162 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA: 



under the leaves, as has been stated previously, other 

 means must be resorted to. In this matter I cannot do 

 better than quote Mr. Whitehead, who, after taking 

 evidence from leading growers in England and other 

 portions of the United Kingdom, has come to the fol- 

 lowing conclusions : — " With respect to remedies adopted 

 against this enemy, the application of the mixture of soot 

 and lime is shown to be the best that was tried. If this 

 is put on in good time with the Strawsonizer, adjusted for 

 this purpose, which blows the pungent substance with 

 great force and equal distribution over every part of 

 the jDlant, it appears from the experiments made at 

 Alnwick that it would effectually clear off the caterpillars. 

 Paraffine, quassia, and carbolic acid solutions, from Mr. 

 Hornsby's accounts, would also be efficacious to some 

 extent. Brushing off the caterpillars by means of boughs 

 fastened to horse-hoes proved to be a good practice, 

 especially where the hoes were followed by other hoes or 

 scufflers to bury or kill the caterpillars. Nitrate of 

 soda and other stimulants were found of use in forcing 

 the growth of infested plants, according to the evidence 

 of many reports." 



Miss Omerod, my respected correspondent, to whom 

 I am indebted for a copy of her valuable little book on 

 the Injurious Insects of ISouth Africa^ mentions a plan often 

 adopted in the latter country, of placing a line covered 

 with molasses or other sticky substances around the 

 beds. This, however, would appear to be too costly and 

 difficult in larger places or for general use ; but it is a 

 plan that might succeed admirably in small gardens. 



We have here some of the best remedies, which have 

 been proved trustworthy. So we must bestir ourselves, 

 as it is hardly creditable to growers that so many of our 

 favorite vegetables should be offered for sale in such bad 

 and probably unwholesome condition. 



I would here again urge upon growers the necessity 

 for taking care of our best insectivorous birds, as they 

 are most valuable auxiliaries when fighting insect pests of 

 most kinds. 



