18 REPORT OF No. 19 



The phenomenal increase of the San Jose scale and of the Fall Web- 

 worm and the attack of the Codling worm upon the apple crop, which was 

 unprecedented in severity, were the most conspicuous features of the year. 



The Curculio, aphis, potato beetle, asparag"us beetle, cabbage worm and 

 a host of others were everywhere present and ready to take advantage of any 

 grower's neglect. Wireworms are making considerable trouble in garden 

 land, and the Spruce Gall-louse is continually cropping up and is now known 

 to be widely distributed. Tent caterpillars and Canker worms were not plen- 

 tiful. 



As our growers understand it, the Wireworms require three or more 

 years to complete their life circle, and. are in the pupa stage during the, 

 months of August and September, when they are easily destroyed by deep 

 and frequent plowings and cultivation, but unfortunately the gardeners' 

 land at this season is so fully occupied with growing crops as to render such 

 treatment impracticable, and the pest continues. 



Opinions differ as to the behaviour of the Spruce Gall-louse and the 

 people are looking to the entomologists to determine its life history and 

 habits definitely and to suggest « retriedy. In the meantime they are picking 

 oS the galls, spraying and fumigating, thus holding it in check where this 

 was done. 



The Asparagus beetle has increased surprisingly. Small beds may be 

 protected by the hen-and-chick method, but in large plantations involving 

 several acres this is scarcely possible. There are instances of the young 

 growth being covered with beetles before reaching marketable size, which 

 disfigure both by gouging into it and by depositing their black eggs in large 

 numbers. In this condition it is valueless. 



Asparagus rust is also very troublesome. The only convenient remedy 

 we know of for large blocks is careful and persistent spraying of the growth, 

 after cutting is discontinued, with Bordeaux mixture heavily charged with 

 arsenic, which will reduce both rust and insects. Some of our people have 

 signified their intenlion to give up the struggle, which is to be regretted, as 

 asparagus is generally appreciated, and under ordinary conditions is a source 

 of considerable revenue to the growers. 



Copper sulphate is being much used on potatoes in the form of Bordeaux 

 mixture with arsenic, being first applied immediately after the first hoeing 

 and at regular intervals until about five treatments are given. In this way 

 blight is lessened, the vines retain their leaves, the crop is increased, the 

 quality improved, and the bugs do not at any time become plentiful, for 

 when larvae are young they eat much more ravenously than they do later on 

 and with less discrimination. 



Notwithstanding the pains it takes to advertise its presence, the increase 

 of the Fall Web-worm is very marked indeed, which can be attributed only 

 to careless neglect on the part of the growers. 



Grape-rot was prevalent in many sections and the free use of Bordeaux 

 was found to be very effective in controlling it. Four or five treatments are 

 necessary, the first treatment being given before the buds open. Where this 

 early spraying was omitted the rot was much more general, especially on the 

 red and white varieties, which in many instances when not sprayed early 

 showed a waste of from twenty to fifty per cent. 



There is no insect so widely distributed and so destructive to the fruit 

 crop of the country as the Codling moth, which causes the loss of many thou- 

 sands of dollars annually. This was pre-eminently a Codling moth year, the 

 worst on record. In many apple orchards one-Tialf of the crop was wormy, 

 2a EN. 



