The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-05-18
THE APPLE WORM.
Department of Agriculture of Pennsylva-
mia, Division of Zoology, Advice
How 20 Treat Ii.


How 10 Treat 1t.
The following advice, issued by the
Department of Agriculture of Pennsyl
vania! Division of Zoology, is worthy of
the attention Of farmers and others who
have apple trees:
THE APPLE WORM OR COOLING MOTH.
This insect does an enormous amount
Of damage each year in Pennsylvania.
Figures showing just how much the
loss in the State Is are not available,
but the Cornell Experiment Station has
made the estimate that the average
crop of apples in New York is 100000
barrels, which at $3.50 barrel, would
be S7,500,00O. They estimate that
worny apples form about one-third OF
the crop, making the loss to that State,
each year. $2,500,000. To this should
be added the apples so badly injured by
the worms that they fall off before be-
ing gathered.
As thrce-quarters of this loss can be
prevented at little cost, IL is certainly
| N'i VII Nuil' l'l Nt'ii ill'l w save liS
share of this sum. and the time to at
tend to the insect is now.
THE LIFE OF THE APPLE WORM.
The worm which eats the apple comes
from an egg laid either on the little
apple, on the stem, or even on the
leaves near by. These eggs are laid by
little moth ("miller') called the Cod
ling Moth, whose wings spread about
flies mostly at night. The eggs are
roundish white specks, a little smaller
than pin head. When they hatch the
little worm (which is really caterpil-
lar) crawls around on the apple, but
after a short time begins to eat its way
into the fruit. About three-quarters of
the worms enter the apple at the bios
som end. The caterpillar works in TO
grown, after which IL leaves the apple
to find a hiding place, either under the
bark OF the tree or, II the apple has fall
len of, under rubbish on the ground:
| btIt ~ tiluuStc iiS NDitS ~ CuSt VI
white silk around itself and is quiet for
time. after which il leaves the case as
little moth, to repeat this history.
HOW TO KILL THE INSECT.
The moth comes out Of its resting
stage, as just described, in the spring,
about the time the blossoms fall and
the fruit ''sets," and begins to lay its
eggs. These hatch in about a week and
then Is the time to kill the caterpillar.
The apple at this time has its blossom
end pointing up, aud the little projec-
tions there (calyx lobes), are separate:
week or ten days later they draw to-
gether. Before they have done this, but
several. days after the blossoms have
fallen, the trees should be sprayed with
Paris green. This is made by mixing
one pound with 100 to 200 gallons Of
water, and adding one or two pounds Of
fresh slaked lime. This spray, thrown
upon the tree will fall on the upturned
blossom ends of the apples and be caught
and held in the space between the calyx
lobes, and when the worm begins to eat
In there, he Is poisoned. After the
calyx lObes draw together it is too late
to spray. II, after spraying, much rain
falls before the calyx lobes close, the
trees should be sprayed again. The
mixture should be kept we'll stirred
while it is being sprayed on the trees.
, SECOND BROOD.
The moths from the eggs laid in tn,
spring appear during the last of Jul,
and first Of August to lay eggs for
second brood. Many of the worms o
the first brood that escaped being killed
|. by the spring spraying can be caugh
! after they leave the apples aud ar,
; hunting for a hiding place, by takin.
of all the loose, dead bark from tn,
tree and wrapping an old cloth arounc
the trunk near the lower crotches. The
e caterpillars will hide under this ant
can be crushed by hand; those which
fall TO the ground in the fruit can b,
stopped from becoming moths and lay
ing more eggs by picking up the wind
falls and feeding them out to stock o.
by letting sheep or hogs run in tn,
orchard. Every caterpillar left to turr
into a moth means more caterpillar,
later.
There need be no fear of poisoning
from poison left on by the spray. II
will be all washed off by the rains long
before the apples are ripe.
DOES IT PAY TO SPRAY?
The cost of spraying should not be
more than five or ten cents a tre,,