Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-02-16
How to Destroy the Cooling Moth and
other Insect Pests.

How TO Destroy the Cooling Moth and
other Insect Pests.
Probably more than twice as much fruit as
all that we succeed in growing to perfection
is injured or destroyed by insect pests j.
w. Manning of Reading, Mass, in an essay
before the State Horticulture Society, treats
of some of the common insect enemies of the
orchard, and the means used for destroying
them, as follows:
The codling moth is one of our most insd-
ious insect foes, coming at the blossoming Of
the apple, and brought out by the same
warmth that brings out the blossom. When
coming from its winter form in the cocoon it
lays an egg in the blossom end or eye of the
apple, and the worm from this egg bores its
way into the apple, causing it to drop prema-
turely. The worm then comes from the APP
pie enters the crevices in the bark of the
tree, where it spins cocoon and prepares
for its change to q butterfly in the spring
l can mention no new remedy, but we must
rely on the old methods, which could be made
more effective if neighbors combined their
efforts and applied their checks at the same
time Gathering and destroying all fallen
and worm eaten apples is the first require
ment, and hogs or sheep running at large in
orchards greatly assist in this matter, rs well
as in fertilizing and checking the grass. Trap
ping is undoubtedly help, whether it be the
band of straw or wooden rags about the tree
affording the worms place to transform from
the grub to the cocoon, and it is good idea
to carry about supply of hot water to i'm
merse these shelters in, rather than pounding
or hand picking. All dead bark should be
scraped off the trees to reduce the number of
places where the worm can find shelter
Open fires at night in the garden and orchard
serve to destroy great number of winged in
sects, including the codling moth, and it 10 a
good plan to have fires in the adjoining fields
and especially near any woods, where the in
sects might find refuge. A lantern over a tub
of water is a very useful trap, and made more
effective by a coating of oil on the water, and
it would be a paying investment in many
cases to hire a man to do nothing else but de
stroy insects. Wide-mouthed bottles half fill
ed with mixture of water, moasses and vim
egar and suspended among the trees will, in
a fortnight be full of insects of all kinds
They can then be empted and the liquid re-
newed. One man caught over three bushels
of insects in this way in one season, and pre-
served his garden almost entirely free from
their ravages.
The borer, sometimes a serious pest in
young apple trees, can be easily destroyed by
cutting away the bark where their chips show
if taken early enough. Later when they are
deep in the wood, a flexible wire pushed into
the hole will kill them. But it is still better
to check their entering the tree by strip of
tarred paper about the base of the tree, the
bottom covered with soil and the top tied
close around the trunk some six or eight inch
es up. A strong solution of soap is also good
to wash the bark of the tree to stop the laying
of eggs.
The scale louise can be destroyed by apply
ing raw linseed oil. Crude petroleum is also
used, but it must be diluted with water which
can be done by first mixing with milk. Pear
and cherry tree slugs can be removed by a
busting of all. Stacked lime or plaster Paris
Few are able to return to the tree after being
knocked of in this way. a spray of London
purple is also effective. There is no better
remedy for plant lice than tobacco water.
Tent caterpillars can be easily destroyed by
hand picking or the spiral brush, while the
worms arc in their webs on cool day or ear
ly in the morning, Another good way is to
pick their eggs, which are formed in glazed
masses surrounding the twigs, and then burn
ing them For the last six or more years
this vicinity has been almost entirely free
from the tent caterpillar, and the essayist felt
confident that they were destroyed by misty
rain that covered every part of the trees with
a coating of ice at about the Matching season.
Farther inland, where the storm was snow
instead of rain, they were never more de-
structive The plan most in use among plum
growers for destroying the curculio is jarring
off the insects by a sharp blow of mallet.
Sheets are spread under the trees to catch the
insects. 1t is also well to jar all trees in the
vicinity of the plum trees. Many farmers
have of late years planted their trees in hen
yards, where the fowls both destroy the in
sects and fertilize the ground Fumes of
burnt leather are also useful in driving off the
insects while they are destructive, but this
remedy does not kill them.