entomologist's report. 105 



this assertion may seem very unprogressive — in the opinion of the 

 writer, the old methods of trapping, jarring, and, especially, the prompt 

 collecting of all fallen fruit, are still the safest, surest, as well as the 

 least expensive means of reducing its numbers. Extermination is 

 hopeless in this case of an insect that can, at a pinch, breed in grapes, 

 ^gooseberries and black-knot. 



In the case of the Codling Moth the outlook is far more hopeful. 

 The foliage of apple and pear is not injured by applications of Paris 

 green in liquid suspension sufficiently strong to kill the newly-hatched 

 larvfe before they make their way into the fruit. During the past 

 season it was also discovered that this insecticide could be advan- 

 tageously combined with the Bordeaux mixture or other approved 

 fungicides, so that the same application would answer for several 

 species of insects and for apple-scab, powdery mildew, leaf-blight and 

 similar diseases. 



I must repeat what I have so often said, that the great need of 

 horticulturists and farmers is a plan of concerted effort in the treat- 

 ment of insect pests. One neglected orchard within a radius of five 

 miles can annually undo the work done in twenty that are systematic- 

 ally cared for. Neighborly combination in labor and interchange of 

 ideas and experience on these matters would be of incalculable mutual 

 benefit. Independence is out of the question in these matters, and it 

 would even pay the more enterprising fruit-growers of any locality to 

 spray the orchards of those who are unable to do so at their own ex- 

 pense, rather than not to have it done. 



In thickly-settled localities or villages, where each resident has but 

 a small orchard or a few scattered trees, it would certainly be profit- 

 able for some member of the community to procure a spraying outfit 

 and the materials for the various insecticides and fungicides, and go 

 about applying them, at the proper season, at a certain price per tree. 

 Even where but little attention has been given to these matters a de- 

 mand for service of this sort could soon be created, and the conveni- 

 ence of it would be highly appreciated. 



The preservation of insectivorous birds and all innoxious reptiles 

 should be insisted upon by county and town governments, and a know- 

 ledge of the principal forms of predaceous and cannibal insects dis- 

 seminated through the public schools both of town and county. We 

 need all our natural allies in our warfare on the enemies of our agri- 

 cultural and horticultural products ; and yet, how often these are 

 mistaken for the depredators and indiscriminately slaughtered. 



The Tiger-beetles and larger Ground-beetles, which prey upon the 

 larvse of many pests that enter the ground for transformation, are 



