772 Journal of Ai^^riailtiirc. [lo Dec, 1909. 



that the crude oil of tar remedy has been tried with good results, the 

 following being the formula: — Crude oil. h pint; soft soap, h lb. ; caustic 

 soda, I oz. ; water, 5 gallons. Boil one pint of water, and in it dissolve 

 the soap and soda ; add oil of tar, agitate well, and add remainder of 

 Avater ; cool and use. 



Cabbage ^NIoth. — The larvae of these moths are now making their 

 appearance on the cabbage, cauliflower, turnip, and radish plants. In 

 my opinion the best remedy to adopt is a spraying with arsenate of lead. 

 Coal tar is also a good mixture to use against this pest, the proportion 

 being the same as for thrips. 



Cabbage Aphis. — For this pest sprav with nicotine as follows: — 

 Steep I lb. tobacco in i gallon of hot water, and allow it to soak for 24 

 hours. Boil i lb. soap in i gallon of water until the soap is dissolved. 

 Strain the tobacco water into the soap water. Stir well, and make up to 

 5 or 6 gallons. Use waste stems of the tobacco. 



Metallic Tomato Fly. — This handsome fly, which is of a metallic 

 colour, caused some damage to ripe tomatoes during last season. But my 

 •experience of this insect is that it only attacks over-ripe or damaged 

 tomatoes, thereby hastening decay ; a sound tomato is rarely attacked. 

 When once the maggots are in the tomatoes it is an impossibiHty to reach 

 them, and such tomatoes should be picked and burnt or placed in boiling 

 water. Deterrents such as recommended for thrips are also beneficial. 



Bean Butterfly. — Two years ago this serious pest, a small butterfly, 

 ca.used severe losses to growers of beans in the Bairnsdale and other dis- 

 tricts, no doubt on account of the dry weather experienced. The leguminous 

 plants, on which the caterpillars feed, are absent during dry, hot weather, 

 and the insects direct their attention to vegetables. Last vear, owing to 

 the fair amount of rain, the leguminous plants came up again, and conse- 

 quently little damage was done to the bean crops. As this vear is a 

 favourable one for the growth of all plants, it is anticipated that this 

 pest will not cause much damage. A good sprav with benzole emulsion, 

 arsenate of lead, or coal tar water will, however, be found of much use, 

 if necessary. 



Tomato Weevil. — This new vegetable pest is still present in large 

 numbers of gardens near the metropolis. A full account of the pest and 

 remedies for its suppression will be found in my articles in the Journal 

 for December, 1908, and October, 1909. 



Red Spider. — The Red Spider is a pest well known to vegetable 

 growers. It belongs to the group of Acarids or Mites, and is therefore 

 strictly .speaking not an insect. Its eggs, which are almost transparent, 

 remain both in the soil and in the crevices of stakes, plants, and other 

 objects during the winter. It is a tiny animal, just visible to the naked 

 «ye, and is almost transparent ; in colour it varies from light reddish to 

 quite red. Generally, it feeds on the underside of the leaves of various 

 vegetable plants, particularly beans, melons of various kinds, making a 

 kind of web underneath the leaves. 



Vegetables should be well watered in the summer, as when once the 

 ground is allowed to get dry the plants are attacked by the red spider. 



Spraying with deterrents such as <]uassia chips or a weak kerosene 

 ■emulsion is recommended. Coal tar water and benzole emulsion may also 

 be used. A remedy that has proved of great use in England is paraffin 

 jelly, the formula for which Professor F. V. Theobald gives as follows: — • 

 Par:iffin. 5 gallons, soft so;ip. 8 lbs.; boil these together, and when 



