IRISH GARDENING 



119 



a strong- syringe into a perfect 

 emulsion before applying-. As 

 eggs are laid on the shoots in 

 late autumn much benefit will 

 arise by spraying with a 

 stronger emulsion after the 

 leaves fall. The addition of 

 caustic soda to the winter-used 

 emulsion will be beneficial, in 

 which case less soap may be 

 used. 



Woolly Ap 

 The woolly aphis or Ameri< 



Th 



n blight (Si hi/, 

 lanigem) is a troublesome pest in the orchard, 

 insects secrete white cottony-look- 

 ing threads as a protection to 

 their delicate bodies. It causes 

 exhaustion by sucking- the sap of 

 the stem and lays the trunk open 

 to the attack of injurious fungi by 

 producing surface wounds. In 

 summer and in the case ot old 

 trunks the spots may be scrubbed 

 with a hard brush dipped in a 

 strong paraffin emulsiotL In young 

 trees or young branches the weak 

 paraffin emulsion referred to above 

 may be sprayed direct and with 

 as much force as possible upon 

 the woolly patch with a good hand 

 sprayer. As the insect winters in 

 the crevices of the bark the trees 

 should be thoroughly sprayed with 

 a caustic wash during that season. 

 Rut as it is also the habit of this 

 aphis to pass the winter under- 

 ground on the roots it is a good 

 plan to inject carbon bisulphide 

 into the soil at various points 



round the tree any time before the beginning of 

 April. 



CoDLiN Moth. 

 The codlin moth {Carpocapsa pomonella) is responsible 

 for the " worm-eaten" condition ot apples. The female 

 begins to lay its egg-s early in June, inserting one in the 

 "eye" of each setting fruit immediately after the fall 

 of the blossom, fixing it in position by means of a 

 gummy secretion. Within a week's time the eggs 

 hatch and the little grub sets to work, eating its way 

 towards the core of the young fruit. When the fruit 

 enlarges the grubs attack the seeds or pips, and this 

 induces the premature fall of the fruit. The grubs then 

 eat their way out, climb the tree, and finding a snug 

 spot settle down and change into a chrysalis, from 

 which the perfect moth escapes next spring. There 

 may be more than one brood in one season. \'arious 

 plans may be adopted in order to circumvent this 

 destructive insect. (i) All fallen apples should bt- 

 gathered at once and removed from the fruit grounds. 

 (2) The caterpillars may be trapped in their journey up 

 the stem by placing hay bands or strips of sacking 

 round the trunk. They will select the shelter afforded 

 to pass into the chrysalis state. Later the traps can be 



removed and burned. (3) Scraping the bark and spray- 

 ing with caustic wash in the winter. (4) If thought 

 necessary spraying in spring after fall of blossom with 

 arsenate of lead solution. 



Winter Moth. 

 The winter moth (Cheiniatobia brumata) is most 

 destructive to the foliage of apples, pears, plums, 

 and cherries. The perfect insect escapes from the pupa 

 some time during the last three months of the year. 

 Egg-laying is finished by February, and the grubs are 

 hatched out towards the end of March or early in April, 

 and begin at once to devour the young leaves. After 

 attaining their full size they lower themselves to the 

 ground by means of liireads which they spin for the 

 purpose. They burrow into the 

 earth and pass into the pupa or 

 chrysalis state, from which they 

 emerge as perfect insects late in 

 the year, as already noted. The 

 males are winged, but the females 

 are wingless. The females must 

 therefore crawl up the trunk to lay 

 their eggs in crevices often near 

 theendsof the shoots. The attacks 

 of the winter moth may be easily 

 prevented by the use of "grease 

 bands" fixed to the trunks of the 

 trees before the first week of Octo- 

 ber, in order to catch the wingless 

 females in their egg-laying journey 

 up the stem. The bands are made 

 of grease-proof paper, 6-8 inches 

 wide, tied at bottom and top, and 

 smeared with good cart grease. In 

 spring the caterpillars and other 

 leaf-eating grubs may be destroyed 

 by spraying with arsenate of lead. 

 (Swift's arsenate paste, 1-4 ozs.. 

 dissolved in 3^ gallons of water.) 



T OF Apple c-ut to show Grli 

 OF Codlin Moth at Core. 



Caterpillar of 



Winter Moth. 



