11 Nov., 1918.] Apple Culture in Victoria. 653 



and their fruit, because of the comparatively extensive area under cul- 

 tivation, the various classes of soils, and climatic conditions generally- 

 involved. Some seasons are more favorable to the development of 

 pests and diseases than others, and though the trees be assisted by 

 scientific pruning and good cultural treatment until they arrive at the 

 fruit-bearing age, profitable crops will not be harvested unless careful 

 spraying be practised. It is often necessary to spray trees for woolly 

 aphis, black spot, &c., even before the fruit-bearing stage is reached. 

 The orchardists now realize the advantages of spraying thoroughly, 

 and, notwithstanding the present high prices of spray materials, the 

 suppression of pests and diseases is being satisfactorily carried out. 



The power-pump being a labour-saving appliance, as compared with 

 the one originally operated by hand, has proved a great boon to the 

 orchardists; it is also more efficient and economical than the old device. 

 Its greater efficiency consists in being capable of driving a powerful 

 agitator, which maintains the mixture in proper solution, and by pro- 

 ducing a fine mist or driving spray as occasion requires. Working 

 under these conditions, the operator is enabled to apply the spray where 

 required, and to use it economically. Power-pumps are now exclusively 

 employed in the larger orchards, while many are also used in the smaller 

 ones. 



Insect Pests and their Treatment. 



To cope successfully with orchard pests by the application of suit- 

 able spray mixtures at the right time and in an efficient manner, it is 

 essential that the orchardist should possess a fairly good knowledge of 

 the life history of the particular insects against which he has to contend. 

 A study of entomology sufficiently comprehensive to enable him to 

 thoroughly understand the different stages, and to know the times of 

 changes in the life cycles of these insects, would still better equip him 

 for the work of destroying them. 



The officers of the Orchard Supervision Branch of the Department 

 of Agriculture, realizing the importance of maintaining a high standard 

 of efficiency in the different fruit-growing centres, have for many years, 

 by means of lectures, demonstrations, and by visiting the orchards, &c., 

 done all that is possible under the circumstances to promote the study of 

 insect pests and their treatment. During the early days of orchard-pest 

 suppression, the life history and habits of these insects not being as well 

 known as now to the fruit-growers, they were advised to regard the pests 

 as belonging to two groups, and to treat them accordingly. One group 

 comprises the jaw-feeders, such as codlin moth, painted apple moth, &c., 

 which were then destroyed by poisoning their food with paris green, for 

 which arsenate of lead has been substituted. The other group consists of 

 insects which live by suction, such as woolly aphis, red spider, &c., and 

 were destroyed by bringing some caustic material, such as kerosene 

 emulsion or tobacco wash, into contact with their bodies. This simple 

 method of grouping the insects has proved satisfactory, because it 

 contains the two basic principles which underlie the practice of spraying. 

 These principles will always hold good in the case of insects working in 

 the open, but they cannot be made to apply to such pests as the root 

 borer underground or the fruit fly in the larval stage operating in the 

 fruit. 



