68 Journal of Agriculture. [lo Feb., 1909. 



Citrus Pests. 



When in Valencia I had an interesting conversation with Don Jose 

 Maria Marti, Director of the Granja Valenciana, to whom I am indebted 

 for the following notes: — 



Fruit Fly is not much dreaded by orange growers. It is known in 

 the district, especially in some other fruits, such as the peach, but it 

 appears to only do harm in occasional seasons. It is not nearly so much 

 dreaded as Poll Roig, or even Serpeta, two scale insects which are the 

 orange pests most feared in the Levante. Beyond picking up and 

 destroying wormy fruit, nothing is done to combat fruit fly. 



Poll Roig (pronounced Poll Roch), as it is locally known in the 

 Valenciano dialect, and Piojo Rojo (red louse) in Spanish, is the most 

 dreaded pest ; the entomological name by Avhich it is known in Spain is 

 Aspidiotus lichtiosfermum. This scale is only found in a few parts of the 

 Levante. It has not vet appeared in Gandia. 



The most successful treatment is a spray recommended by Don Jose 

 Maria Marti, and known locally as the " Formula Marti.'' It is made 

 as follows : — 



Heavy oil of tar ... ... ... 3 lbs. 



Wlialeoil ... ... ... ... 4^11)8. 



Caustic soda .. ... ... ... ^ lb. 



Soft soap made from whale oil ... ... 2 ll)s. 



Water to ... ... ... ... 22 gallons. 



The ingredients should be mixed in the following order : — In a couple 

 of gallons of boiling water dissolve the soda, then the soap, then remove 

 from the fire and add the oil of tar. The whale oil should be added 

 last of all and when the mixture is not too hot. Dilute to 22 gallons 

 before use. 



Don Jose recommends a spraying in August and again in September ; 

 also one after pruning, making three in all. He claims that his treat- 

 ment is as effective as fumigation with hydrocyanic acid, and that it co.sts 

 one-quarter as much. He finds fumigation dangerous, and is of opinion 

 that only eggs atout to hatch are destroyed ; those well protected under 

 the scale covering may survive the treatment. 



Serpeta is a local name for Mytilaspis Gtoveri, a scale allied to the 

 lemon scale, M. citricola* It does not appear to do so much damage 

 as the previous one, and can be combated by the same treatment. Several 

 species of Dactylopius or mealy bug are also known. 



Negretta is the name given to sooty mould, the black fungus feeding 

 on the sugary secretions of scale insects. Should it be troublesome. Dr. 

 Marti recommends the addition of a little sulpliate of copper to the 

 formula given above. 



Packing and Shipping. 



These constitute the chief industry of the small port of Gandia, in 

 which a large sawmill for the construction of cases testifies to the import- 

 ance of the export trade. The timber used is chiefly Pinus rnaritima 

 from Galicia, in N.W. Spain. The roughly-squared logs are brought 

 round by steamer, for timber is very scarce in the Levante, though attempts 

 are now being made to re establish forests. 



Specilization is the rule here, as in other parts of Spain, and all 

 oranges grown near Gandia are shipped from that port, even those grown 



♦ See Frencli, Handbook of Destructive Insects of Victoria, Part II., p. 85. 



