80 DESTEUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTOKIA : 



tree is in leaf and fruit, both are often bitten off and 

 destroyed. In the earlier stages of its existence this case- 

 grub is very difficult of detection, as the little brownish 

 nests or cases seem to be stuck on to the branches at right 

 angles, and by the uninitiated may often be mistaken for 

 some of the smaller spurs of the tree. In small gardens 

 a boy with a bucket, in which a little kerosene and soap 

 is placed, can go over a large number of small trees in a 

 day ; all that is required for this work being active hands 

 and quick eyes for detection. The above remarks will 

 also apply to cherries and other deciduous fruit trees, 

 should such be attacked by this pest. 



In a garden near St. Kilda is a very large quince tree 

 which has been stripped and totally destroyed by the 

 larvae of this moth. Hand-picking had been resorted to, 

 but next day there appeared to be nearly as many as ever. 

 . Last year I received from several growers vines which 

 were fairly covered with these singular little moving 

 nests, and from which the heads of the grubs were, for 

 the purpose of feeding, protruding. 



In the Exhibition grounds, and also elsewhere near 

 Melbourne, a large number of valuable trees have been 

 killed by these pests, and when we consider the immense 

 number of young ones which one fidl-grown female can 

 bring forth, and how ravenous are their appetites, it will 

 be easily seen where the vast numbers of these suspended 

 nests infesting our trees come from. 



The larvas of all this class of moths subsist on the 

 epidermis (or fleshy covering of the leaves), so that a 

 clue has thus been obtained as to how to deal with them 

 without going to the trouble, often adopted in small 

 gardens, of hand-picking. 



When any tree, which is not either in flower or in fruit, 

 is aftected by these case-grubs, take some Paris green 

 (Blundell's preparation is the most useful), and to every 

 pound add 100 to 160 gallons of water, according to the 

 state and vigour of the tree about to be treated. If your 

 holding be an extensive one, obtain a good powerful 

 spray pump, and with this give the infested trees, and 



