8 APPLE. [1900 



for, if the caterpillar within is fnll-grown, or has turned to chrysalis, 

 the moth will develop as perfectly as if the infested shoots had re- 

 mained on the trees, and will fly away to do just as much mischief as 

 if left in its natural position. 



In our present want of knowledge as to where the eggs are laid 

 and the young larv?e feed, it would help very much if any observer 

 who could spare time for the purpose would experiment a little. We 

 know that the moths appear about the second week in July, and if at 

 this time infested shoots were placed so that the moths should be 

 secured on development, and some fresh Apple shoots placed so that 

 the moths had the opportunity of laying their eggs, we should get some 

 useful knowledge. The Apple twigs might be placed with their stems 

 in damp soil, or in water, under a wire gauze dish-cover (if no more 

 elaborate method of proceeding was followed) ; and though the eggs 

 are too small to be noticeable individually, the little moths are large 

 enough to be seen hovering about the leaves or twigs, if these should 

 prove to be the places chosen for egg-laying. If so, heavy spraying, 

 even with water alone, or with a solution of soft-soap, or any other 

 ordinary insecticide, applied at the time when the moths may be 

 noticed to be most torpid, and also )tot strongly enough to hurt the 

 young fruit, would probably do much good. 



It is greatly to be hoped that attention will be given to checking 

 this attack, for it is evidently spreading, and is very injurious, and 

 where it is settled in a district it cannot be got under as it should 

 be without action on the part of alt owners in the infested neigh- 

 bourhood. 



