CLIMATIC MODIFICATION OF FRUIT. 309 



hardy varieties, but we believe the fruit of the Duchess can be im- 

 proved by crossing- it with some of our American apples of high 

 quality, and the hardiness of the tree maintained. We have plenty 

 of good summer and fall varieties, so we should turn our attention 

 to the production of winter apples of good cjuality and hardiness of 

 tree. Some of us< may not succeed, but let us all try, and some one 

 will produce the apple for the million. 



The want of definite information as to hj'brid, or cross-bred 

 offspring of fruits, is very great. As we trust the hybridist, we must 

 insist on his being a trustworthy and skillful operator before we 

 place confidence in his records. For example, the flowers must be 

 carefully emasculated before there is a shadow of a chance that pol- 

 len can have escaped from the anth,ers. The female flower must 

 then be carefully covered with a paper sack, and in about twenty- 

 four hours the pollen of the intended tnale parent (after having been 

 prepared) must be applied with a clean camel's hair pencil, and 

 the sack careful!}- replaced and fastened with fine wire to prevent 

 insects from entering the sacks. Plant the seeds produced by the 

 cross, and you have a new variety that may be valuable. A scion 

 from the young tree may be cut and top-worked on some hard}', 

 bearing tree, and in about three years you will see the result of your 

 labor. 



We find the rainfall and sunshine in the southeastern counties of 

 Minnesota and a strip on the east side as far north as Duluth, is 

 sufficient to develop fine, showy fruit of good quality. With proper 

 care in selecting location and hard}' varieties, the country named is 

 equal to any fruit lands found in the great Mississippi valley. 



Catching Moths. — For an entomologist who wishes to study the 

 owlet moths of any region in a short time, there is no better method 

 than to "sugar" for them. This is the technical name for applying 

 a bait composed of the cheaper grades of molasses, sugar and 

 vinegar. This mixture if kept wariu will soon start a vinous fer- 

 mentation, which seems to have a wonderful attraction for all owlet- 

 moths that take food in that stage. For a number of years sugar- 

 ing was carried on by myself at the Agricultural School, and im- 

 mense numbers of moths were captured. The above mixture, which 

 is of a treacle-like consistency, was brushed against the trees, and 

 proved such an attraction that on certain evenings moths came in 

 such numbers as to appear like swarming bees. 



Strange insects are sometimes caught at such baited trees, insects 

 that have never been found breeding in tlie north. For instance it 

 is a common occurrence to see large numbers of cotton moths flut- 

 tering around such baited trees. They are found only very late iu 

 the autumn, and always appear as if freshly issued from the pupa. 

 This is very remarkable indeed, when we consider that such in- 

 sects must have flown over that tremendous territory separating 

 the wheat belts of the north from the cotton belts of the south, 

 —Minn. Ex. StatJoa, Bulletin No. 13. 



