71 



and we can say without an^^ hesitanc}^ whatever that tlie farmer who 

 uses these trap lanterns or tries to experiment with thcun is simply 

 wasting his time and money, as the method has been thoroughly proven 

 ineffective. 



It is also the practice to some extent to put cans or bottles contain- 

 ing- molasses, cider, vinegar, or some other substance of similar nature 

 in the oix-hard, and upon finding- that insects are attracted l)y these 

 compounds and killed, many fruit growers think this is a good remedy 

 for the codling- moth. The results of many careful experiments show 

 that only incidental captures of the codling moth are made. With Iwth 

 these last two practices — that is, trap lanterns and baiting the moths — 

 the greatest trouble has been that the fruit growers are not acquainted 

 with the codling moth in its early stages. Any fruit grower can breed 

 moths for himself, and l)y comparing his catch can very easil}' satisfy 

 himself. 



Many times fruit growers have tried spraying their orchards with 

 ill-smelling compounds with ])ut little success. These compounds are 

 always more or less expensive and have never been so efficient as to 

 justify their use. 



Other fruit growers think that spra^dng the orchard with water 

 frequently will give relief from the attacks of the codling moth. 

 lTndout)tedly if the trees were kept in a spray all the time, the fruit 

 would be clear of the insect; ])ut if this were done, the probabilities 

 are that no fruit would set, and if any should set it would not ripen 

 well, and the trees themselves would probably die. The expense of 

 tliis operation would ha many times greater than that of spraj'ing. 



It has ])een stated that electric lights repel the moth and that trees 

 near electric lights in cities are often free from its work. The writer 

 had an excellent opportunity to investigate this point, and found that 

 an apple tree about 40 feet from an electric light was as l)adly infested 

 as any other in that vicinity. 



In order to do awav with the labor entailed by using bands around 

 the trees many kinds of traps have been invented. Riley, by careful 

 experiments, showed that one of these traps would not catch as man}^ 

 larvie as the bands; and other experiments have shown that these 

 patent traps are never very efficient. 



It was claimed for some time that the flowers of plants of the genus 

 I'liyskiHtJins might be efficient against this insect, since in order to 

 reach the honey of the flower the proboscis would have to be passed 

 through a narrow cleft, from which it could not be withdrawn, and 

 the moth would therefore be held a prisoner until it died. It was 

 proposed to train the vines around the trunks and branches of the 

 trees, and, the moths being captured, the orchard would be protected. 

 Conclusive evidence has ])een recorded which shows that these flowers 

 ha\'e no attraction for the codling moth. 



