118 Report of State Board of Horticulture. 



THE CODLING MOTH AND LATE SPRAYING 



IN OREGON. 



By Prof. A. B. Cobdley. 



Wonderful stories of the codling moth are told "where rolls the Ore- 

 gon." From the dealer in real estate and from the optomist who depicts 

 the advantages of his particular region in the most glowing terms, comes 

 the story of an apple grower's paradise where neither moth nor rust doth 

 corrupt. From the horticulturist, who by the sweat of his brow has 

 brought forth a bearing orchard only to see the golden and crimson fruits 

 of his labor become the noisome habitations of disgusting caterpillars, 

 comes lamentations like unto those of the prophet Joel: "That which the 

 palmer-worm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust 

 hath left hath the canker-worm eaten; and that which the canker-worm 

 hath left hath the caterpillar eaten." Seen through the blue spectacles of 

 his experience, nowhere else is the codling moth so destructive as in his 

 own orchard or locality. 



From the entomologist comes stories of the wonderful powers of repro- 

 duction exhibited by an insect, which, in other apple growing regions de- 

 velops but one or two broods a year, yet, under the revivifying influence 

 of an unknown something in our climatic, geographical or geological con- 

 ditions, multiplies even unto the third and fourth generation in a single 

 season. 



Is it not possible that there is a happy middle ground of truth for all 

 these stories? Is it not possible that we have all been mistaken? Is it 

 not possible that even in the land of the real estate dealer and the optomist 

 an occasional codling moth may be found? Is it not possible that other 

 horticulturists in other regions have likewise had equal cause with us 

 to echo the lamentations of Joel? Is it not possible that even the ento- 

 mologist has been mistaken and that here as in less favored regions, the 

 codling moth has refused to be stampeded by the wonderful prospects of 

 new worlds to conquer and still goes on the even tenor of its way pro- 

 ducing but two broods annually? Is it not time that we call a halt until 

 the grounds on which these claims have been made can be thoroughly 

 reconnoitered, that we may not be unduly elated by false hopes nor un- 

 duly discouraged by imaginary difficulties? 



ABE THERE IMMUNE REGIONS? 



It is undoubtedly true that there are small apple growing sections scat- 

 tered here and there throughout the entire Pacific Northwest that are 

 still free, or practically free, from the codling moth. But does this neces- 

 sarily imply that they are to remain free? Does it necessarily imply that 



