414 Report OF THE HORTICULTURIST OF THE 
were about half grown, gave very unsatisfactory results. It is not 
improbable, however, that had the experiments been made earlier 
while the caterpillars were small the poison would have had more 
effect. Where practical, as in the case of small trees, the cater- 
pillars may be jarred off in the same manner as the plum curculio. 
MAGGOT. 
(Rhagoletis pomonella Walsh. ) 
Description.— This insect is popularly known as the “ apple 
maggot ” or “railroad worm.” It is one of the most important 
species that attacks the fruit. Its life-history has been fully 
worked out by Dr. F. L. Harvey.* The adult insects are two- 
winged flies. They appear in June. The female punctures the 
skin of the fruit with her sharp ovipositor and lays her eggs just 
beneath. In a few days the eggs hatch into white maggots which 
make numerous irregular channels in the pulp of the apple, enlarg- 
ing them as the maggots increase in size. This injury often does 
not show on the outside, and hence infested fruit may be harvested 
and unintentionally sold as good. Badly infested fruit usually 
falls early. 
The maggots leave the fallen fruit and enter the ground to 
pupate, remaining until the following spring before emerging as 
adults. 
The apple maggot appears to be spreading in this State, and as 
it is capable of doing great injury it should be carefully watched 
for and promptly checked when found. 
Treatment.— This insect has proven a difficult one to control. 
as the maggots work only within the fruit spraying the trees will 
have no effect. Probably the most practical remedy is the imme- 
diate destruction of the windfalls in infested orchards. This 
may be conveniently done by allowing hogs and sheep to run in 
the orchards. all plowing will have some effect by destroying 
many of the pupe in the ground. 

8 Maine Agr. Exp. Sta. Ann. Rept., 1889: 190. 
