6 



CIRCULAR 270, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Pears ordinarily do not become so wormy as apples, particularly 

 when interplanted with them, the moths showing a preference for the 

 apples. In solid plantings of pears, the fruit often becomes decidedly 



wormy unless properly 

 sprayed. A calyx spray 

 should always be applied, 

 but as the pear calyces do 

 not close rapidly, there is 

 more time in which to apply 

 this spray to pears than to 

 apples. Following the 

 calyx spray, a cover spray 

 should be given about 4 

 weeks after the petals have 

 dropped. Where pears are 

 interplanted with apples, 

 they may be sprayed at the 

 same time as the apples. 

 In the warmer sections it is 

 necessary to apply further 

 cover sprays according to 

 the seriousness of the infes- 

 tation. Bartlett or other ear- 

 ly varieties should not be 

 sprayed after the end of July, 

 as they are usually harvest- 

 ed in August. If only one 

 spray is needed, it may be 

 applied at the time of the 

 first cover spray for apples, 

 and will act as a combined 

 calyx and cover spray, be- 

 cause most of the calyx cups 

 in pears remain open until 

 after this time. If experi- 

 ence has indicated that this 

 one spray is insufficient, a 

 calyx spray should be ap- 

 plied earlier in the season, 

 because pears are more sub- 

 ject to calyx worms than 

 apples and need more pro- 

 tection in the calyx. (See 

 spraying schedules, p. 71.) 

 In order to facilitate an even 

 distribution of the spray 

 over the smooth waxy sur- 

 face of the pears and to pre- 

 vent objectionable blotch- 

 ing of the mature fruit, a spreader should be used in the cover sprays. 

 On account of the importance of codling-moth sprays, adequate 

 spraying machinery is essential. Much of the failure to control the 

 worms is due to the use of spray outfits that are too small or are in 



Figure 5.— A, Apple blossoms from which the petals have just 

 fallen; the right stage at which to apply the calyx spray 

 for the codling moth; B, too far advanced for calyx spray. 



