72 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA: 



Prevention and Remedies. 



This pest is one of the most difficult of all insects to 

 cope with, it being widely spread over the whole colony, 

 but how it came from Europe is a subject about which, 

 so far, very little is known. As a deterrent, however, 

 spraying choice plants, from September to December, 

 with weak kerosene emulsion or tobacco water, or in fact 

 anything which would likely prove obnoxious to the 

 insects and prevent them from settling on the plants for 

 the purpose of egg-laying, would be advantageous. In 

 spraying and otherwise treating for this pest (if the 

 plants be in pots, dipping would be the easiest and best) 

 be sure that the underside of the leaves are thoroughly 

 treated, and weak solutions, on tender plants, especially 

 those growing under glass, should always be used. This 

 pest is a perfect terror to the gardener, as it not only 

 renders his best plants unsightly, but not infrequently 

 kills them outright. If, after all the precautions men- 

 tioned, the fly should attack the plants, which is not at 

 all unlikely, all badly-afi'ected leaves should be cut ott' 

 and at once burned, and not fed to domestic animals as is 

 often done. Smoking with tobacco is an excellent plan, 

 also the use of the cyanide gas in an air-tight room, but 

 with tender plants, at any rate, this latter should be used 

 with great care, otherwise the remedy may prove as bad, 

 or even worse, than the disease. In the present instance 

 we have a pest which, although it may possibly be kept 

 in check, cannot be totally eradicated, at least by artificial 

 means, as, go where you will, it may be seen attacking 

 thistles and many other kinds of soft-leaved weeds 

 throughout nearly the whole of the colony, these weeds 

 being simply breeding grounds for the pest, and from 

 whence it is disseminated over the whole face of the 

 country. To those who have plants aftected by this fly, 

 I may say, keep your places as clean of thistle, scape- 

 weed, and other tender-leaved composites as possible. 

 Pull up and destroy such plants of gazania, cornflower, 



