-2- 



Mixed tree fruits with some American apple varieties predominate around 

 Montauban, plums at Agen and of course thousands of acres of grapes around 

 Bordeaux. In this valley the soil is usually cultivated, but frequently 

 the trees are very low headed, open center or goblet and very severely 

 pruned. The V/ar Period with its shortage of fertilizers and spray materials 

 as^ well as tools and labor, has been pretty hard on the French fruit grower, 

 but at best their methods and knowledge of pest control as well as most other 

 practices are years behind what \<re enjoy. At a meeting in Toulouse witl\ a 

 group of French agricultural experts and fruit grov/ers, I found them keenly 

 interfisted in learning about new varieties and especially in our system of 

 getting information to the growej^s « the Extension Service. 



— A. P. French 



DDT IM ORIENTAL FRUIT MOTH CONTROL 



The Oriental fruit moth is the most destrxictive pest of peaches. 

 Some growers might nominate the plum curculio or brown rot for this doubt- 

 ful honor, but the characteristic habit of the newly hatched fruit moth 

 VtTorra to enter the fruit without leaving noticeable evidence of infestation 

 seems to overcome all other arguments. 



There are three or four generations annually, depending upon the 

 season and locality. Each generation requires about 40 days to develop, 

 and the moths are present in greatest numbers about June 1, July 15, August 1, 

 and September 15. In cool seasons and locations, the fourth generation may 

 not develop, or it may not appear until after the fruit is harvested. Strange- 

 ly enough, the fruit moth is less serious in the South than might be expected 

 because the last two generations develop after the fruit is mature and the 

 twigs have hardened, making it difficult to find suitable food to produce 

 a strong and abundant over-wintering population. 



V/orms of the first generation, and a large part of the second genera- 

 tion, attack the tender nev/ growth of the twigs which they enter at the ter-r 

 minal bud, or at the base of a nev,' leaf and bore through the pith for 2 or 3 

 inches. Apparently, they prefer the twig growth to the young fruit until 

 after the stone-hardening period and they may bore into several twigs before 

 they complete their feeding. 



Many newly hatched worms enter the fruit near the stem where the tiny 

 hole heals quickly and is inconspicuous at harvest, misleading the consumer 

 to think that the fruit is sound. In fact, many of the most prominent holes 

 in mature fruit are exit holes showing that the worms have left. Entrance 

 holes on the side of the fruit are usually where the frriit touches another 

 fruit, a leaf or twig and are distinguished by masses of dried "gum." This 

 habit puts a premium on careful thinning. 



Fortunately, the Oriental fruit moth is readily attacked by several 

 parasites. Liberations of these beneficial insects have held the pest in 

 check in many places but they have seldom given the freedom from vrormy fruit 

 that careful growers desire. Sprays of fixed nicotine and dusts of a sulfur- 

 oil-talc mix-feure have been helpful and some growers have used them satisfac- 

 torily. Recently, it has been found that DDT is very effective against this 



