FIRE BLIGHT OF THE WATTLE. 39 



as a food plant for carrying these beetles over the winter. 

 thus keeping them going until the black wattles are 

 sufficiently large to be attacked. 



Prevention and Remedies. 



On small areas, such as public parks and gardens, the 

 beetles may be kept off by spraying with some deterrent 

 such as kerosene emulsion or an infusion of quassia chips, 

 but the former-mentioned material, taking into consideration 

 )latile nature, coupled with the intermittent period of 

 egg-laying, should be frequently renewed. The surest 

 plan of getting rid of these pests is to destroy as manv of 

 the perfect insects as possible. This may be done bv 

 beating the trees with long poles, and by covering the 

 surface of the ground beneath the tree with lime. I have 

 found, by personal experience, that on small area^ of 

 land so treated neither larva- nor pup« will come to 

 maturity. 



As showing the enormous damage done by this insig- 

 nificant beetle, I may mention the fact of the late 

 Mr. Michaelis, then a well-known merchant of Melbourne, 

 having expended between £30,000 and £40,000 in his 

 endeavour to place the production of wattle bark in its 

 proper place as one of the chief industries of the State. 

 The wattle plantations referred to were planted in the 

 Gippsland Lakes district, and just as things looked flourish- 

 ing for the spirited owner, the " Fire Blight " made its 

 appearance, and, notwithstanding all efforts and experi- 

 ments, in which I gladly assisted, a hopeful commencement 

 was changed into a huge failure. In this case no expense 

 was spared ; spraying, shiploads of lime, beating, and 

 other means were tried, but the beetles came on in such 

 vast numbers as to baffle all attempts to cope with them. 



