156 



Old Tussock Moth. 



The life of the old tussock moth is so similar to this that 

 it need not be outlined; but the caterpillar, though bearing 

 the tufts or tussocks which have given these insects their 

 name, is quite different, its color being more quiet and ren- 

 dering the insect less noticeable. 



Destruction of the egg masses by hand is generally easy 

 as a method for the control of the tussock moths, and, as they 

 remain on the trees from September until the following 

 spring, there is plenty of time available for their removal. 

 If the insects are first noticed while feeding, however, the 

 sprays of the codling moth should prove entirely efficient to 

 hold them in check, and it is only where neglect prevails that 

 the tussock moths are of much importance for any length of 

 time. 



Summary-. 

 Though eighteen insect enemies of our fruit trees have 

 just been considered more or less in detail, these form but 

 a small part of the total number of the foes the fruit grower 

 has to meet. Nearly four hundred different kinds of pests 

 may feed upon the apple, while the pear, plum, peach and 

 the other fruit trees all have their share. That this alone 

 should discourage the fruit grower is but natural, but a little 

 consideration will show that each treatment is effective for 

 several different insects. Bringing these together it becomes 

 evident that for the apple spraying with arsenate of lead 

 and Bordeaux mixture just before the blossoms open, again 

 a little less than a week after they have fallen and again 

 about two weeks later, should give a large measure of relief 

 from most of the important pests except scale insects ; while 

 for these one winter wash of the lime and sulphur mixture 

 thoroughly applied will be sufficient to check the San Jose 

 scale, and a mild soap wash in June should accomplish the 

 same result for the others. And if it still seems as though 

 the odds are against the fruit grower in Massachusetts, we 

 must remember that equally serious foes, most of them the 



