II Oct., 1909.] Orciiard .Voft's. 655 



settled during the coming season. At present it is only fair to state that 

 Swift's ar.senate of lead, prepared by the Merrimac Chemical Company, 

 Mass., U.S.A., has proved to he, by far, the best preparation used for 

 the purpo.se. It is safe, very eft'ective, and easy of application, and 

 mav now be considered as the standard preparation against all chewing 

 insects. 



Respecting the application — which includes manner, time or period, 

 and frequency — variable opinions are expressed by fruit-growers and others. 

 There is no doubt that poor results will follow the application of Swift's 

 arsenate of lead or any other preparation, if reasonable care and judgment 

 are not employed. The first consideration is making the paste into a thin 

 wash so that, when the required quantity of water is added, the mixture is 

 of equal value throughout. The aim in spraying should be tO' cover the 

 fruit with the wash so that, when the moisture evaporates, the poisonous sul)- 

 .stance remains where there is any liability to attack and that is. in short. 

 anywhere on the whole surface of the fruit. 



The codlin moth is popularly supposed to develop into the perfect egg- 

 laying stage about the blossoming period and to lay its eggs in the calyx or 

 eye of the young fruit, or, as some few people a.ssert, in the blossoms. 

 The practice of people holding this belief is to try and fill the eye of the 

 fruit with the poison, whatever it mav be, and to depend largely, if not 

 altogether, on the one application. The facts are that few eggs are laid 

 during the blooming time — except in the case of late-flowering varieties 

 that are not specially attacked in the eye on account of being in flower 

 when the moths are plentiful — and that the majority of the eggs, at least, 

 are not laid in the calvx, or even near it. Also, the calyx is often closed, 

 and the fruit fairly large, before any evidence of codlin moth is present 

 and the first trace is the egg on the fruit and the young insect attacking 

 from the side. Many, if not all, of the supposed attacks from the calyx 

 end of the fruit will be found on examination to be made from outside the 

 calyx and underneath its lobes, and not from the interior of the cavity. 



It is positive waste to spray apples and pears when in blossom ; it is 

 erring, possibly on the side of safety, to spray very thoroughh" l)efoxe the 

 calyx closes. But it is absolutely necessary, in the writer's opinion, to 

 spray very carefully when the first eggs are seen and to repeat sprayings 

 periodically as fruits are swelling, after very heavy rains, or when, by 

 any reason, whatever, there is an untreated surface of the fruit exposed. 

 The codlin moth lays from. alx)ut the end of October until the end of 

 December, where single brooded ; where a second generation develops, eggs 

 are laid at all times, more or less, during spring and summer. 



Other pests to deal with this month are aphides, especiallv on peaches, 

 and root borer. Swift's arsenate of lead destroyed quantities of root 

 borer beetles at Doncaster last year, and may prove to be the only treat- 

 ment required for this terrible foe to the orchardi.st. Peaches must b^' 

 cleaned from aphis or the trees will suffer and the crop be ruined. Tobacco 

 and soap are remedies, both or either. A solution that will kill must be 

 determined by the operator. 



