Campbell's 1902 Soil Culture Manual. 



71 



SFRAYINa FOB THE CODLING MOTH 



In Southern Nebraska, the codling moth may be expected to come 

 forth and deposit its eggs from the first brood, between the 10th to the 20th 

 of May. Some few belated moths that have hibernated in cool locations 

 may come later. Under favorable conditions some may come earlier. As 

 a rule they do not come forth until a number of days after the apple 

 orchard is in bloom. It requires a considerable amount of warmth to 

 tempt them from their hiding places. Their eggs may be deposited on the 

 foliage or on the fruit itself. The eggs usually hatch in about eight days- 

 As soon as hatched these minute larvae hasten to get under cover, or out 

 of sight. Instinct leads them to get inside the apples as soon as possible. 



Some careful observers estimate that 80 per cent, of the larvae 

 that enter the apple select the base of the calyx. It is on the possible 

 chance of placing poison in the calyx of the apple before the larvae selects 

 that as a hiding place, that our present method of combating the codling 

 moth is founded. The orchardist attempts to spray before the calyx closes 

 so that particles of poison may be deposited in the calyx not only before 

 the larvae selects that point for entrance, but before the calyx is so tightly 

 closed as to make it unlikely that the poisonous spray will be lodged 

 therein. 



There is no advantage in spraying while the trees are in blossom, 

 since that is quite a number of days in advance of the appearance of the 

 larvae. Spraying at that time is also dangerous to bees; and the man who 

 cares nothing about his own or his neighbor's bees should also remember 

 that if followed by a rain the poison would almost certainly be washed out, 

 and, also that the poison used is believed to be detrimental to the delicate 

 stamens and pistils of the blossoms. On the other hand, should heavy rains 

 or press of work delay spraying until the calyx is tightly closed or until 

 the apple turns downward, the poisonous spray is not likely to be lodged 

 in the calyx. 



Should the orchardist fail to destroy the major portion of the first 

 brood of the larvae, his next method of attack is to trap the larvae when 

 they hide. This effort should be made from the middle of June until the 

 middle of July. 



In the last five years many orchardists have remarked that they did 

 not see enough difference between orchards sprayed and those not sprayed 

 to justify the trouble. Many made no effort to spray, and some years found 

 their fruit reasonably free from worms. This varying experience may be 

 accounted for by the fact that the close attention to details required in 

 successful work has not always been given. Successful work requires a 



