The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-15
THE APPLE MOTH.

The ravages of the apple worm among
our orchards in Virginia are serious cause
Of loss and annoyance. We copy the fol-
lowing excellent suggestions from an arti-
Gle in the Oneida Circular, by Henry
Thacker. We trust that our orchardists
will combine in the remedial agencies till
this pest is exterminated, as we believe it
will be:
Everybody who produces or makes use
OF the apple must have some idea of the
apple worm, if unacquainted with its pro-
genitor, the apple moth its work in the
choicest and fairest fruit often disgusts
them; but few, however, take the trouble
to inform themselves further concerning
the insect, with the exception of the more
intelligent of the practical fruit-growers !;
and of these but moity hope for an abate-
ment Of the apple-worm nuisance. The
case is not, however, hopeless one and
few fruit enthusiasts are experimenting
with view of finding out, ifpossible, some
feasible and expeditions method of destroy
ing this universal enemy or, at least, Of
so far abating the nuisance as to be able to
secure crop OF tolerable fair and sound
fruit.
With this end in view, we too have ex-
perimented somewhat, and though on q
limited scale, it may be worth reporting
We have tried three methods: first, with
considerable success, that of catching the
moth in bottles Of sweetened water hung
in the trees; but the process of refilling
the bottles from time to time proved rather
tedious, to say nothing of the expense !;
secondly, the plan now Under trial Of pas
turing sheep and calves in the orchard !;
thirdly, on limited scale and with fair sue
cess, that of placing wooden rags in tho
crotches and main branches Of the trees,
This method was tried the past season, and
promises to be not only the most practical
bic, but also tho most successful
Old carpcting was made use of, cut in
pieces about nine inches square, fold
ed two or three times. Into its folds the
larvB Of the insect crawls and spins its
cocoon, preparatory to undergoing its
change to perfect insect. The expert
ment has proved that large majority Of
the worms leave the apple before it drops,
even in the fore part OF the season, and de-
scend to the crotch of the tree, or perhaps
to the ground, in order to find place of
GouCcditiiSllJ ulutI tilc luUSc bdlhs ltlcSS
rags offer to the insects very acceptable
and cozy retreat, of which they readily
avail themselves, and all that is necessary
for their certain destruction is to pass along
once in ten or twelve days during the sea-
son and crush the larvae with the hand,
replacing the cloth; or, what would be
| still better and more expeditions, run the
cloth through pair Of rollers carried for
the purpose. In case of large trees that
have many branches, it might be
well to place two or three cloths
in a tree. No very systematic course was
taken in making the experiment; but in
every instance when examined, from two to
ten larvae were found in the folds of single
cloth. Late in the season, after the apples
had been gathered, on examining the cloths
in three dwarf apple trees that had not
been disturbed for number Of days, eight,
| fifteen, and twenty-one, respectively, were
found to have taken up quarters for the
winter in the folds of the cloths. These
cloths, if saved, may be used for more than
one season.
The results of our experiment with this
third method conyinces us that by follow
ing it up faithfully great reduction Of the
pest may be effected, and, consequently.
larger and fairer crops of fruit be realized.