APHiDiD.i:. 297 



the latter, as remarked, on comparatively young trees. As regards 

 remedies for C. viridis in the nursery, this is a very good case in point 

 where good husbandry is advantageous both to the seller and purchaser. 

 A general saleable age of the spruce plants is five years — namely, two 

 years in the seed-bed and three years in the rows, — 2 yrs. 3 yrs, of 

 the nurseryman. When transplanting from the seed-bed they are, 

 of course, placed very thickly in the rows, and if they do well, are 

 useful stuff as 2 yrs. 2 yrs., but when unsold the nurseryman must 

 either leave the crop as it is or otherwise compromise matters by 

 interlining. The latter method does not give relief between plants, 

 and the consequence is that they are afterwards weakly — much to the 

 advantage of the Chermes. Again, three years in the nursery -line is 

 conducive to bad roots, which, coupled Avith the depreciation from the 

 insect attack, means a very poor class of plant to the purchaser. 



Hence, in order to maintain health and vigour, the practical remedy 

 is, at the end of two years, transplant again for another two years — 

 provided, of course, the seller could secure purchasers who recognise 

 that quality and not cheapness is the essential of success. By doing 

 so on suitable soil, we should get a better plant, and thus lessen the 

 attack of the Chermes. This could always be done on private estates. 



Another point in connection with the planting of spruce in the 

 young woods associated with Chermes may be mentioned — viz., that 

 in some pads of the count nj the spruce should not be planted in the 

 open amongst the more hardy species, but used more as an after-plant 

 for filling up. In the latter case it will thrive better, and though 

 attacked by C. riridis, does not suffer to any appreciable extent, 

 inasmuch as on vigorous plants the galls are often considerably on 

 one side of the shoot, and thus the subsequent growth overcomes 

 the attack. 



Another point in connection with Chermes and practical forestr}' 

 may be mentioned — viz., that it has been asserted by some observers 

 that the mother Chermes on larch inoculates ^ the tree with the spores 

 of Peziza, which is the fungus causing the well-known "larch disease." 

 Hence it would obviously appear that a mixture of spruce and larch 

 would favour the insect, and consequently be conducive to the spread 

 of larch disease. So far as the mixing of spruce with larch is con- 

 cerned, this theory does not square with actual results, inasmuch as 



^ It is just possible that the wounds caused by the insects form suitable spore- 

 beds, just as apple canker will develop in the wounds of 5. lanigera. and can only 

 do so in wounds. 



