300 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE. 



blossoms had fallen by June 9 in 1894. In 1897 Card reports that the season 

 was later than usual in Nebraska, and the petals fell about May 8. In 1888 

 a calendar was kept of the date of blooming of different varieties of apples 

 in Kansas (First Rept. Kan. Expt. Sta. ); the calendar shows only a few days, 

 less than a week's, difference in time of blooming of the earliest and latest 

 varieties, most of them being in full bloom about April 21. 



The above evidence in regard to the blossoming time of apples as com- 

 pared with the dates of the emergence of the codling moths, indicates that 

 the moths may begin to emerge about the time the apple trees are in bloom. 

 But our bi'eeding experiments and what little definite evidence there is on 

 this point, indicate that the majority of the moths do not emerge until sev- 

 eral days after the petals have fallen. Then allowing a few days for the 

 preparation for oviposition, we should not expect, and, in fact, do not find 

 eggs until a week or more after the petals drop. Another week must elapse 

 before the eggs hatch, so that, theoretically, we should find but few worms 

 until after the blossoms have been off for two weeks or more on most varie- 

 ties : and this agrees with our observations and with the definite evidence 

 recorded by Atkins, Gillette, Washburn and Card. There is no definite 

 evidence that eggs have been seen on apples on the tree until the fruit has 

 reached nearly the size shown at a and h in Pig. 131, or until it is from one- 

 half to three-fourths of an inch in diameter. 



We have gone into some detail to bring out the above facts, not only be- 

 cause they correct some old stereotyped notions, but because they have a very 

 important bearing on the question as to when it is necessary to apply the 

 spray to reach the woi'ms the most successfully. As will be brought out more 

 fully, with illustrations, in our discussion of the time to spray, it is neces- 

 sary for fruitgrowers to watch the blossoming of their trees, and especially 

 the development of the young fruit, for therein lies an easy and sure method 

 of determining Just when the spray can be applied to do the most good. 



HABITS OF THE MOTH. 



It has long been known that the adult insect was nocturnal in its habits, 

 usually remaining hidden during the day. The fact that the moth closely 

 mimics the bark in its coloring, and its habits of moving about only at 

 nig-ht, account for the fact that but few fruitgrowers have ever seen it. 

 Koebele gives the following account of their habits in California: "On a 

 hot and sunny day, while walking through an old apple orchard at 10 A. M., 

 moths started up either from the trunk or lower leaves of nearly every tree 

 and settled down again, generally higher up and on the upper side of the 

 leaves exposed to the sun. From May 25 until the end of June there could 

 be seen at dusk from twenty-five to fifty on each tree. The place is situated 

 on the east side of the hills. About half an hour after the sun disappeared 

 behind the mountains, and while it was yet visible for nearly that length of 

 time on the opposite hill, the moths began to appear, flying with quick 

 movements around the t^ees, chiefly near the tops, and settling down again 

 upon the leaves or fruit from time to time. This was kept up until 

 towards dark when they became less numerous. During this time both sexes 

 may be readily collected with a long butterfly net. I have taken many near 



