THE INSECT CAMPAIGN 



A. very large percentage of early windfalls are in- 

 fested with codling moth, as well as with other in- 

 sects. Probably the best way to get rid of these is to 

 allow hogs or sheep to run in the orchard. This is 

 not always practicable, inasmuch as apple trees loaded 

 with fruit are very tempting to hogs and sheep. These 

 animals will often pick considerable quantities of fruit 

 from the lower branches of the trees, or will even in- 

 jure the trees themselves by browsing the lower 

 branches or barking the trunks. Nevertheless, by tak- 

 ing proper precautions, this sort of damage may fre- 

 quently be prevented and the sheep or hogs pastured 

 in the orchard with great advantage, not only to the 

 apples, but to the animals as well. 



Apple Maggot The apple maggot, frequently 

 called also the railroad worm, is a comparatively re- 

 cent orchard pest in this country. It is also one of 

 the worst. It attacks some varieties with special en- 

 thusiasm. Indeed, in many localities it is practically 

 impossible to grow Tolman Sweet, Porter, Primate, 

 Mother and certain other tender-fleshed varieties for 

 which this insect has a special taste. 



The apple maggot hatches from a small fly which 

 deposits her egg just under the skin of the fruit at 

 almost any time during the growing season. The little 

 worm hatches, feeds about through the flesh of the 

 apple, mining it in every direction, and making it 

 practically unfit for human food. There are often 

 large numbers of these small maggots in a single 

 fruit. Apples attacked in this way show a peculiar 

 pitting on the outside something remotely like small- 

 pox pits. Inside the fruit will be found discolored, 

 thread-like traces of the course followed by the mag- 

 gots. Sometimes the flesh is punky or corky. 



