128 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO FRUIT. 



May 26. In an examination of a box of larvae of the Apple Moth, collected 

 from the bark of Apple and Pear trees during the last month (April), one had 

 become a moth, the others were about half in the pupa cases and half in larvae. 

 This is proof that there is a period of many days, indeed several weeks, between the 

 appearance of the first and last of these moths, the larva of which have lived 

 through the winter. The moths and butterflies of some species seem to come all 

 together. They will swarm for a brief interval, and then as suddenly disappear. Such 

 could be taken in the blaze of lamps or torches, as recommended by some writers ; 

 but these contrivances could hardly be made available for this one. This irregularity 

 in their appearance proves also that most of them are not ready for the fruits till they 

 are larger than they are now ; see Apples and Pears of this date in PL 2, under 

 head of Curculio. 



July 14. To-day I have wrapped hay-ropes round several Apple and Pear trees 

 in Mr. P.'s orchard, three coils on each one foot and two feet from the ground and 

 some round the large limbs five and six feet up ; I have also used leather (chamois 

 skins), old carpet, and cloths. 



July 14. Bartlett Pears show signs of Apple Moth. A very few have fallen. 

 The little brown dust is issuing from the blossom end, and the black decaying spot 

 near is to be seen in some ; in others, the slightly discolored depression. Should all 

 the fruit containing the larvae of this Moth fall to the ground before it escapes, it 

 would be as easily managed as the Curculio, by the grazing process ; but as some of 

 the caterpillars leave the fruit while it is still on the tree, the indications differ. 



July 17. Spent two hours to-day under Mr. P.'s Apple trees, cutting into hun- 

 dreds of the blighted apples lying on the ground. Any one who wishes to know 

 about the youthful state of the Curculio and Apple Moth can find out about it in 

 this way. " In some of these apples of the very early kinds, both these enemies had 

 escaped. In testing this matter under one such tree, where none of the fallen fruit 

 had been disturbed, the Apple Moth larvae had escaped in the proportion of sixty to 

 forty that were still to be found. Most of these forty were full grown, and ready to 

 leave. Under those branches of the same trees where the fruit had been picked up 

 a few days before, the apples that had fallen since, nearly all still contained the larva. 

 In the later kinds, and especially winter sorts, as Reinettes, Baldwins, Spitzenbergs, 

 &C., scarcely any had escaped. My experience to-day was more comforting as to 

 our ability to control this formidable enemy of the Apple and Pear than I had 



