CODLIN MOTH.

Waipa Post, Volume IV, Issue 152, 8 October 1912, Page 4

CODLIN MOTH.

THE NECESSITY FOR SPRAYING. Preparation should now be made, says Mr W. A: Boucher, Government Pomologist, to keep the codlin moth pest under control. It is generally recognised that spraying with arsenate of lead offers the most effective means of doing so. Quite early in the season, especially in the warmer districts of the Dominion, the dormant grubs change to the pupa form and emerge from the cocoons as moths. They are not present in very large numbers, it is true, but quite sufficient to produce a fair percentage of infection if the necessary' preventive measures are not adopted. These remarks apply to apples and especially to pears, In the case of pears the newly-hatched grub almost invariably enters through the eye or calyx. On this account it is essentially necessary that the first spray should be applied as soon as possible after the fruit has set, so that the poison may enter the calyx before it closes, and remain there to protect the fruit from infection throughout the season. To delay spraying with the arsenate of lead until the calyx has closed will probably involve a loss of at least 50 per cent of the crop, in spite of any effort that may be made later to control infection satisfactorily. To economise.labour and expense the arsenate should be added to the Bordeaux mixture, 4-5-5° formula, for the first, and possibly second, spraying after the fruit has set, thus protecting the fruit against infection by codlin moth, apple or pear scab. Several brands of arsenate of lead are now being offered to growers, who are advised to select one of recognised value. Some brands have been proved to be effective without being harmful, others not only ineffective’ being deficient in killingpower, but decidedly injurious owing to the degree of scorching or burning of the foliage which has followed their application.