MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION. 149 



feeds ontirch' on the leaves after its tirsi spring' attack on the opening- 

 buds, makes its control a much more tan«;^ible problem than that 

 of the codling- moth, where tlie surface feedini;' is confined to the 

 sins'le hole which it luakes in the fruit,; and the fact that the bud 

 moth is actually without coNerinj;- during- a part of the lar\a stage 

 and feeds upon exposed surfaces, makes the problem still more 

 simi)le. This does not mean that the insect docs not require the 

 most rii^'id and ])ersistent treatment, nor is it intended to indicate that 

 it will fall an eas}- pre}- to an ill-timed and carelessl_\- a])])lied appli- 

 cation of i)oison. 



WHEN TO SPRAY. 



Certainly the best time for the first a])plication is in the spring 

 before the flower ])uds begin to open. The cocoons of the insect 

 should be closely watched and the spray applied as soon as there are 

 signs of activity, or even before if the area to be covered is large 

 enough to consume a consideral)le length of time, since it is fatal 

 to allow the worms to enter the young buds. The larvae are 

 already advanced in size and have only to proceed to the opening 

 liowers of the nearest twigs, wdiich. by a remarkable instinct of the 

 worms when hibernating in the fall, are usually upon those at the 

 base of which their cocoons are securely fastened, in order to do im- 

 mediate damage. It is this stage that the orchardist should be es- 

 pecially anxious to control since it is at this time that the damage 

 is done and when the insects are allowed to get w^ell within the open- 

 ing flowers they are practically safe until the apple crop has been 

 "Nipped in the bud." At this time, however, they are feeling the 

 eiTects of a long winter's fast and will be very susceptible to the poi- 

 son if it be very completely and thoroughly spread. Rut the appli- 

 cations should not end with this, and if there are worms still to be 

 found on the tree, and a few are certain to survive even the most rig- 

 id treatment, their habits should be closely watched and as soon as 

 they begin to feed in exposed places they should be again treated 

 to spray. This application should be made at the time that the 

 larvae comjjlete the first spring molt and begin to seek new and 

 larger quarters, such a stage as that described above wdiich occured 

 about May 25th at Missoula. Even after the summer brood emerg- 

 es from the eggs the prudent orchardist will find it to his advantage 



