io88 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



and even Walnuts and Sweet Chestnuts, as well as Pyrus aria 

 and other ornamental trees, occasionally harbour the pests. 

 The caterpillar may be described as from ^in. to '^n. long, 

 pinkish with brown head, the whole body segments being black- 

 dotted. The Moth is on the wing in late spring, and deposits 



Fig. 699. — Phyllodromia germanica, shoaving : i, Imago (Wings 

 Expanded); 2, Imago (Wings Closed); 3, Immature ; 4, Ootheca. 



her eggs in the vicinity of the blossoms. The larvse when 

 hatched out burrow into the embryo fruits from the calyx end 

 and tunnel towards the stem, but not touching the core until 

 they are nearly full-fed (Fig. 700), when the seeds are also 

 eaten and the maggot then escapes. Prior to this most of the 

 infested fruits have fallen, and the insects have made their way 

 back to the trees and spun a cocoon in which they remain until 

 next spring. 



Paris Green (loz. to 2ogals. of water), with loz. of lime added, 

 is the best insecticide. This should be sprayed on just after the 

 fruit has set, and on a warm, sunshiny day. A second spraying 

 may be necessary ten days or so after. By way of prevention, 



all " maggotty " 

 fruit should be 

 collected and 

 burnt ; the trees 

 should receive a 

 winter dressing of 

 caustic soda 

 (Greenbank's 98 

 per cent.), ^Ib. ; 

 crude commercial 

 potash, -^1 b. ; 

 water, 5gals. This 

 should be applied 

 to the trees in 

 mid-winter, the 

 operator using 



gloves. Hay-bands placed round the trees (trunk and main 

 branches) are also successfully employed in America. They 

 serve as shelters for the larvae, which escape from fallen and 

 other fruits and are making their w^ay up the trees for pupating, 

 and should be examined periodically and the caterpillars destroyed. 



Fig. 700.— Codlin Moth and Caterpillar. 



