The CiiERin Fiu'it-Fly. 30 



fortnnately our Australian and Sontli African frnit-growers, who 

 are sorely afflicted with fruit-flies, have recently carried on vahiahle 

 and instructive experiments against the flies. The following sum- 

 mary of their experiments and conclusions cannot fail to be of vahie 

 and interest to our American cherrv-^'rowers. 



The flies are not attracted to lights in Australia, so that trap- 

 lanterns will be of no avail against the pest. 



Messrs. Benson and Voller made a careful and extensive series 

 of experiments in tlie orchards of Queensland, Australia, last year. 

 The objects of their experiments were to prevent or deter the flies 

 from attacking the fruit, and to attract and destroy the flies. 



In the first series of experiments they sprayed the fruit and trees 

 with strong smelling sul)stances that were deemed likely to deter or 

 repel the fly. They sprayed with sulphide of lime, sulphide of soda, 

 lime, sulphnr, wood tar, bone oil, canstic soda, carbonate of soda, 

 whale-oil soap, tobacco, pyrthum, black leaf tobacco extract, nico- 

 tine, and Redwood's specific. Most of the snbstances were used 

 sin^lv and in various combinations. Kone of the mixtures injured 

 the fruit or trees to any extent. Many of the mixtures had a 

 very strong and persistent smell, which was retained on the trees 

 and fruit for at least a week after application, and the smell was not 

 washed out bv rain, l:)ut rather intensified for the time. 



Balls of cotton waste saturated with bone oil and other strong 

 smelling substances were also hung in varions trees to determine if 

 the odor will deter the flies or not. Flies were seen on fruit within 

 a few inches of the cotton waste, and the trees so treated were as 

 badly infested as any untreated ones. 



No spray that was tried was a complete success, even though 

 numerous applications were made; but some mixtures^ seemed to 



* Mixture A: — Boil two pounds of sulphur and one pound of 98 per cent, 

 caustic soda in two gallons of water till the sulphur is dissolved, and a mixture 

 known as sulphide of soda is formed. Add six pounds of whale-oil soap, 80 per 

 cent.; and boil for half an hour, adding boiling water to make five gallons of 

 mixture; and add forty fluid ounces of black leaf tobacco extract. Next add 

 water to make forty gallons, and it is ready for use. 



Mixture B: — Dissolve one pound of whale-oil soap, 80 per cent., in four gallons 

 of boiling water. When dissolved, add twenty five fluid ounces of bone oil and 

 mix well; add water to make fortv gallons, and it is rcadv for use. 



Mixture C: — Mix equal parts of A and T>. 



