434 



HARDY FRUIT GARDEN. 



their descent be closely watched, and the 

 ground under the tree be covered with 2 or 3 

 inclies of soil, and that removed every second 

 or third day, and the operation repeated as 

 long as their descent continues, the greater part 

 of the insects may thus be secured and carried 

 away, and so disposed of that they cannot again 

 return to their former place. Spirit of turpen- 

 tine, strong whisky, or gin, applied to the 

 patches infested with the insect,is an excellent re- 

 medy, and may be applied on its first appearance, 

 and if persevered in will destroy them. Some 

 sorts of apples are exceedingly subject to its 

 attacks, such as the codlins aud old juneating; 

 while the russets, so far as our observation goes, 

 are seldom attacked by it. During winter, 

 but taking care that none fall on the buds, 

 spirits of vegetable tar apphed will be found of 

 advantage ; for although at that period the in- 

 sects have descended from the branches and at- 

 tacked the roots, the disagreeable odour of the 

 tar will prevent their returning to the branches 

 in spring. If either of these remedies be ap- 

 plied in a proper manner, this insect will soon 

 cease to appear. 



The winter moth, (Geometra hrumata of Linn., 

 the Cheimatobia brumata of Stephens), fig. 175, 

 the caterpillar of 

 Fig. 175. which is the green 



looper, is a very 

 destructive enemy 

 to most fruit 

 trees, the apple 

 amongst the rest. 

 This moth makes 

 its appearance in 

 November, hence 

 the name. It pro- 

 ceeds from a light- 

 ish-brown pupa, 

 which lies buried 

 a few inches under 

 ground from June 

 to the end of Oc- 

 tober. The male 

 -is jvinged ; the 

 female Irasvonly 

 short rudiments 

 of wings, not 

 adapted for fly- 

 ing. The female 

 found almost 

 stationary on the 

 stem of the tree, awaiting the male, which 

 may be seen flitting about towards evening, 

 at which time pairing takes place. The female 

 then ascends the tree, and deposits her eggs 

 singly on the buds, and partly on the ripened 

 wood and twigs. The number of eggs deposited 

 by one female amounts to above two hundred, 

 and they are so firmly glued to the bark as to 

 resist being washed off by rain, and so hardy 

 that no frost destroys their vitality. As the 

 warmth of spring advances, and vegetation pro- 

 gresses, the eggs are hatched. The young cater- 

 pillar is at first exceedingly small, and hence 

 aeldom seen ; but on closely examining the 

 blossom-buds their fine web will be discovered, 

 and as soon as the petals begin to develop, their 



WINTER MOTH. 



Caterpillar, winged male, and 

 wingless female. 



attacks become more visible, and the gnawed 

 appearance of these indicates the presence of the 

 enemy. Others also at the same time attack the 

 leaf-buds, which, as well as the petals, they glue 

 together in such a way that they are prevented 

 from expanding properly. As the blossom 

 begins to expand, these caterpillars descend 

 and find their way into the receptacle, on which 

 they feed; and when a fruit is formed, they com- 

 mence their attacks on it, and quit it not 

 until they have neai'ly devoured it. When 

 they have accomplished the destruction of 

 the fruit, they then attack the tender foliage, 

 and as they increase in size and strength, pro- 

 ceed to the larger leaves, which, if the insects 

 are numerous, they soon strip from the trees. 

 The wood-buds do not escape them; and when 

 they have denuded the tree of its foliage, 

 they bury themselves in the earth, where 

 they repose in a pupa state, as already no- 

 ticed. Ants are the natural enemy to the 

 caterpillar of this insect, and may be seen de- 

 vouring them in great numbers. Deep hoeing 

 and disturbing the soil under the trees is a mode 

 of getting rid of these pests, and copious water- 

 ings after May around the roots destroy many 

 more, especially if lime-water is employed. 

 Amongst birds who aid us against these ene- 

 mies, the titmouse is one of the most indus- 

 trious. Means have been resorted to, such as 

 collars of woollen thread, wool, &c., dipped in 

 turpentine, oil, tar, &c., fastened to the stem 

 of the tree, to prevent the ascent of the female 

 in spring, and a band of bird-lime has been 

 found very efficacious in not only preventing 

 their ascent, but in catching them by hundreds. 

 Hot lime, in a very fine state of powder, dust- 

 ed over the trees, as the caterpillars come 

 into existence, is an excellent remedy. 



The mottled umber moth, or lime looper, 

 (Geometra defolia-ria of Linnseus, Hyhernia 

 defoliaria), fig. 176, although a parasite of 



Fig. 176. 



MOTTLED UMBER MOTH. MALE AND FKMALE. 



the lime tree, is found on the apple also. 

 In its caterpillar state, it is readily distin- 

 guished from the caterpillars of the other 

 loopers by the brimstone-yellow stripe on each 



