54 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : 



It has been said that this scale will also attack the roots 

 of roses. This is not my experience, although I have 

 frequently found it close down to the ground line ; I have 

 banked up the soil for a few inches, but always found that 

 the buried insects made no headway, and under the lens 

 appeared to be sickly and shrinking. Of course, the nature 

 of the soil will have something to do with this; the air 

 would not be freely admitted if it were heavy and of a 

 sticky nature. 



In America, Australia, and elsewhere, it has been found 

 that this scale will also attack the stem and the roots of 

 the raspberry, blackberry, and currant. 



Prevention and Remedies. 



In places where the scale insect exists, or has been 

 known to exist, a strict watch should be kept, and a 

 preventive, such as a light spraying with a weak, 1 in 30, 

 kerosene emulsion, would be beneficial. This should not 

 be carried out until the foliage has ripened, and should be 

 done carefully and intelligently. 



In treating roses for scale, the best rule to lay down is to 

 attempt to eradicate it in the winter. Some roses require 

 severe pruning, others light pruning, but all scale-infested 

 prunings should be burnt on the spot, or as near to it as 

 possible, always remembering that it is by means of 

 cuttings or roots of plants that this pest is distributed. 

 When the scale is down near to the surface of the soil, 

 bank up the soil round the stern of the plant to about 

 3 inches, less in heavy soil, and about once a week fill 

 up with ordinary soap suds. This is easily done, is 

 inexpensive, and, as I have for a number of years proved, 

 entirely effective. It also promotes the growth of the 

 plants themselves. 



In Victoria, at any rate, the " Dog Eose " stocks do not 

 seem so liable to be attacked as are those roses budded 

 upon other stocks ; and, as every practical rose-grower 

 knows, the so-called hybrid perpetuals are more liable to 

 attack than are the teas and other sections. 



