ON KEEPING ORCHARDS CLEAN. 



33 



Night-feeding forms in spring and summer must needs seek such 

 shelter for security during daylight, and the Weevils especially welcome 

 and profit by untidiness. 



This is a hasty review of what one may find in stones, bricks, 

 sticks, rubbish of all kinds, whether in winter or in summer ; clearly 

 it is wise not to provide such shelter and to make life more risky by 

 removing this protection and exposing the insects to their natural 

 enemies. 



2. Dig in Grass. — In reviewing the pests of each tree we saw how 

 many went to the soil for hibernation or for the chrysalis period. 

 It is immensely to their advantage that they should be undisturbed, 

 able to shelter themselves in cells or cocoons, and inaccessible to 

 their enemies during this helpless time. The tillage of the soil under 

 fruit-trees and between bushes is an important practice, and has 

 a great influence in keeping down pests ; in many English orchards 

 grass grows under the trees, and, provided the fruit of the orchard is 

 not the first necessity, in old orchards there is little harm ; but if the 

 orchard is primarily for fruit, of the perfect kind that sells well or stores 

 well, permanent grass is a mistake. Many an insect coming from the 

 tree finds at the surface of the soil among the grass stems ideal 

 winter conditions ; some go deeper and get into the soil ; the Eyed 

 Hawk chrysalis is a case in point, but it will be turned out by 

 tillage at any time between September and April, and clearly grass 

 prevents this. Among those that shelter on the soil in grass are 

 the Lappet larva, which in May- June retires there to spin ; 

 the Winter Moth, March Moth, and Mottled Umber, which turn 

 to chrysalides there for the autumn ; the Apple-leaf Miner Moths 

 shelter there ; the Blossom Weevil winters safely ; the Saw-fly larvae 

 from all trees find safety in the undisturbed soil below the grass, as 

 do the Pear Midge larvae ; the Magpie larva hides among the grass 

 stems, the Early Moth and Plum-fruit Moth turn to chrysalides on 

 the soil, and Leaf-hoppers and Weevils shelter there in winter or 

 summer. The population of the grass is considerable, whether in 

 winter or in summer, and one can realize the extra difficulty of life to 

 these pests if the grass is not there, but good tilled soil or a succession 

 of crops.* 



3. Have Open Fences, Clean Drains, no Shelter Spots. — Hedges, 

 untidy fences, surface drains full of fallen leaves, twigs, &c, offer 

 secure shelter to many insects, similar to those found in rubbish 

 generally ; and, where one can, it is wise to prevent this as much as 

 possible. If there must be hedges, let them be as open as possible, 

 especially below ; the ditch should be cleared in autumn or winter, 

 and the many sheltering insects in the rubbish removed ; some shelter 

 between loose slats in a paling, where they may get dry harbourage, 



* In the discussion, Mr. Bunyard pointed out that cherries are well grown on 

 grass. A study of the cherry pests above shows how few go to soil or grass for 

 shelter ; also cherries are sold for immediate use, and not for storage. It is 

 less important for cherry, with its few pests, to dig grass than for any other 

 fruit-tree— H. M, L. 



VOL. XLI. 



D 



