46 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Specimens of this borer's work have also been received from Stam- 

 ford, Conn., indicating a probable extension from New York north- 

 eastward along the sound. 



The insect, in case of a serious infestation of peach, bores into 

 practically every tender twig and causes new shoots to push out 

 from the lateral buds. These are attacked in turn, resulting in the 

 lateral growth producing a much branched and bushy stand. A 

 copious flow of gum from the twig ends often follows the attacks of 

 the caterpillars. The pest also attacks the fruit, the young cater- 

 pillars generally eating through the skin at or near the point of 

 attachment of the fruit stem, making its way to the pit as it grows. 

 Those entering at the side of the fruit are more likely to eat out 

 pockets or cavities in the flesh. 



This pest winters as a full-grown caterpillar in a whitish silken 

 cocoon spun in some protected place on the twigs, in cracks under 

 the bark scales on the trunk and branches and even in the soil debris. 

 The moths emerge and egg laying commences at the time the shoots 

 are well started, since larvae are to be found when the sprouts 

 are 6 or 8 inches long. There appear to be two and probably three 

 broods each year, larvae of various sizes being found late in the fall. 

 Apple maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella Walsh) . Injuries 

 by the apple maggot have been less marked in 19 17 than was the 

 case during the two preceding seasons. There was in 19 16 a very 

 serious infestation in the orchard of Edward Van Alstyne of 

 Kinderhook, there being at least one tree with 100 per cent of the 

 fruit infested. 



The experimental work of 19 16 was continued and on the appear- 

 ance of the flies July i6th the orchard was thoroughly sprayed 

 three days later, namely, the 19th, with arsenate of lead at the rate 

 of 3 pounds of paste to 50 gallons of water, to which a tobacco extract 

 was added (black leaf 40, three-fourths of a pint to 100 gallons) 

 and a standard lime sulphur wash, i to 36. The application was at 

 least fairly thorough, both the leaves and fruit being well spotted 

 with the insecticide. Only three flies were observed the day follow- 

 ing on examining eight or ten trees, while three days preceding a 

 similar examination disclosed an average of less than i upon 7 or 8 

 other trees, two being noted upon one. 



An examination August 20th showed very few flies either on the 

 early apples or the winter varieties. Two or three were about 

 all that could be seen to each tree and an examination of the fruit 

 indicated much less injury than was the case a year ago. The same 

 was true also of nearby winter apples, Baldwins and greenings being 



