Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-05-20
Tot tiIC VNtuIN ItIItVIat.
The Moth and Ippie FORM.

.Hr. Edif0F:-I here Is no insect atlack-
ing the apple. that does more injury than
the apple-worm. Il is whiIish insect,
with dark colorcd head. which burrows
at the core OF the apple or pear, gorging
rs it moves along and filling the path 1t
makes with its cxcrement One third oi
the apple crop every year, in consequence
OF It's rava2es, fall to the ground before
they arc fully grown, while others, being
attacked later in the season, are made
nearly worthless by the effect of this pest.
The moth may be distinguished from
other moths, by n bright scale at the tips
of lis wings Little is known OF il bl
many of our fruit growers, and quite like
IL but few have ever seen IT, We are
told it is Of a foreign origin, bnt has now
become very well uaturaiizcd and is rs
much nj home in Maine rs in is mother
country. We are informed it has infeSt-
cd orchards throughout the New England
States for more than half century bat is
a stranger in The lar West About The
time tae apple is formed, usually about
the middle Of June. this moth makes lis
appearance, the female flying from tree
to tree. depoSitiug her eggs mostly in the
blossom. and though sometimes in other
portions OF the fruit Amer attending 10
this duty to her postcuty and contributing
freely to the iruii-growcr'S annoyance.
she dies OF old age In 4 few weeks the
egg deposited in the apple matches, and
the larva Immediately begins 4 tunnel to
the core. where il lives Eat, for few
wceks.--It then seeks for change, and
prepares for it by eNcavating 4 path To
the surface of the apple. The fruit at this
time being blighted, falls to the ground.
The worm passes out the aperture in
the apple and Immediately seeks q con-
,enient crcyicc usually in the crotch OF
the tree. where it envelopes itself in a
cocoon Of dark color-it being trans
formed into the proper state which re-
sembIeS an infant in swaddIing clothes
asd in few days bursts forth into moth
and forthwith commences i second gene.
ration the same >cason.-But at this sea-
son, the fruit being larger, and though
n tested. does not fall rs lieely rs ealiier
in the seaSon-but usually remains on
the nee until the harvest; sometimes the
worm remains at the core until the apple
is used in the winter In other eases
when the apples axe pat into bins or bal
relS, it comes out and makes the cocoon
in the rough places Of the caSk or bin,
and remains ready 10 burst out into 4
moth in the spring Ne learn that those
that leave the fruit before ii is brought 10
the house. build their winter houses so
thoroughly, - to safely protect them
through winters froSts and snow, and
leave them in state to be transfol med
into moths soon rs the warm days Of
spring approaches. We believe In the
County of Oxford one-half the apple
crop is actually destroyed year by year.
by the effect OF the noXious insect. What
i the remedy, the iruit-growers natural
" would ask. In the first place care
should be taken to destroy all the falling
frui. soon as il falls from the tree, by
gathering it up, and feeding it to the pigs
or 10y allowing swine TO run in the orchard
and deyour the windfall before the worm
leaves them. The cocoons deposited
about barrels and store rooms in which
has been kept apples, should be destroy
ed. A perpetual and earnest prosecution
of the business should be made, in order
10 be successful. G.
Bethel, May I'd, 1870.