REPORT OF No. 19 



everywhere througliout the Province, a careful comparison of the hosts and 

 habits of our native species with closely related foreign ones would be of very 

 great value. This might result in the importation of species more potent 

 for good than our native ones. 



In order to arrive at a satisfactory solution of the many problems in- 

 volved in the investigation of this subject, an ample supply of material, 

 larvae and pupae of the Codling-moth, must be at hand at all seasons, col- 

 lected in many localities throughout the Province. 



Surely the magnitude of the interests involved, and the rational claims 

 of the indicated scientific method are such as to justify a sufficient effort 

 by entomologists and fruit growers in determining the efficacy of parasitism 

 in effectually overcoming the Codling-moth pest. 



Dr. Brodie went on to say that the parasites he referred to are well- 

 known, having a wide range over the United States and Canada. He had 

 obtained them from the north, east and west of Ontario. The secondary para- 

 site is exceedingly small, less than one-sixteenth of an inch, and on looking 

 back he thought that his precautions were not sufficient, and that these 

 minute creatures may have escaped detection. In pursuing an investigation 

 of this kind, it is necessary for the worker to carefully fix his jars or bottles 

 in such a way that these very small insects may not escape, but be retained 

 for observation. The jars used should be small, but yet large enough for 

 the atmosphere not to be too moist; they may be covered with cheese-cloth 

 or some other thin material. This is a very important subject and should 

 form an attractive field for work, affecting as it does our largest fruit in- 

 dustry. 



Prof. Hutt said that he had travelled over a considerable portion of 

 the Province this summer and found the Codling-worm exceptionally bad, 

 especially in the Niagara district and the eastern part of Ontario. In some 

 orchards half the crop was destroyed. It was now making its appearance 

 in Algoma, and had this summer made some headway on St. Joseph's Island. 

 It needs careful watching in order to keep it in check, as it is covering all . 

 sections where apples are grown. If parasites are of use in reducing the 

 numbers of the pest, they are not increasing fast enough to control it to any 

 extent. Something more than parasites is required, and that is the em- 

 ployment of the established remedies by the fruit-growers themselves. 



Mr. C. W. Nash said that the question of dealing with the Codling- 

 worm was one of the greatest possible importance. As matters now stand, 

 we are simply covering the ground with trees that to a great extent give us 

 little in return. The remedies spoken of by Dr. Fletcher are certainly very 

 easy of application and always show good practical results, provided that 

 these remedies are applied thoroughly and at the proper time. The great 

 difficulty that we find in dealing with the farmer is that he either does not 

 believe in the practicability of these remedies, or he does not apply them 

 just when he should. In the first place, with regard to spraying, as referred 

 to by Dr. Fletcher, some men will spray their trees just when they happen to 

 have the time to do so, without regard to the state of the fruit, or the tree, 

 or the stage of the insect. In many cases where spraying is done at the wrong 

 time, it is just money thrown away. If spraying is to be efficacious at all, 

 it must be done before the larva has entered the apple. To catch them 

 just at that particiilar time requires observation and the exercise of some 

 little judgment. The codling moth deposits its eggs near or upon the little 

 apple as it is first formed, about the time the petals drop from the blossoms. 

 Those who have observed apples will have noticed that the little embryo 

 apple stands erect upon the stem with the calyx expanded. A few days after 



