1869.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 163 



■winter under the bark, or in the earth near the stem [the latter position 

 being in our opinion the most likely place]. Early in spring, when 

 the Pear-tree begins to bud forth, the female lays her eggs in the buds, 

 which become brown by degrees, and fall off when the insect has 

 attained its most perfect state." As will be seen by the foregoing, the 

 destruction made is very complete ; and as it would be almost impos- 

 sible to gather the larvae with the hand, the most effectual cure is to 

 sacrifice the crops for the time being by removing every bud which 

 appears infested, and in the following year, early in spring, to bind a 

 piece of cloth round the stem of the tree of a few inches in breadth, 

 which must be painted over with tar, and have repeated paintings 

 whenever the first coat becomes dry, which will prevent the little insect 

 from rising out of her winter bed to make havoc for another year. 



Luperus rufipes, or the red -footed beetle, is one of the greatest 

 enemies the Pear cultivator has to contend with. Its depredations 

 are confined to the foliage alone, but in the course of a few days it will 

 riddle almost every leaf upon a good-sized young tree if not caught and 

 destroyed. On a stock of young Pear-trees brought here last year I 

 found it to some considerable extent. Being from home for a few 

 days in the beginning of May, on my return I found about twelve 

 trees out of six dozen had suffered rather severely. When I left, no 

 trace of them was to be found ; and on my return I found one tree, in 

 particular, had nearly all its foliage destroyed. The leaves were per- 

 forated over and over, in many cases perfect skeletons, and those which 

 were not so much eaten were curled up, and from three to twelve of 

 its little enemies inside thereof. The body is of a dark shining or 

 maroon colour, while its feet are of a bright red, hence its name. 

 Like all the beetle family, it is rather impatient of strong sunshine, 

 and therefore commits its deeds in early morning, and from sunset 

 till dark. This, therefore, is the best time to destroy them ; but as 

 the least movement of the tree is sure to cause them all to drop to the 

 ground, much caution has to be exercised in order to get them — in 

 fact, approaching the tree in a quick hurried way will cause them to 

 drop. To destroy them, approach the tree with caution, spread a sheet 

 or two underneath it, and give the tree a gentle shake, when they will 

 drop thereupon ; then pick up the sheet, carry it away, and sink it for 

 the night into a tub of water. This done for two or three nights in 

 succession will probably destroy them all. There are several other 

 weevils and beetles which are said to infest the Pear to a greater or less 

 extent in Britain, but the foregoing being all with which we are 

 familiar, we must just refer the reader to the leading works upon 

 gardening, where the most of them are described. 



There are several of the moth family which must be familiar to every 



