480 CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



The method in most general use is known as the "worming process." This 

 consists essentially in carefully cutting out and killing the individual borers. 

 Special tools have been devised for this work. A full description of these 

 processes can be found in Bulletin 143, University of California, College of 

 Agriculture. 



Strawberry Root-Borer. The larva of another clear-winged 

 moth (Aegeria impropria), boring into the root of the strawberry 

 plants, found in various portions of the State, and doing considerable 

 damage, forcing the growers to resort to replanting much earlier than 

 otherwise would be necessary. Flooding the vines has a great tendency 

 to kill out the worms, and; if the water was retained, say four or five 

 days during the winter, all over the plants, doubtless all the larvae 

 would be killed. 



Currant and Gooseberry Borer. A white worm eating out the 

 central pith of currant and gooseberry plants the larva of another 

 clear-winged moth (Aegeria tipuliformis). Spraying with whale-oil 

 soap after the crop is gathered, pruning out and burning in the fall of 

 all old wood which can be spared, will reduce the evil. 



The Raspberry Cane Borer. This intruder is one of the family 

 Tenthredinideae, or saw flies. The very small maggot or larva will be 

 found by peeling the bark carefully. This larva can not crawl, there- 

 fore if the tips be cut and the worm is taken out he will die. A better 

 way is to cut all tips, -as fast as they show signs of wilting, and burn 

 them. Thorough work in topping is alsolutely necessary, so as to be 

 sure that none of the worms remain to produce flies. Topping causes 

 the canes to throw out laterals, thus producing more fruit. The canes 

 are not affected after July. 



Another cane-borer, occurring in the foothills, has been identified 

 by E. O. Essig, as the larva of a horn-tail. It is fully described in 

 Bulletin 12 of the California State Board of Horticulture. Its treat- 

 ment is like that just described. 



INSECTS DEVOURING THE PULP OF FRUITS 



The Apple Worm. The codlin moth (Carpocapsa pomonella) is 

 one of the great pests of the State. It preys chiefly upon the apple 

 and pear, but the quince and other large fruits are sometimes invaded 

 by it. The first moths appear at some time after the blossoming of 

 the apple, and deposit their eggs on the young fruit, or on adjacent 

 leaves. The young worm hatches in from seven to ten days, generally 

 seeks the eye or calyx, and eats its way into the fruit, and in twenty 

 days its full growth is attained, and it goes out through the side of the 

 apple, and, by means of its spinnaret, reaches the ground or some large 

 branch. If landed on the ground, it usually seeks the trunk, which it 

 ascends and soon finds a hiding-place under the loose bark, where it 

 spins its cocoon, and in eight or ten days comes forth a moth, ready to 

 lay eggs anew. The egg is laid all over the fruit and especially at a 

 point where two fruits touch. Usually we have in this State two 

 broods, at least, but sometimes three, and, naturally, if unchecked, the 



