Mountain advocate. (Barbourville, Ky.) 1904-1935, 1913-03-28
Agricultural Extension

prey upon the apple none is causing
greater loss and damage than the
cooling moth, more familiarly
known as the "apple worm The
actual loss sustained by Kentucky
fruit growers is hardly appreciated,
rs most OF the wormy fruit drops
of prematurely. and is not observ-
ed, but it is safe to say that over
fifty per cent OF all the apples raised
in the State are infested with the
larvae Of the cooling moth.
The mature insect belongs to a
class OF insects belongs to a class
oil insects commonly known as
millers. The moth is gray ish brown
in appearance and usually flies at
night about the time the young
fruits are forming. The female de-
posts her eggs singly at the calyx
end of the fruit and on the nearby
leaves and branches. The indivi.
dual egg upon the leaf or fruit looks
very much like a small white blister
and is smaller than the head of a
pin. The number of eggs laid by
single female ranges from sixty to
seventy. The eggs hatch in from
FIVE to ten days after they are laid.
As soon as the worm matches il
crawls to the nearest apple and
usually eats its way in through the
calvx or blossom end. After re-
naming in the apple from twenty
to t~enty five days the worm eats
its way out through the side of the
apple and builds cocoon under a
loose strip of bark or crevice in the
trunk.
In order to control this insect it
is best to spray just after the bios
SONS drop and before the calyx cup
closes. If the spraying is put off,
the calyx cup closes and it becomes
impossible to deposit any poison
within it. The calyx cup remains
open from seven to ten days after
the blossoms fall and the spray may
applied during this time. An effort
should be made to spray immedi.
atelv alter the petals fall and not
wait, as bad weather may hinder
one from spraying later on.
Arsenate of lead and Paris green
are practically the only poisons
used in controlling the cooling moth.
Arsenate of lead is safer to use be-
cause OF it's superior adhesiveness
and because it is not as liable to
burn the foliage. To get the best
results one should use three pounds
of al senate of lead to fifty gallons
OF " alter. Paris green should be
used at the rate of FIVE TO eight
ounces to fifty gallons OF water
Where the poisons are used alone
two pounds of lime should be added
in order to avoid danger OF burn.
ing the foliage Paris green or ar
senate of lead should preferably be
mixed with lime. sulphur or with
Bordeaux and so applied. If this is
done it will save an extra spraying
that is necessary in order to keep
fungus diseases such as apple soap,
bitter rot, etc.. in control.
To get the best results it may ne
cessary to make a second applica-
ton from ten days to two weeks
later and for the second brood from
the middle OF Jnly to the first OF
August. These sprayings are I'M
portant.
Care should be taken to cover
the tree in a thorough manner.
Try to place particle OF the pois-
oned spray in the open calyx cup
of every apple. To prevent further
appearance OF the eodiing moth
fallen fruits should be destroyed.
either by gathering or by allowing
hogs to run in the orchard. Detail.
ed information will I've furnished free
by the Extension Division of the
Experiment Station. Correspond
ence is invited.
J. II. CARMODY,
Asst. HorticulturiSt.