DESCRIPTION OF THE CODLIN MOTH.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2390, 3 November 1887, Page 2

DESCRIPTION OF THE CODLIN MOTH.

The moth with wings spread is about threequarters of an inch. The body is seven-sixteenths of an inch, and of a light drab colour, the legs are rich bronze. It has four wings, mottled grey and drab, with a dark copper bar across the hinder margin, in which is a golden ocellated patch near the inner angle, hind wings plain drab, a little darker than body.

As to fighting the codlin moth, Professor A. J. C. Cook of the Michigan Agricultural Collage writes :—As I have now for eight successive year proved the value and safety of London Purple and Pans Green in fighting the codlin moth, I wish to urge a few points worthy of general attention. First use London Purple. It is effective, cheap, mixes more readily, and is less apt to blight the leaves than is the Paris Green. I would never use white arsenic. Professor Forbes thinks it is not equal to the other arsenical compounds; but my chief objection is the added danger in its use. It is white like soda, baking powder, and quinine, and so is likely to be mistaken if left around by careless hands, as it is almost sure to be, and so may be used with fatal effect. The very colour of London Purple and Paris Green renders such accidents impossible. The applications should be made early, before the apples are larger than small peas. Many wait till the larvse have eaten into the fruit, and are out of harm’s way. I find one application very efficient if used early, just after the blossoms fall. I would use it never stronger than 11b to lOOgals of water. If I changed this it would be to make it weaker rather than stronger. The faintest particle will kill. The point to aim at is to have it so weak that we may be thorough enough to strike the calyx of every apple, and yet pot add so much poison that wo endanger the health or life of the foliage. Apply with a powerful force pump, and so dash the liquid on to the foliage that every apple shall receive the fatal poison. This, I think, is why some have partially failed. I have repeatedly saved every apple from attack, and just because I made thorough work. This same advice is opportune in speaking of any liquid specific against insects. The kerosine soap mixtures always kill plant lice with me. The saipe is true of buhach in water as a remedy for the cabbage caterpillar. I do not, however, generally sprinkle them on to the plants. I dash them on with vehemence, so that they will spatter and strike every insect.