102 THE SUBURBANITE'S HANDBOOK 



formula I. The former may be kept down in summer by frequent 

 spraying of formula A. 



Codlin Moth is probably the most familiar of our apple tree 

 pests, more especially so in the form of "Apple Worm." The moths 

 appear in May and June and lay their eggs at the blossom end of the 

 apple. There they are hatched and after a few days they enter the 

 apple by the crown, making straight for the core. There are three 

 things to be done : First, spray within a week of the fall of the bloom 

 with formula D; second, gather all apples as they fall and destroy 

 them ; third, place bands of hay around the stems of the affected trees 

 in July. Remove and burn. 



Winter and March Moths The caterpillars of these, usually 

 known as "loopers," feed on the young foliage of apple trees and 

 occasionally even attack the bloom. It is of the utmost importance 

 that immediately they appear the trees be sprayed with formula D, 

 repeating the dose if necessary a few days later. Prevention, how- 

 ever, is better than cure and a study of their life history shows us 

 that though the male insect has wings the female is practically wing- 

 less. As it cannot fly it can only reach the branches of the tree where 

 it may lay eggs by crawling up the stem of the tree. They should 

 therefore be trapped by placing bands of oiled paper smeared with 

 axle grease (or any similar special preparation) around the stems of 

 the trees the second week in October, at which time they are about 

 to commence their upward journey. 



Canker The most frequent and at the same time the most de- 

 structive form of canker attacking the apple and pear trees is caused 

 by a minute fungus (Nectria Ditissima). Being unable to pierce the 

 unbroken bark it can only gain admission to the living portion of a 

 branch through a wound. Sometimes these wounds are caused by 

 hail, sometimes they result from punctures of small insects, but in 

 my opinion they are more frequently caused by bursting of unripe 

 wood cells, as explained below. 



Having once gained an entrance the fungus spreads rapidly 

 through the bark, which soon shows signs of being eaten away. In 

 the autumn months the presence of the ' ' Nectria ' ' m'ay be recognized 

 by the minute white specks (not to be confused with American 

 blight) which may be seen nestling in crevices of the rugged bark 

 around the edges of the wound. These are the fruits of the fungus 

 which (while in this state) may be destroyed by painting them with a 

 solution of one pound of sulphate of iron, dissolved in a gallon of 



