22 THE EEPOET OF THE Xo. 36 



removal of rubbish of every kind has been observed in many cases to be quite as 

 important as spraying in controlling this pest. 



Mr. Gibson: What is the largest hole you found? 



Mr. Caesar : There are often several small holes close together which may be 

 worked into one large hole. The injured area is usually from % "to ^/4 of an inch, 

 in diameter, and quite circular. 



Dr. Hewitt: "We have had a number of cases of where the holes are large. 

 In some cases I think wasps have been responsible for the enlargement. 



Apple Maggot or Eailroad Worm {Rhagoletis pomonella). It has usually 

 been supposed that this insect was found only in Prince Edward County and in a 

 few orchards not far away on the mainland. In reality it is much more extensively 

 distributed than has been suspected, and can probably be found here and there 

 throughout most of the Province, though there are many orchards quite free from 

 it. Infested apples have either been sent in from the following counties, or have 

 personally been observed by the writer in them : Prince Edward, Hastings, North- 

 umberland, Durham, Ontario and Lincoln. The insect seems to be worse on 

 trees in villages or towns, wherever there is good shelter. In such places it has - 

 been seen to be very severe on Spy, Snow, Alexander and Tolman Sweet varieties, 

 almost every apple being so badly attacked as to be much deformed and useless. 

 Adults did not appear until July 15th this year east of Toronto. Methods of con- 

 trol in co-operation with the fruit-growers are being planned for the coming season. 

 At present the prompt destruction of fallen fruit from August 1st to the end of 

 the season is the remedy commonly advocated. 



Mr. Nash : We have found as yet that the only method of control is abso- 

 lutely rigid destruction of the fallen fruit. 



Mr. Caesar: Has it been proven that the larvae never emerge from the fruit 

 before it falls? 



Mr. Swaine : The evidence points that way. 



Mr. Caesar: Have all the maggots come out after the apples have fallen in 

 your tests ? 



Mr. Swaine : I do not think any come out till then. Sometimes the maggots 

 are very small, but I have always had the impression that they did not come out 

 until a short time after the apples drop, but I am not certain about it. \ 



Mr. Caesar : I have seen a number of cases this 3^ear that seem to me to make 

 that doubtful. 



Mr. Jarvis: Have you made sure it was the Apple Maggot in the Niagara 

 district ? 



Mr. Caesar : The external injury and the appearance of the larva itself corre- 

 sponded so exactly with the genuine thing that I have no doubt that it was the 

 Apple Maggot I found in that district. 



Dr. Hewitt: The way to breed them is to get apples that have just fallen 

 and put them in a box containing soil, and allow the maggots to come out. 



Mr. Caesar: I saw, I suppose, one hundred in Michigan that had changed 

 to pupae even without any soil. They came out of apples that had been placed in a 

 vessel for another purpose. This merely shows how readily they change to the 

 pupal stage. 



Mr. Howitt: Do the apples always fall when attacked? 



Mr. Caesar : They often remain on the trees until quite late. Some Tolman 

 Sweets that are attacked might be still found on the trees, but as a rule they fall 

 earlier than they otherwise would. 



Dr. Hewitt: They ripen prematurely. 



