135 , 



which are not ready to leave the fruit before August, usually 

 remain in the caterpillar stage under the bark till the follow- 

 ing spring ; while the moths from the early caterpillars go to 

 the trees and lay their eggs for a second brood, which works 

 in the fruit during the fall months. The caterpillars of this 

 brood pay little attention to the blossom end of the apple, but 

 enter anywhere, and often do not finish feeding until after 

 the fruit has been gathered, and are accordingly carried into 

 the bins or barrels where it is kept, and on leaving the apples 

 form cocoons in any convenient crevice in which to spend the 

 winter. How important this second brood is in Massachu- 

 setts is not known, and the subject is now being investigated. 



The entire amount of loss caused by this pest is seldom 

 appreciated, as many of the apples attacked by the first brood 

 fall off early, not remaining long enough on the tree to show 

 what the crop would be. But even of those which remain to 

 be gathered nearly 40 per cent on an average are wormy, 

 reducing their value at least one-third. Pears, too, are at- 

 tacked by this pest, so that in the aggregate the loss is very 

 great. 



To prevent much of this loss, spraying may be made use 

 of, and at the same time secure protection from various fun- 

 gous diseases, such as scab and fruit spot. But, in order 

 to be a success, the proper time must be chosen for the treat- 

 ment. It has already been stated that a large majority of 

 the caterpillars of the first brood enter the fruit at the blos- 

 som end, where nature has provided a little cup in and 

 around which to place a supply of poison. For about a week 

 after the petals have fallen the sepals which form the walls 

 of this cup remain open, but after that time they draw to- 

 gether, thus closing the opening. Before this happens, the 

 tree should be thoroughly sprayed in such a manner that 

 as much of the spray as possible shall fall into and around 

 this place, so that when the caterpillar comes, its first meal 

 may be a poisoned one. The best spray to use for this pur- 

 pose is Bordeaux mixture, to every barrel of which three 

 pounds of commercial arsenate of lead have been added. 



