Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-07-28
The COdling Moth.

Mr.. s. b. Peck, of Muskegau, Mich,
writes 10 the Rural New Yorker that the
depredatiOns Of the progeny Of this insect
have become the most serious obstacle TO the
raising Of fruit, aud the question, "What
shall be done in the way Of remedy7" is
frequently asked, aud the various plans OF
defence are being discussed with = serious
ness that augur success should the remedies
proposed only become generally adopted.
An understanding Of the habits Of breed
ing Transforming and alternating is essential
to success in the destruction and prevention
Of auy insect. In this the eutomologists
teach us much that is valuable, but in their
oagerness TO give them their true names in a
foreign tongue, trace their origin, and give
their true order and class, they are apt TO
overlook the part most important to the suf-
ferer by their depredatious the means to
head them off or destroy them. The means
for the latter purpose that have been most
successful thus far have been the providing
of artificial hiding places for the larvae to Oc-
cupy while changing to pupa, in which
place they can be easily and rapidly des.
troyed, and the most successful device hiss
been bands Of paper or cloth (woolen cloth
is preferablel put around the trunk. The
bands can be easily taken off, the worms des-
troyed, and the bands replaced.
The writer Of this article claimed, some
two years since, to have discovered or first
promulgated habit of this larva overlooked
by the entomologists, which in addition to
the bands mentioned, opened the way for a
most complete destruction Of this pest. l
claimed to have made experiments which
proved TO my entire satisfaction that this lar
va having destroyed the vitality of an apple,
leaves it during the night and enters another
thus destroying many during its larva life
This fact being admitted, q remedy is readily
suggested: to pick off frequently all wormy
apples and destroy them. have, however
never discouraged the use of bands as an
adjunct, for many will escape the picking
and complete their larva life.
To record all the opposition this theory
has met with, the many experiments made BY
me and other laymen, all the latter tending
to its confirmation, would be foreign to thu
object Of this article, which is to Request
through the Rural that those raising apple'
should make the following experiments
First, take out half or full.groWn worm
place it by the side of a sound apple and
cover them from the light; examine mex
day and see if the worm is not inside. Sec.
ond, in order to show whether this is no
done, as last resort rather than as habit
pick of a quantity Of wormy apples, say
twenty or ffty, so as to be sure to get I
number that have the worms still In them
put them In box and let them remain in
two or three days, or until they are q littl
wited; then put in q few sound apples
mark and count them and cover up for few
days, and then see if the fresh ones are no
occupied.
Now is the time to make these expert
nents, as the emigrations become less fire.
quent as the fruit increases in size. Report
through this paper will reach me. l shal
be happy to respond at any time to an.
questions asked, and at another time ma,
give q complete history of the experiment
Of myself and others in this matter.