50 THE BOOK OF THE APPLE 



attack the young leaves and flower-buds of the apple 

 in the early spring, and often do a very great deal of 

 damage if wise precautions are not taken beforehand. 

 The favourite and most satisfactory method of preventing 

 the ravages of the caterpillar of the Winter Moth is to 

 attach sticky bands around the stems of the apple trees 

 early in the autumn. This is done to prevent the 

 females, which are wingless, from reaching the buds, 

 where they would otherwise lay their eggs. The bands 

 made use of must be grease-proof, so that the grease 

 (cart grease is excellent) may not penetrate to the 

 bark of the apple tree. The grease should be well 

 smeared over the bands, which are placed at a height 

 of twelve or fifteen inches from the ground. Should 

 it happen that some females have managed to reach 

 the buds and there deposited their eggs, a spraying with 

 a paraffin solution (two gallons of hot water, one pound 

 of soft soap, and two wine-glasses full of paraffin added 

 before the water cools) if any injury to the young leaves 

 or flower-buds is noticed, will be effectual. Do not 

 use this mixture upon fully-expanded flowers, or their 

 vital organs will probably be destroyed. 



The Apple-Blossom Weevil. The females of this insect 

 also lay their eggs in the young fruit buds of the apple, 

 and the grubs eventually feed upon the expanding blos- 

 soms with most disastrous results. After the eggs are laid 

 it is useless to attempt to destroy them with insecticides, 

 for these cannot effectually reach them. All that one can 

 do is to shake the trees well, having first placed cloths 

 underneath to catch all the weevils that may fall. The 

 latter can afterwards be destroyed by emptying them 

 into boiling water. Any flowers that have been attacked 

 and have fallen to the ground should at once be gathered 

 and burned. It is most important that no refuse of any 

 kind be allowed to remain around the base of the tree, 

 as such offers an excellent winter home for the weevils. 



