REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 1.0,1 7 59 



a fair crop of fruit and in many portions of the western part of the 

 State there were almost no apples. The yields on the experimental 

 plots, though promising well at blossoming time, were so small that 

 it was not considered worth while to pick and classify the fruit on 

 the trees sprayed three times, owing to the fact that the crop was 

 so small that very little of value could be secured. These untoward 

 conditions were further accentuated by the extremely muddy con- 

 dition of the orchard at the time of the first spraying. This mate- 

 rially affected the efficiency of the work. The experiment in Niagara 

 county was continued in the orchard of George Mead of Barker and 

 there conditions were much better than in the Kendall orchard, 

 since there was a larger crop and fairly satisfactory returns were 

 obtained from the spraying, though the benefit secured was not 

 nearly so great as that which had been obtained in earlier years in 

 the Hudson valley. The small crop of fruit mentioned above was 

 also accompanied by an unusually heavy infestation by codling 

 moth, and the two combined prevented obtaining high < percentages 

 of worm-free fruit, though, substantial benefits were secured on the 

 sprayed trees, as compared with the unsprayed or checks. 



Apple maggot. The work of last year with this pest was continued 

 in the orchard of Mr Edward Van Alsfyne of Kinderhook. The 

 test made with the late application of a poison just as the flies began 

 to appear was followed by a very gratifying freedom of injury on 

 trees where there was very serious damage to the fruit last year. 

 Variations in the numbers of this insect are so great that the Ento- 

 mologist did not feel warranted in drawing definite conclusions from 

 the results of one season. 



Leaf roller. Observations show this insect to be less abundant in 

 the western part of the State than was the case two years ago, due, 

 probably, to the work of natural enemies. 



Red bug. Injuries by these pests, as shown by the work of 

 the past year, are becoming increasingly apparent here and there in 

 the State and fruit growers are suffering considerable losses from the 

 work of these pests. The fact that there are two species, both of 

 which may occur in the orchard, one being abundant a little earlier 

 than the other, complicates control measures, since recommendations 

 of value in the case of the earlier species are of comparatively little 

 service if the infestation is largely due to the later and, lacking 

 expert examination, it is usually impossible to determine the trouble- 

 some form until the damage has been caused. 



San Jose scale. This pest, as determined by observations and 

 reports from various parts of the State, is relatively much less 



