CONFERENCE ON FRUIT GROWING. 



29 



concerning its natural history, and that is how many broods occur here 

 in a year. We know in America that as we pass from Canada to the 

 Southern States they vary from one to five ; but we have no definite 

 records here. That we have two broods I am fully convinced, for we 

 frequently find quite small maggots in the apples in September, whilst 

 the first appearance of the moth is in June. The first brood goes on 

 appearing over a period of six weeks, hence we only get partial success by 

 spraying. 



By November we know the maggots have all entered their winter 

 quarters, where they will remain until they enter the pupal stage in the 

 spring. This pest may be coped with by trapping just as successfully as 

 the winter moth. This is done by tying strips of sacking or haybands 

 around the trees in July, about a foot from the ground, leaving them on 

 until the winter, when they may be removed and burnt with the cocoons 

 and larvae that are found in the folds where they have gone for shelter to 

 form their cocoons. 



We frequently find the cocoons in the pieces of sacking used when the 

 young trees are tied to stakes. A young plantation may be kept clean by 

 examining these traps in the winter and killing the insects beneath in 

 any way one thinks best. 



A small percentage of maggots are found in the branches working 

 downwards from the apples, not upwards, as when the apples or larvae 

 fall to the ground. I do not see how we can trap them, so that we must 

 combine spraying with this trapping. I need scarcely remark here that 

 spraying must be done soon after the blossom falls to be effectual ; ten 

 days is the limit after the blossom has fallen. The poison then lodges 

 in the eye, the calyx closes over and protects it from rain. 



Exactly how long the arsenic remains effective is not known. That 

 it does much good we know from results obtained here and in America. 

 For this purpose arsenate of lead has been found much more effective 

 than Paris green. With banding and spraying one can quite well control 

 this pest, given normal conditions. But have we normal conditions ? I 

 think not. What is the use of adopting remedies and preventives if we 

 go on introducing swarms of these insects into the country from abroad ? 



American, Canadian, Portuguese and other Apples are sent over to this 

 country which swarm with codling maggots. One can often find hundreds 

 on the lids and bottoms of barrels when they are opened. These get 

 distributed all over the country. I have found them in village stores in 

 close proximity to Apple orchards, and as long as this goes on I feel it 

 hopeless to advise any remedial measures. 



No other country would allow such things to happen. Only last year 

 numerous cases of Apples (Portuguese) were destroyed in Natal and 

 elsewhere owing to their being infested with this maggot. A few con- 

 fiscated cargoes here would soon stop the importation of what is often 

 refuse fruit not fit for sale in the countries from which it comes. 



Apple-blossom Weevil. — The Apple-blossom Weevil is not of such 

 wide distribution as those insects I have already mentioned, but here and 

 there it is most annoying. At present we know of no remedy which we 

 can apply to this pest. I bring it forward more with the idea of eliciting 

 growers' experiences on certain points. 



