520 NEW JERSEY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 



Orchard Insects. 



The pJinn curculio has been as abundant as usual and has caused 

 trouble on pear, especially the Keiffer, niunerous specimens of 

 which -svere found to be infested late in the season. Little attention 

 has been paid to this habit — if indeed it be really the plum curculio 

 that is at fault — because the trees of this variety are nearly always 

 overloaded and the insect seems to develop only in the fruit that 

 has dropped to the ground. It is a matter that needs further study, 

 and, in any case, it is bad practice for horticulturists to allow 

 fallen fruit to remain on the ground so generally. It may cost 

 something to kee]i it picked up, but it will prevent the development 

 of a great many cureulios and |)erhaps other sj>ecies as well. 



The apple borer seems to have l>een unusually plentiful during 

 the season on lH>th apple and quince, and for the first time its 

 injury was noted in the Experiment Orchard. With the increased 

 care tnat orchards are now receiving almost universally, the occur- 

 rence of this borer is usually noted very promptly, and the lar^'a 

 is either cut out, destroyed by a wire or killed by means of bisul- 

 phide of carlxui injected into the boring. The latter method is 

 perhaps as effective as any and needs for an outfit a knife to clear 

 tlie oix-ning of sap and sawdust ; an oil can with a slender spout, 

 or a dropper with a rublxn- bulb to force in a little of the liquid ; 

 a supply of the bisul]>hide and a wad of putty or grafting wax to 

 close the opening after the liquid has been injected. The vapors 

 from the material will follow the boring and will kill the larva 

 wherever it may be. 



The record of the Experiment Orchard is less complete than in 

 previous years owing to the fact that circumstances comi:>elled me 

 to let my place for a year, but the effect of the spraying work done 

 in the fall of 1905 is noted, and the results of thenieglect to spray 

 with arsenites is well brought out in the large projxvrtion of wormy 

 and "stung'' fruit which was noted. 



The pear blister mite was more abundant and noticeable than 

 it has been for some years past. Specimens were sent to the office 

 in May and June, and it was noticed in the course of general ex- 

 aminations made in quite a number of the orchards. As a matter 

 of fact very little actual injury was caused, and, though some 

 badly-infested leaves turned black and fell, very little of it was 

 seen later in the season- 



