162 PLUM. 



and this more particularly as I am not aware of having had 

 reports sent me of satisfactory trial with us of the metal or 

 wood apparatus. At pp. 12, 13, under the head of Codlin 

 Moth, a recipe is given for a less cumhrous method of handing 

 which has been found serviceable in South Australia, but 

 with these arrangements the care which is requisite lest they 

 should prove rather a centre of infestation than a barrier to 

 its advance is against their adoption. 



In an exhaustive Eeport by the late Prof. Riley, referred to 

 below,* almost every point appears to be entered on which 

 may be of service for prevention of attack similar to that of 

 our Winter Moth, and various sticky mixtures are mentioned 

 and methods of applying them, but the principle is the same 

 as that of our own treatment. 



But what is at hand, cheap, and has proved to be effective, 

 is best ; and, so far as appears at present, none of the extra- 

 British methods of preventing the wingless moths gaining 

 access to the trees are to be preferred before the methods of 

 application of the plan of "grease-banding," or "sticky- 

 banding," which have been worked forward by the attention 

 of some of our own leading fruit-growers, so as to be easji and 

 cheaj) of aiyplication, effective for purpose needed, and also 

 (which is a most important point), so managed in the laying 

 on as not to injure the hark. 



Two of the most important points to he considered in "sticky- 

 handing" trees are: — {1st) What material is hest to iise in order 

 not to hurt the trees, or {if it is of a hurtful nattire) how hest to 

 prevent it soaking into the hark. {2ndly) What time or times 

 of year the "smear" should he apijlied. 



With regard to the material to be used, the following notes 

 show that cart-grease answers the purpose of catching the 

 moths thoroughly well, but also that it is requisite for orchard 

 growers to ascertain what the application furnished to them 

 is composed of, lest the so-called cart-grease should be mixed 

 with tarry or other matter deleterious to the condition of the 

 bark. 



So early in our special preventive operations as Dec. 1st, 

 1888, I was favoured by Mr. Charles D. Wise (Deputy 

 Manager of the Fruit-grounds at Toddington, W^inchcomb) 

 with the following note regarding commencement of opera- 

 tions. This report shows the large scale of the operations, 

 and their success in preventing the ascent of the moths, and 

 likewise warns against the use of tar. Mr. Wise wrote : — 

 "I think you will be interested to hear that we have caught 



* See the chapter on " Canker-worms," pp. 157-197 of the Third Report of 

 the United States Entomological Commission published by the Department of 

 Agriculture, Washington, U.S.A., 1883, 



