16 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA: 



once just after pruning, and once after the fruit has 

 properly set, with a sohition of sulphate of potassium, in 

 the proportion of 1 oz, to the gallon of water. This 

 would also be a very cheap, effective, and safe liquid for 

 applying to the roots of the trees. 



One of the good old remedies against peach blight is to 

 take 1 lb. soft soap, 1 lb. tobacco, to which add 20 gallons 

 of water ; boil, strain, and spray whilst hot. 



Another grower, who has a large peach orchard, sends 

 me the following formula, with Avhich he assures me he 

 has entirely mastered the aphides : — Water, 15 gallons; 

 magic soap, 2^ lbs. ; kerosene, 2 quarts. Slice the soap 

 into the water, and when boiling add kerosene, stir well 

 for five minutes, and use whilst hot. This, of course, is 

 only to be used when the buds have not expanded, or the 

 young leaves on the tree. 



Mr. J. West, one of the best known growers in the 

 Mooroopna district, declares that he has also mastered the 

 aphis attacks by the use of the resin compound above. 

 He prepares it after the manner of our old formula, viz. : — 

 Common commercial resin, 20 lbs. ; washing soda, 6 lbs. ; 

 fish-oil, 3 pints, and water to make 100 gallons. Place 

 the resin and soda in a boiler, adding sufficient water to 

 cover it. Boil freely when dissolved. Add fish-oil. Boil 

 all together for about an hour rapidly, adding a little water 

 occasionally to prevent boiling over. When finished add 

 the 100 gallons of water. This preparation is specially 

 useful for both aphides on peach, and is much weaker than 

 that recommended for scale insects, &c. 



These are the principal remedies to be used against this 

 troublesome pest; and now that we are certain of the 

 insects also living on the roots, we have a very strong 

 clue as to how best to prevent, or at least successfully 

 meet, their attacks. 



A few months since I had great hopes that we might 

 be able to discover something in the way of resistant or of 

 even blight-proof stocks. A friend of mine having a small 

 garden in which he has a row of peach trees trained, home 

 style, against a fence, aspect northerly. I found that he 



