60 
HOW TO COMBAT THE INSECT. 
The codling moth seems to have been present and injurious in 
orchards for centuries, but until about eighty ^^ears ago no one seems 
to have made any suggestions as to how its ravages might be checked. 
It would require volumes to contain all that has been written about the 
methods which have been used against this insect — most of them value- 
less. Before considering methods of combating the insect there are 
several points w^hich must be discussed. 
Many of the Western States have horticultural laws which aim at 
extermination, and man}^ of the corps of inspectors are working with 
that end in view; others, however, from recent experience have been 
led to change their views upon the subject. When one discusses the 
extermination of an insect he ventures upon debatable ground. As j^et 
no insect has been exterminated through the agenc3^of man, and judg- 
ing from past experiences the writer believes that it is impossible to 
exterminate the codling moth even in a single orchard. The control of 
it, by means b}^ which the damage it inflicts is reduced to a minimum, 
is the verj^ best that we can expect to accomplish. It is a prime neces- 
sity, in order to make recommendations of value, that the entomologist 
have an accurate knowledge of the life historj^of an insect. Not only 
is this necessary for the entomologist, but it is essential for the fruit 
grower also to understand it, in order that he ma}" apply recommen- 
dations intelligentl}" and vary them to suit conditions. The erroneous 
ideas some fruit growers have upon the life history of the codling moth 
are sometimes startling, following recommendations simpl}" because 
they are given to them, and having no idea of the reason therefor. 
Often they obtain good results, but more often failures result; and as 
they do not understand the reasons for the recommendations, they are 
at a loss to know why they did not obtain good results. To combat 
the insect successfully the fruit grower must be familiar with all the 
stages of the insect, the sequence of the stages, where found, and hab- 
its and variations. He should also be informed how the preventive and 
remedial measures act in reducing the numbers of the insects. With 
this knowledge he will be able to vary the recommended preventive or 
remedial measures to exactly fit his local conditions, and if any failures 
occur he will in a measure be able to tell why they occur, and the fol- 
lowing year the experience will aid him in changing his methods in 
order to obtain better results. He will also be protected against 
using methods which are of no value, and will thus avoid a large 
unnecessar}^ expense. 
PREVENTIVE MEASURES. 
Preventive measures are those which not only aid in controlling the 
codling moth, but aid the fruit grower in training trees so as to bear 
more fruit, support it while growing, and produce fruit of a better 
