•While it is not the intention to publish anything in this magazine that 

 is misleading or unreliable, yet it must be remembered that the 

 articles published herein recite the experience and opinions of their writers, 

 and this fact must always be noted in estimating their practical value. 



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Vol « 45 APRIL, 1917 No. 4 



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Some Insect Pests of the Orchard. 



A. G. RUGGLES, ASSOCIATE ENTOMOLOGIST, UNIVERSITY FARM, ST. PAUL. 



When we see nice fruit and hear people talk on the raising 

 of good fruit, it does seem more or less of a sacrilege to come 

 here and disturb your peace of mind and advocate a war. It 

 seems a shame that we must talk about such notoriously bad 

 things as insects. These seemingly insignificant little animals, 

 however, are capable of doing and are always present waiting 

 to "do us ill." It is only when our "fool luck" is with us that we 

 are able to raise good fruit without a fight. It is a fact acknowl- 

 edged by every one who has studied the problem at all that in- 

 sects take a toll from the orchardist and gardener of at least 

 twenty per cent, of his crop every year. In a neglected orchard 

 in an old fruit growing region, or in an abandoned garden, you 

 have probably all seen the ninety per cent, or even 100 per cent, 

 destruction. It is the man who has the fight spirit in him who 

 is going to win. It is the offensive army that always has the 

 advantage, and to take the offensive we must be prepared. To be 

 prepared one must first recognize the enemy as an enemy, and 

 then must know the kind of ammunition to use, whether it is to 

 be gas, poisons or cultural methods. 



About 500 species of insects have been recorded as feeding 

 on the apple alone. Fortunately, only a few of these are very 

 injurious. A number of the extremely injurious ones have not 

 yet reached the state, or if here are not numerous enough to do 

 damage, though undoubtedly they will later. Hence the need 

 of preparedness, the only alternative being to quit the business. 

 Knowledge of the enemy, timeliness and thoroughness in spray- 

 ing or cultural methods are the requisites for success. 



I shall only mention four of our greatest insect pests of the 

 apple and plum, namely: codling worm, plum curculio, scale 

 insects, plant lice. 



(145) 



