The Book of the Apple (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 Excerpt: ...is noticed, will be effectual. Do not use this mixture upon fully-expanded flowers, or their vital organs will probably be destroyed. The Apple-Blossom Weevil.--The females of this insect also lay their eggs in the young fruit buds of the apple, and the grubs eventually feed upon the expanding blossoms with most disastrous results. After the eggs are laid it is useless to attempt to destroy them with insecticides, for these cannot effectually reach them. All that one can do is to shake the trees well, having first placed cloths underneath to catch all the weevils that may fall. The latter can afterwards be destroyed by emptying them into boiling water. Any flowers that have been attacked and have fallen to the ground should at once be gathered and burned. It is most important that no refuse of any kind be allowed to remain around the base of the tree, as such offers an excellent winter home for fhe weevils. To make the stems of the apple trees unsuitable as a hiding-place for the weevils remove any projecting pieces of bark, and paint the stems with lime wash. The Codlin Moth.--Unlike the two previously mentioned pests, the Codlin Moth does not attack the fruit until this is well formed. As the fruit develops, the caterpillar eats its way into the centre of the apple. It feeds upon the latter until it is fully developed, when it eats its way out again, and finding a crevice in the bark of the stem perhaps, there spins a cocoon. The moths emerge in the spring to lay their eggs in the fruits. Much may be done to get rid of this pest by collecting all fruit that has fallen, and all that will fall when the tree is well shaken, and burning it; for probably the fallen fruits will each contain a caterpillar. Remove the rough and loose bark from the stems of the tr...