20 DESTKUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTOEIA : 



All enterprising American frnit-grower, as quoted by 

 Matliew Cooke, in his valuable book,* lias said : — " Our 

 watchword must ever lie, ' Ouward and upward, and falter 

 not, although difficulties apparently insurmountable arise : 

 he who will may overcome them.' The enterprising fruit- 

 growers of California are filled with a spirit that no power 

 on earth can curb. It ffilters not at misfortune's door or 

 any obstacle to success, but boldly advances and removes 

 them all ; at least, it has been so, and must ever be. 

 The time was when our glorious climate, fruitful soil, and 

 exemption from all diseases and pests, made our Golden 

 State the wonder of all who were conversant with its 

 fruit and flowers. Now, alas, the spoiler's hand is felt; 

 a change has come over the spirit of our dream. It seems 

 as though all that is detrimental to the fruit interest is 

 here or coming, making eternal vigilance the price of suc- 

 cess in this, the industry of the State. The time has come 

 when every one who by this occupation would thrive will 

 find ceaseless use for head and hand; even then the fittest 

 only can survive. Who will supinely sit and see misfor- 

 tune spoil the results of years of toil, while others gird on 

 their armour with energies stimulated by the presence of 

 the forces arrayed against them on every hand?" 



It has been remarked previously that the necessary 

 apparatus for forming collections of insects for ordinary 

 practical purposes need not be of an expensive kind. A 

 few yards of mosquito or other net will, with two or 

 three small hoops and a handle, make valuable nets for 

 capturing insects whilst on the wing. An umbrella, "for 

 shaking," a few bottles of methylated spirit (gin or whisky 

 will suffice if the methylated spirit is not obtainable), a 

 wide-mouthed bottle or jar — say a salt jar, into which has 

 been placed some cyanide of potassium (a deadly poison^ 

 which should be used with caution). To prepare the 

 materials for the cyanide bottle — The cyanide should be 

 crushed and mixed with plaster of Paris, say three parts 

 of the latter to one part of the cyanide. Moisten, and 



* "Injurious Insects." 



