The egg has been laid in the calyx of the young apple,
where it soon hatches into a small white grub, which burrows into
the core, throwing out behind it a brownish powder. After about
three weeks of apple diet it eats its way out, shelters itself
under the scaly bark of the tree--if allowed to be scaly--or in
some other hiding-place, spins a cocoon, and in about three weeks
comes out a moth, and is ready to help destroy other apples. This
insect probably constitutes one of Nature's methods of preventing
trees from overbearing; but like some people we know, it so
exaggerates its mission as to become an insufferable nuisance. The
remedies recommended are that trees should be scraped free of all
scales in the spring, and washed with a solution of soft soap.
About the 1st of July, wrap bandages of old cloth, carpet, or rags
of any kind around the trunk and larger limbs. The worms will
appreciate such excellent cover, and will swarm into these hiding-
places to undergo transformation into moths. Therefore the wraps
of rags should often be taken down, thrown into scalding water,
dried, and replaced. The fruit as it falls should be picked up at
once and carried to the pigs, and, when practicable, worm-infested
specimens should be taken from the trees before the worm escapes.
The canker-worm in those localities where it is destructive can be
guarded against by bands of tar-covered canvas around the trees.
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