104 N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION. [Bulletin 171 



methods and taking pains to secure all drops at reasonable in- 

 tervals, have practically eliminated the pest as a factor of conse- 

 quence in their orchards. In these places apples of susceptible 

 varieties, such as the Porter, are being grown free of the maggot, 

 provided uncared-for trees are not closely adjacent. 



THE USE OF LIVE STOCK TO KEEP DROPS CLEANED UP. 



The effectiveness of the larger farm animals, pigs, sheep or 

 cattle, as a means of keeping fallen infested fruit cleaned up, 

 depends solely on the ability and willingness of the animals to 

 dispose of the drops as they fall. If the drops fall in too great 

 quantity for the live stock at hand to dispose of reasonably 

 soon, more or less larvae will mature and enter the ground, to 

 cause reinfestation the following season. If some of the drops fall 

 outside the enclosure in which the stock range, or if drops lodge 

 in stone walls, reinfestation will certainly occur. The above 

 facts are self-evident on second thought, but sometimes are lost 

 sight of in estimating the benefits that have been or may be de- 

 rived from the use of live stock. It must be remembered also 

 that some pupae already in the soils may not emerge until the 

 second season. 



Hogs. That hogs are fond of apples is well known to any 

 farmer. Sweet fruit, which chances to be the kind often badly 

 infested by the maggot, is especially relished. 



In the course of these investigations many instances were ob- 

 served where marked benefit followed after hogs had been allowed 

 access to the ground beneath trees infested by the maggot. In- 

 variably such benefit is substantial only when the animals are 

 sufficiently limited in their range to make certain that they will 

 dispose of all drops, and when their enclosure is so planned that 

 they can secure all infested fallen fruit. When this is done hogs 

 may be the means of eliminating the maggot from badly attacked 

 trees of susceptible varieties. 



Unfortunately there are numerous and unquestionable records 

 of damage to apple trees by hogs. This damage may reach the 

 point of killing the trees, or at any rate badly injuring them. On 

 the other hand, there are equally authentic instances where no 

 apparent injury whatever has been done the trees. 



An attempt was made to find out how hogs might be used 



