Report of State Board of Horticulture. G9 



stated that in 1868, in the vicinity of London, it was scarcely 

 possible to find a single fruit uninfested by the codling moth, 

 although there was an abundant apple crop. Recent reports 

 seem to indicate that the injury is still as great in some parts 

 of Europe as in America. During the past half century the 

 losses in this country from the ravages of this pest have been 

 enormous. Hardly a horticultural report from any apple 

 growing region is to be found that does not mention its de- 

 structive work. In 1887, Forbes made careful observations 

 that led to the conclusion that the annual loss in Illinois from 

 the codling moth is not less than $2,375,000 — one-half the 

 value of the average apple crop of the State. In 1892, the 

 loss in Nebraska is said to have reached at least $2,000,000. 

 Slingerland estimates that in New York, with many growers 

 employing modern methods of fighting the insect, the average 

 loss is fully one-third of the total crop — a loss of $2,500,000 

 Avorth of apples and $500,000 worth of pears. He also states 

 that "conservative estimates put the annual loss from its 

 ravages, in all countries where it is noticeably destructive, 

 and but little is done to check it, at from 25 to 75 per cent of 

 the crop of apples, but with pears the loss is considerably 

 less." 



I do not intend to argue that the codling moth will become 

 •equally destructive in all localities, or that the degree of its 

 destructiveness is entirely independent of climatic conditions. 

 It is known that the seriousness of its depredations varies 

 iDoth with the locality and the season. It is admitted that 

 "temperature is the great factor which controls the geo- 

 :graphical distribution of life, and temperature is at the back 

 of all those apparent living first causes which control the 

 abundance of a species in a given region, provided we trace 

 them far enough." I do wish to suggest, however, that in 

 the case of an insect that has exhibited such a wide range of 

 adaptability to varied climatic conditions as has the codling 

 moth, that it is not likely that anywhere within the limits of 

 this State are these conditions to be relied upon to prevent 

 its development in injurious numbers. 



I believe that neither actual nor prospective fruit growers 

 should allow themselves to be in the least discouraged by re- 



