135 



ANTS AND FRUIT TREES. 



The failure of fruit upon fig, orange and other trees Is often ap7 

 parentlv due to the presence of ants, which introduce and propa- 

 gate various pests to the destruction of all new growth. In cases 

 of this kind after thoroughly cleansing the tree either by means 

 of spraying or, if the tree permit it and the attack is not too far 

 advanced, by judicious removal of the affected branches, the 

 pest may be controlled if the ants can be prevented from 

 further invasion. Constant experiment has been made during 

 the past two or three years to exclude ants from certain affected 

 fig trees, but until recently little success was attained in conse- 

 quence of the untiring persistence of these persevering insects. 

 Many methods were employed, some of which were found de- 

 structive to the trees, and others were rendered more or less use- 

 less on account of the time and constant attention required. The 

 most satisfactory and probably the simplest device has been found 

 to be a strip of fur or goat skin tied closely around the trunk in 

 such a way that the hair points towards the ground. Various 

 viscid and corrosive preparations have been tried, but these for 

 various reasons have not been satisfactory. Very good results 

 were also obtained by rubbing a band of chalk (which needs con- 

 stant application), eight or ten inches wide around the tree, 

 across which the ants have difficulty in passing. By the use of 

 either of the methods suggested, there is no reason why even 

 growers of large numbers of fruit trees should not be able to 

 protect them from the pests which are introduced and spread by 

 ants. 



CURRENT PUBLICATIONS. 



The Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales, January, ipo6. 

 The Application of Science and Scientific Method to Agricul- 

 ture, by F. B. Guthrie. February — Fencing by G. L. Sutton: 

 The Cultivation of the Castor Oil Plant by Q. Ercole. 

 March — Tomatoes and their Diseases by Walter L. Froggatt. 



The Journal of the Department of Agriculture of Victoria, Fehru- 

 ary, ipo6. Surveying on the Farm ; Levelling by A. S. Ken- 



