60 



HOW TO COMBAT THE INSECT. 



The codling moth seems to have been present and injurious in 

 orchards for centuries, but until al)out eighty 3"ears ago no one seems 

 to have made any suggestions as to how its ravages might ])e checked. 

 It would require volumes to contain all that has been written about the 

 methods which have been used against this insect — most of them value- 

 less. Before considering methods of combating the insect there are 

 several points which must be discussed. 



Many of the Western States have horticultural laws which aim at 

 extermination, and man}^ of the corps of inspectors are working with 

 that end in view; others, however, from recent experience have been 

 led to change their views upon the subject. When one discusses the 

 extermination of an insect he ventures upon del)ata))lo ground. As3'et 

 no insect has been exterminated through the agency of man, and judg- 

 ing from past experiences the writer believes that it is impossible to 

 exterminate the codling moth even in a single orchard. The control of 

 it, by means by which the damage it inflicts is reduced to a minimum, 

 is the very best that we can expect to accomplish. It is a prime neces- 

 sity, in order to make recommendations of value, that the entomologist 

 have an accurate knowledge of the life history of an insect. Not only 

 is this necessary for the entomologist, but it is essential for the fruit 

 grower also to understand it, in order that he may apply recommen- 

 dations intelligently and vary them to suit conditions. The erroneous 

 ideas some fruit growers have upon the life histor}' of the codling moth 

 are sometimes startling, following recommendations simph' because 

 they are given to them, and having no idea of the reason therefor. 

 Often the}^ obtain good results, but more often failures result; and as 

 they do not understand the reasons for the recommendations, the}" are 

 at a loss to know why the}" did not obtain good results. To combat 

 the insect successfully the fruit grower must be familiar with all the 

 stages of the insect, the sequence of the stages, where found, and hab- 

 its and variations. He should also be informed how the preventive and 

 remedial measures act in reducing the numbers of the insects. With 

 this knowledge he will be able to vary the recommended preventive or 

 remedial measures to exactly fit his local conditions, and if any failures 

 occur he will in a measure be able to tell why they occur, and the fol- 

 lowing year the experience will aid him in changing his methods in 

 order to obtain better results. He will also be protected against 

 using methods which are of no value, and will thus avoid a large 

 unnecessary expense. 



PREVENTIVE MEASURES. 



Preventive measures are those which not only aid in controlling the 

 codling moth, but aid the fruit grower in training trees so as to bear 

 more fruit, support it while growing, and produce fruit of a better 



