Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-11-11
For the Oxford Democrat.
FRUIT CULTURE.
Number 9.
INSECT ENEMIES.

'srhe price Of our apples, Of peaches ana cher
ries,
The price OF line currants, OF pears, plums and
berries,
In measured by combats with foes In tilt,
With war 20 the knife, and the knife 10 the hiit'
at is a continual warfare, said an old
fruit grower, in my hearing; shut, after
all, not much worse with fruit than with
other crops. The worst Of it Is, in our
business we let our enemies steal a march
on US and gain foothold in our domains,
before we prepare for war. Years ago |
had fine apple tree near the house, on
which had made considerable calcula-
ton. II had never occurred 70 me that
| had neglected it, till one day my atten-
ton was called to some caterpillars that
had tented in It's top and ravaged several
of the branches. Why had | not been
on guard for them, knew well enough
they always came in more or less numbers
every year. soon exterminated them,
but the tree felt their injurious effect.
While there | thought l would take
look at the trunk, and see if any bOrers
had made bold TO show themselves; and,
to my surprise and chagrin, found it all
honey-combed. How | wished had
spent five or ten minutes once or twice a
year in preventing this, | became alarm
cd about my other young trees, which /
found in a condition nearly as bad. \
DAVIS time, all told, would have prevented
all this injury and vexation- had a
taste for fruit culture, and knew some
thing of its demands, but thoughtleSS
procraStination betrayed me in my own
castle But pro6ted by the experience,
and have never since been surprised by
the enemy, though he has given me many
hard fights.
This is a common experience, and II
illustrates the necessity of alertness IN
fruit culture. This continual warfare
with insects Is indeed discouraging, but
We must engage in it to succeed in fruit
raising.
Years ago, when the country was new,
orchards were seldom injured by insects;
but now the orchariist has 10 contend
with new foes every year. The importa-
ton of fruit stock brings many new IN
sects with IT, Their larvp are deposited
here and there, and are overlooked till the
land IS overrun with insects. Fortunately
nearly every destroying insect has para
site or natural enemy, which holds them
in check: though they sometimes DO not
appear till after one or two fruit crops are
destroyed.
The insects that infest orchards and
gardens multiply with such astonishing
rapidity that the necessity OF meeting
them on their first appearance is appar-
emit Every one Is a producer of hum
dreds and thousands more, and vigor-
GUS war Of determination on their advance
guard Is = hundred fold more etiectual
than any efforts to destroy them after the
orchards are filed with their countless
hordeS. The old saving that preventative
Is better than cure, well applies here.
But how shall so many insects be pre-
vented from entering our orchards: In
some instances, as in that of rayages by
army worms, this Is seemingly impoSSi-
bic. though It Is often done BY great
watchfulness and labor But these cases
of wholesale devastation are somewhat
periodical. or incidental before the arrival
of the parasite Ordinarily insect raw
ages can be checked enough TO prevent
serious injury. Every fruit grower should
study the nature and habits Of insects,
and use the means to exterminate them
that experience has proved most potent.
He should inspect his trees and destroy
all larva deposits that come under his
observation, and promptly meet the first
appearance Of insect life He has many
co-workers in insect destruction. Birds
are among his most valuable aids One
bird VIII devour thousands, and the de-
spised toadS and dismal bats do most
excellent night service. Million, of wing
ed insects are destroyed by building FIRE
after dusk, to which they are readily
attracted. But space viii not allow Of
particularizing the various insects and
their habits. They viii be briefly noticed
in connection with the various kinds Of
/ fruit they infest.