47 



" The bands in this experiment were made of carpet six inches wide, and long enough to 

 go twice around the tree, making a very abundant covert for the worms. Ab might have 

 been anticipated, in this case the greater part of the worms in the upper band were found in 

 its upper half, indicating that the worms had reached it by descending from above ; and on 

 the other hand, the greater part of the worms in the lower band were in its lower half, shoT^- 

 ing that they had come up from the ground. We say the greater part, but not all, implyino 

 that some worms in each case had passed over one band and gone on to the next." 



The above tables furnish data for many interesting and practical deductions. 



" First, as respects the question now under consideration, namely, what proportion of 

 the worms leave the apples before they fall from the tree ; if we add together all the worms 

 found in the highest and the lowest bands respectively, and divide tho.se in the middle or upper 

 trunk hands equally between the other two, we shall have 43G in the lower bands, and 290 

 in the upper, implying at first view that much the larger number came up from the ground. 

 But there are several circumstances in these experiments which must be taken into account, 

 and which will somewhat modify this conclusion. First, many of the limbs have no bands 

 ujion them, and the worms from these may be presumed to have found covert chiefly in the 

 upper bands on the trunk. Second, two of the trees experimented upon were large rough 

 trees, and a part of the worms undoubtedly spun up under the scales of bark on the limbs 

 above the b.mds. And thirdly, we do not know what proportion of the worms may have let 

 themselves down to the ground by threads, and thus found shelter under the lowest bands. 

 Taking these circumstances into account, we shall perhaps arrive at ati approximation sufficient- 

 ly accurate for practical purposes, if we divide the whole number of worms equally between 

 the upper and lower bands, from which we infer that about half the worms crawl down the 

 tree, and the other half reach the ground either in the apples or by threads. We must infer 

 from this as far as one series of experiments enables us to judge, that the gathering of wind- 

 fall apples, either by ourselves or by the aid of domestic animals, enables us to destroy less 

 than half of the codling worms. 



" The animals used for this purpose are hogs and sheep, the latter are more cleanly, .-ind 

 equally effective, but they are liable to damage young trees by gnawing the bark." 



4th. Entrajiping tin: worms umldr lian.ils,ilr.—0\ir own experience in aseriesof experiments, 

 very similar to those above detailed, was much the same, excepting in the number of larvie 

 captured, which from five trees did not, at any one time, exceed 47, the distribution in the upper 

 and lower bandages being nearly in the same proportion as that given by Dr. Le Baron. This 

 method of entrapping the worms under bands is without doubt the most effective remedy yet de- 

 vised, and if it were generally and persistently followed would effect a large yearly saving in the 

 crop of this valuable fruit. It is of great importance that united effort should be made in 

 this case, as the evil is an increasing one, and the yearly lo.ss now entailed something enor- 

 mous. With us we have known the full-grown larva to be found under bandages as early as the 

 4th of July, hence we think that their application .should not be delayed later than the 1st. 

 Indeed it would be wise to apply them a few days earlier than this. By referring to the first 

 and second captures in Dr. Le Baron's first experiment, it will be observed that quite a num- 

 ber of empty pupa cases were found, 54 in all, showing that sufficient time had elapsed befcire 

 examination to allow of the larvie passing through the stage of chrysalis, and escaping as a per- 

 fect insect to continue its work of destruction. To prevent escapes of this .sort we should 

 recommend that the bandages be examined every ten days until the latter end of August. 

 After this, worms of the second brood only will be found, and since these remain in the larval 

 state until the following spring, the bands subsequently might be examined at leisure. 



As to the material to be used for bandaging we have found old sacking, (which can often 

 be obtained at trifling cost), to answer a very good purpose, cut into strips from six to eicht 

 inches wide, and long enough to go two or three times around the tree, and tied in the middle 

 with a piece of stout twine. Strips of old carpet or cloth where they can be obtained, would 

 of course, prove equally good. In the excellent report of the Michigan Pomological Society, 

 for 1 87.3, wo find that much interest is being excited throughout that State in reference to the 

 codling moth, and many practical discussions are reported on the best means of fighting it, all 

 however, agreeing in recommending the use of bandages. One apple grower recommends a 

 bandage of common brown paper tied around the tree with a string ; another while recommend- 

 ing the paper thinks the string too much trouble, and advi.ses the use of a tack to fasten the 

 end of the bandage with. One advantage claimed for this material for bandaging is that birds 



