17 



or barrels. In man}' localities it has been the practice to I'eturn to 

 the fruit grower for retilling- boxes in which fruit has been marketed. 

 This practice has supplied the means of rapid distribution in such 

 ocalities. 



If infested fruit is shipped any distance in cars the larvae spin their 

 cocoons in cracks and holes in the walls of the car and may be carried 

 g-reat distances before the moths emerge. This is thought to have 

 been the source of the infestation at Kalispell, Mont. 



When apples are stored by commission houses the larvse may crawd 

 into boxes or cases of various kinds of merchandise and thus be widely 

 distributed. 



In sections where the orchards are near each other the spread is 

 accomplished by the moth flying from one to another; but when they 

 are many miles apart, which is especially the case in the Far West, this 

 means of distribution dou])tless has little influence. The insect can 

 probablj^ ^y a few miles with the aid of the wind, Init ordinarily -I to 

 miles from a source of infestation, over unimproved land, gives partial 

 if not complete immunit}-. 



We have no authentic record of the distribution of the codling moth 

 with nursery stock, but one can readily see how this could occur, as 

 the larvn? might be in the cracks in the ground around the trees or 

 night crawl into the packing and thus be carried great distances. 



ESTIMATED LOSSES.' 



Of all the insects affecting the apple the codling moth causes the 

 greatest loss, and many estimates liave been made of the damage. In 

 1889 Professor Forbes indicated an annual loss in the State of Illinois 

 of 12,375,000. It is estimated that in 1892 the insect caused $2,000,000 

 loss in Nebraska. Professor Slingerland estimated that in 1897 the 

 insect taxed the apple growers of New York |2, 500,000 and the pear 

 growers 1500,000. In 1900 one-half of the crop of Idaho was dam- 

 aged, while in 1901 the loss was much greater. Mr. McPlun-son esti- 

 mated the loss in Idaho in 1902 as $250,000. In many sections of the 

 Pacilic Northwest the annual loss is from 50 to 75 per cent. 



From the nature of the case it is most difficult to estimate the annual 

 loss in the United States on account of the many factors which enter 

 into the problem. By taking the estimates of the annual crops of 

 apples as given by the American Agriculturist, it is found that for the 

 years 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, and 1902 the average crop was 47,000,000 

 barrels. From 1896 to 1902, inclusive, the average price at New York, 

 Boston, and Chicago on October 20 of each year did not exceed 

 $2. Allowing $1 for packing, transportation, and other charges, for 



«The estimates under this heading have been revised from the original figures 

 given by the author to corresi^ond with tlie latest data. — C. L. M. 

 6511:— No. 41—03 2 



