins of the leaves, are quickly discovered by 

 the minute holes cut out by tlie earliest hatched slugs. The little green eggs of 

 the cabbage butterfly, though obscure, are quickly seen with a little practice, 

 and their riddance from small cabbage plants would afford useful employment 

 for children. 



In some cases early sowing of grain will help to avoid insects. This is true 

 of the wheat midge. Late sowing or planting is sometimes successfully prac- 

 ticed with the Hessian fly, the cut worms, the pea weevil and the radish fly. 



GOOD CULTURE. 



It is almost superfluous to state that thorough culture, which means a sys- 

 tematic rotation of crops, ample fertilization, and deep tillage, will do much 

 to insure against calamity from insects. Many insects choose the weakest 

 plants, and it is a principle broad as nature that the strong will survive calam- 

 ity, while the weak go to the wall. Grow only vigorous varieties, keep much 

 stock, which means much manure. Apply this wisely and then till thoroughly, 

 and you will do much to solve this whole question. 



