HOW SHALL WE FIGHT CODLING MOTHS? J 81 



HOW SHALL WE FIGHT CODLING MOTHS? 



BY E. F. STEPHENS. 



Our customers have been complaining for several years about wormy 

 apples, and there was an increasing proportion of wormy apples in cur 

 orchard. Various remedies have been suggested for contending with 

 the codling moth, such as hay bands, trapping them in various ways 

 with vinegar, sweetened water or something of that character, but the 

 weight of evidence now seems to be in favor of spraying with arsenical 

 poisons, for which perhaps London purple is better as it is easier to 

 keep it in suspension in the liquid. After carefully noticing the re- 

 sults of other parties, we sent for an Orchard King two-horse pump 

 throwing two sprays, and also one Perfection pump for use by hand 

 where a wagon could not be driven. For the two-horse pump we use 

 a tank of about 200 gallons. On the top of this tank the pump is 

 placed and operated by gearing from the wheel. Two or three horses 

 running this at a fast walk will spray about 3,000 trees a day. This 

 pump has two nozzles, throws two strong streams, and by attaching 

 the cyclone nozzle it is divided ink) a fine stream and thrown with 

 considerable force into the trees. We find it advantageous to drive 

 each side of the trees, and this year have sprayed five times. Some- 

 times after spraying a heavy rain comes up and washes oif most of the 

 liquid, and then we have to spray again. For large orchards, we would 

 advise using the two-horse pump, because it is applied very rapidly in 

 this way and a great deal of labor is saved. For smaller orchards a 

 smaller pump costing $6 or $7 will be amply sufficient, which should 

 be fastened on top of a kerosene barrel- and operated by hand. The 

 time for the spraying with London purple is governed by the condi- 

 tion of the fruit. We commence soon after the petals have fallen off, 

 and continue until after the apple begins to tumble down from its own 

 weight. The object to be gained is to deposit a little of this spray 

 poison in the blow of each apple, which is the place where the moth 

 deposits its eggs at this season of the year. Then after the larvae 

 hatches out and begins to feed, it is likely to eat a little of the poison 

 and be destroyed. We think it advisable not to use too much of the 



