108 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA: 



tliem from South Gippsland, then from Ballarat, Corowa, 

 and even from Adelaide and other parts of South AustraUa, 

 showing that this insect, although small, requires to he Avell 

 watched, otherwise the consequences to growers may 

 he most serious. 



Prevention and Remedies. 



Keep orchards, vineyards, and gardens as free as possihle 

 of weeds and rul)hish of any kind, and a sectional roller 

 if passed over headlands, when practicable, would he the 

 means of destroying not only a large number of the insects 

 themselves but of their eggs and larvaG also. Sulphate of 

 iron, in the proportion of say one ounce to each gallon of 

 water, has also been tried with good effect on insects of 

 many kinds (that is, of course, whilst the insects are in 

 the Qg^ and larvae stages). The "forking or ploughing 

 in " of a little gas-lime into the soil is also useful, as it is 

 supposed that the eggs of these little Wood Bugs are 

 deposited either amongst rubbish and weeds, or beneath 

 the soil; but this fact we have so far failed to trace with 

 any degree of accuracy, although many devices have been 

 resorted to by those growers who have kindly assisted us 

 to find out where the eggs are deposited. One of the 

 most singular circumstances connected with this little 

 pest is its extreme activity, and its apparent immunity 

 from the usual results of the application of strong 

 solutions. At Rutherglen and Barnawartha, places in the 

 great vinegrowing districts of Victoria, we tried kerosene 

 emulsion and soap, rectified spirits of wine, insect powders 

 (several), and fusel oil (undiluted), but all to no purpose, 

 the benzole alone seemed to be the only thing which had 

 the merit of instantly destroying the insect without injury 

 to the fruit. " Quibell's mixture " was fiiirly successful 

 in killino; the Buo;s, althouo;h it left a decided flavour of tar 

 upon the fruit. 



When this pest again makes its appearance some con- 

 certed action must be at once taken for the purpose of 

 destroying as many of the insects as possible. In the case 

 of ripening fruit of any kind, London purple, Paris green, 



