^73 ■' Journal of Agriculture, Yicioria. [ioth June, 191 j. 



to come in contact with the clothing or the sheets. After handling the 

 acid bottle, the operator should wipe or rinse his hands before touching 

 the sheets. 



When breaking the cyanide, which is in lumps, be careful that none- 

 gets into the eyes. 



Always place the water in the vessel first, then slowly add the acid. 

 When the vessel is in pO'sition under the sheet, gently drop the cyanide 

 in. Hold the breath till the tent is closed down. Should the cyanide- 

 be very fine, it should be wrapped in paper, and paper and all put in. 

 This prevents the too rapid generation of the gas. When large charges are 

 given, it is advisable to place a board a few inches above the generator 

 for the purpose of spreading the gas. The foliage immediately above the- 

 generator is sometimes damaged when this is not done. 



Avoid treating orange trees on a warm sunny day, and never fumigate 

 when the foliage is wet. Always dry the sheets well before storing them 

 away. Fumigation can be done at any time of the year, but is safer and 

 more effective in autumn. 



There is no doubt that fumigation is superseding spraying as a means 

 of destroying the scale in citrus trees. It is, in the long run, cheaper than? 

 spraving, and is thoroughly effective if properly done. Trees arc 

 invigorated by fumigation, but continual spraying injures tnem, more c» 

 less. 



As has been stated, the San Jose Scale was stamped out in the Doncaster 

 district by fumigation. There is no reason why the Red Scale could not also 

 be stamped out if the fumigation is as carefull) and as thoroughly 

 carried out. 



Reinfection is often caused through leaving a few trees in the planta- 

 tion untreated which were thought to be clean. It should be remembered, 

 also, that pear trees will harbor both the Red and the Olive Scales, and 

 these should, when growing near citrus trees, be either fumigated or well 

 sprayed with red oil, i in 25, in the winter. 



Citrus trees have been reinfected through neglecting to treat infected 

 pear trees which were growing among them. 



Herewith, the opinions and experiences of the leading citrus-growers of 

 the Doncaster district, who have adopted fumigation for the destruction 

 of scale insects in citrus trees, are given : — 



C. Gill writes : — "Besides getting rid of the scale, it improved the trees, 

 also the fruit was far superior, commanding a better price on the market, 

 and a readier sale. I may state that I am not quite free from it yet ; 

 but it was not the fault of the fumigation. I discovered that some of the 

 branches that were on the ground got covered up with the dirt when packing 

 round the tent j therefore, the fumes did not get at them. I may state that 

 one tree in the badly affected part got missed, and it was marvellous the 

 difference in that tree and the ones around it." 



Mr. Wm. Rie.'^chieck, Doncaster, writes : — " I found the fumigation 

 tables, which you supplied me with, quite satisfactory. The ' No. i ' 

 table was quite right for lemons, destroying both the Olive and tlie Red 

 Scale. I tried the ' No. i ' table for oranges in the day time, but found 

 it too strong. The ' No. 2 ' table, however, did no harm, and was, as 

 far as I can see, effective. A lad and myself did 60 trees per day com- 

 fortably, using five sheets. The largest sheet used was 30 feet by- 



