KEPOET OF THE APPLE AND PEAR CONFERENCE. 



53 



evaded by planting in good well- drained soil, and by superior cul- 

 tivation. It is not sufficient that the right materials are present 

 in a soil, but they must also be in a soluble condition, so that the 

 roots may be able to appropriate them. Good tilth promotes 

 early vegetation, an early maturation of the wood, and by im- 

 parting a greater constitutional vigour to the tree enables it the 

 better to ward off disease even when accidentally or otherwise 

 injured. With this preliminary I proceed to classify the other 

 enemies. 



Animals. 



Numerous as these are, they may be roughly divided into a 

 few groups, such as insects, birds, and other animals. Kalten- 

 bach, a German entomologist, says that 183 species of insects 

 prey upon the apple, of which 115 are lepidoptera, i.e. moths and 

 butterflies, 32 beetles, 20 aphides, and 16 others belonging to 

 different families. Of these I can only mention a few of the 

 more important or destructive in the limited time at my disposal, 

 with the view of directing attention to the fact that their success- 

 ful destruction can only be effected by proceeding against them 

 by intelligent and scientific methods. Haphazard raids are mostly 

 useless and attended by failure, while passive and indolent indif- 

 ference is but too plainly evident in many a neglected old garden 

 or orchard. Scientific research is frequently sneered at by the 

 practical man, but until the habits and life-histories of some 

 particular foes are thoroughly investigated there can be no intel- 

 ligent, sensible, or effectual attack made upon them. 



The Apple Grub {Gaiyocaijsa pomonella) is the larva of a 

 small moth which lays its eggs in the calyx of the young and 

 growing apple in the month of June or July according to the 

 season. The larva when hatched is white, with a black head and 

 neck and four rows of black spots. It gnaws its way down 

 the fruit, keeping clear of the core till it reaches the rind, which 

 is pierced to permit the escape of its excreta. When nearly full 

 grown it sometimes pierces the core and feeds upon the pips, 

 generally causing a great number of the fruits to fall pre- 

 maturely. Soon after this it leaves the fruit, and finding a 

 secure retreat in crevices of the bark or other hiding-place, com- 

 mences to spin itself a cocoon, and after resting a time becomes 

 transformed into the chrysalis state, which it retains till spring. 

 Soon after completing their development, the moths pair, and 

 egg-laying commences as formerly. 



The grubs may be trapped in great numbers by tying bands 

 of hay or straw round the trunks of the trees so as to aftbrd the 

 grubs a place of shelter in which to form their cocoons. Collect 

 the bands in autumn and burn them. All fallen apples should 

 be assiduously collected and given to pigs or destroyed. The 



