178 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTOEIA : 



time and trouble, to say nothing of the expenses which 

 haphazard experiments often involve one in. 



As it is known that the beetles can fly, the system of 

 isolating the lands by trenches would probably be of little 

 use. In the case of Leptops and other curculionidae, 

 which have no means of flight, this system would, no 

 doubt, answer very well, as the insects would at least then 

 be confined to a certain area, and could be the easier 

 dealt with. 



Before setting out the young plants in position they 

 should be steeped in a bath of tobacco-water with a little 

 Paris green mixed, the latter, say, 1 lb. to 200 gallons of 

 water. Plunge the plants into the mixture, and without 

 washing them they can be planted in the position in 

 which they are to remain. 



To prevent the eggs being deposited and to destroy 

 both the beetles and grubs by poison must be the object 

 of the grower, as in every case prevention is, of course, 

 better than cure. 



In mulching the plants be careful what material is used 

 for the purpose, tan-bark being as good as any. In 

 changing the mulching, or after it has been stored for the 

 winter, care must be exercised so as to prevent eggs or 

 larvae of insects being conveyed to the plants by means of 

 the mulching. 



On a well-kept place an air-tight shed could be erected 

 cheaply in which mulching, seeds, &c., could be treated 

 with bisulphide of carbon, and so destroy all larvae, &c., 

 that may have hybernated in the old mulching. Where 

 material for mulching can be had for the carting these 

 precautions are hardly necessary, as the old material 

 can be at once destroyed by fire. 



When the strawberry plants are either setting or 

 ripening their fruit, the Paris green must not be used. 

 In such cases Quibell's Mixture, say from 1 to 30, 

 would destroy the grubs if the mixture is poured into 

 the crown of the plant. A mixture of bluestone (sul- 

 phate of copper), 4 oz. to 1 gallon of water, and poured 

 into he centre of plants, would destroy whatever insects 



