102 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTOEIA : 



emulsion to 25 parts of Avater, and sprayed on to tlie tree 

 whilst hot, is about all that is necessary, although 

 Mr. Neilson has informed me of his success with the 

 crude oil of eucalypti, Avliich he says is both cheap and 

 effective. Dusting the trees with slaked lime mixed mth 

 sulphur is also an excellent remedy, and even sand or 

 light dry soil shaken over the leaves will destroy the 

 grubs, but not the eggs, hence the advantages to be 

 derived from the use of more powerful remedies. When 

 the fruit is ripe, if the slug is still in great numbers, try 

 the benzole spray — equal parts of benzole and water — 

 which must be kept well stirred whilst using. This 

 material lias been tried, where many other supposed 

 remedies had failed, on the "E,utherglen Vine Bug," and 

 even when the grapes were quite ripe, the berries, in a 

 couple of days, were found to be quite uninjured, either in 

 taste or smell, by the application of the benzole. 



Some pieces of bagging damped with kerosene might 

 also be placed under the trees, and into which the flies, 

 at night or early morning, might be shaken. 



In fighting the Pear Slug, do not be discouraged if 

 your best efforts would appear to be of little avail, keep 

 at it, give no quarter, and now that we have a clue to its 

 habits, we have gained half the battle. Removing the 

 surface soil, as recommended by Miss Ormerod and others, 

 has proved very successful, as has also the application of 

 quick-lime to the soil below the surface. 



Before closing these remarks on the means adopted 

 by others for the purpose of combating the ravages of 

 this insect, I wish to draw attention to what appears to me 

 to be a most valuable remedial measure. I quote from 

 the late Mr. Crawford, who says, "I am indebted to Mr. 

 George Goyden, junr., for the suggestion that iron sulphate 

 (ferrous-sulphate, sulphate of iron, proto-sulphate of iron, 

 greeiwitriol) might prove a remedy for fusiciadiu7n (scab 

 fungi s of the apple). According to Dr. Griflfiths, of the 

 Technical College, Manchester, iron sulphate acts on the 

 soil as an antiseptic. Under the microscope, a very dilute 

 solution of 1 to 1,000 destroyed the spores of the potato 



