11 



Still another effect is the killing back of all new growth or water- 

 sprouts arising from the main branches of the tree. Under some condi- 

 tions this might be considered a beneficial rather than harmful effect, 

 but it is the practice of some orchardists to utilize these growths in the 

 upper parts of old trees for starting a new top after the original tree 

 becomes too tall. (See Figure 11.) 



The weevil has been on the increase in Illinois since 1910 and 1911. 

 In 1913 and 191-1 at least 25 per cent, of the orchards in southern Illi- 



Fig. 8. .\ view taken when looking up through the foliage of an apple tiee 

 following severe midsummer injury by the feeding adult beetles. The 

 leaves look as if riddled by fine shot. Olney, 111., July, 1915. 



nois were infested to an extent to cause at least moderate injury to the 

 trees. Many orchards which were well sprayed and partly cultivated 

 lost at least a third of their lea.f surface before the middle of July. 

 During the last five years the damage has not been so general, but 

 several localities have suffered every season for the past ten years. 



The owner of the first orchard in Ohio to become seriously involved 

 had been following for some years a new method of soil management. 

 The trees were growing in sod and each year the grass was mowed and 



