Insects And Diseases Affecting The Apple

It is a common saying among farmers who have grown apples on their

farms for many years that there are many more pests to fight than

there used to be. How often we have heard a farmer tell of the perfect

apples that grew on a certain tree "when he was a boy," before people

had generally heard of codling moth, San Jose scale, apple scab, or

other troubles now only too common. "We never sprayed, but the apples

were fine," he says. Is this the usual glorification of the mythical

past or is it true? In all probability it is a little of both, but it

is undoubtedly true that insects and fungous diseases have increased

rapidly of late years.