Appendix. 123 



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 horticul- 

 tural report from any apple growing region is to be found that does not 

 mention its destructive 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 worth of ap- 

 ples and $500,000 worth of pears. He also 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 twenty- 

 five to seventy-five 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 de- 

 structive 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 both with the locality and with the season. It is ad- 

 mitted that "temperature is the great factor which controls the geographical 

 distribution of life, and temperature is at the back of all those apparent liv- 

 ing first causes which control the abundance of a species in a given region, 

 provided we trace them far enough." 1 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 reports of the unusual de- 

 structiveness of this insect in the Pacific Northwest. Its ravages are 

 serious to be sure, but so they are in other apple growing centers. No 

 doubt there are localities in which the codling moth has been present but 

 a comparatively short time, where the injury has been excessive during one 

 or perhaps several years. The balance of nature has not been struck. The 

 various enemies of the moth are not yet doing their share in reducing its 

 numbers. Such conditions have occurred and do still occur elsewhere, 

 seasons of excessive loss alternating with seasons of comparatively little 

 injury. I believe a candid examination of the facts should give hope for 

 the future. 



NUMBER OF BROODS IN OREGON. 



I feel somewhat more diffident about touching upon the story told by 

 entomologists regarding the numbers of annual broods of the codling moth 



t Bui. 1, State Ent. of 111. 



i Bui. 142, Cornell Univ. Expt. Sta. The best account of the Insect ever pub- 

 lished. 



