1869.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 397 



writers upon tlie subject. Mr MTntosh in his Booh of the Garden 

 says " that this insect appears indigenous rather to France and the 

 north of Germany than to America, from which country it has been 

 erroneously supposed to have reached us." Be this as it may, it is the 

 most destructive of all the insects which attack the Apple, and is at 

 the same time by far the worst to thoroughly eradicate. Not only 

 does it feed upon and destroy the wood of the tree in summer, but in 

 winter it descends to feed upon and destroy the roots. In early 

 summer it may easily be detected upon the wood of several years' 

 growth, as well as the stem and stronger branches, by its white woolly- 

 like appearance. When it attacks the wood of two or three years of 

 age, it often perforates the bark and raises little excrescences about the 

 size of a large pea, which, when broken, appear to contain thousands of 

 eggs or little insects. If not attended to, the tree will soon lose 

 vigour, and ultimately succumb to the evil power of its little enemy. 

 Different authors recommend different cures — as, for instance, Mr 

 M'Intosh recommends first " the washing of the parts affected by a 

 solution of sulphuric acid, in proportions of f oz. by measure to 7 J oz. 

 of water, applying the liquid with a piece of sponge tied to a piece of 

 stick, or by a small soft painter's brush." Or again he recommends 

 *' spirits of turpentine, strong whisky or gin, applied to the patches 

 infected." On the other hand, Mr Thomson recommends " scrubbing 

 with soap-suds, and then painting with lime-water or washing with 

 tobacco-water, soap-lees, vinegar or sulphuric acid diluted with water, 

 as weU as painting with clay." Any or all of these may prove a 

 thorough antidote, but from experience I cannot speak of them. I 

 can, however, recommend a cure which I have every confidence in, and 

 which from experience I can recommend as thoroughly effective. To 

 Mr Rose, gardener to her Majesty, I am indebted for the receipt ; and 

 I trust I may not break confidence with him in thus giving to our 

 professional brethren, what I have not the slightest doubt is one of 

 the best, if not the best, cure extant for the bug. To one part of spirits 

 of tar, one part turpentine, must be added two parts of train-oil, which 

 must be well mixed, and have added either soot or clay to give it con- 

 sistence. Let this be applied to the parts affected, and to them only, 

 with a painter's brush, rubbing it well in. By going over the trees 

 thus three or four times during the course of the season, the likelihood 

 will be that the whole colony will be extirpated, at all events the second 

 year will be sure to do it. It may be as well, however, in winter, to 

 remove the soil for a few inches deep around all trees affected, so that, 

 should any have escaped detection in summer, they may have a chance 

 of being entirely removed in winter. James M 'Mill an. 



{To he continued.) 



