426 Journal of Agriculture. Vicforio. [10 July. 1912. 



Treatment. — If the young trees are attacked in the autumn, early 

 winter, or previous to being lifted in the winter, spray them thoroughly 

 with one of the following preparations : — i lb. of soft soap boiled in 10 

 gallons of tobacco water, applied warm, if possible; or i lb. of Lowe's 

 soaparine boiled in 15 gallons of tobacco water; or kerosene emulsion — 

 using I part emulsion to 10 of water. Directions for the preparation of 

 spray fluids are given below. 



If the budded stocks are attacked during the autumn, spray as advised 

 for young trees ; but if attacked after the foliage is off. reduce back to 

 the inserted bud, gatlier up the tops, and burn at once. The butts of the 

 reduced stocks carrying the inserted buds should be treated, if necessary ; 

 examine well round the inserted buds to see that no aphides are concealed 

 in or about the old incision mark that was made in budding. If the 

 pre.sence of aphis is detected, treat by spraying or hand soaping. When 

 spraying, drive the fluid well into the insects, using high pressure, and 

 follow up the first application with a second the same day, or not later 

 than the day following. If the seedlings, growing buds, or shoots, are 

 attacked in the spring, they may be treated by a method called hand soap- 

 ing. To do this, dissolve soft soap at the rate of i lb. to 4 gallons of 

 water by boiling, and place sufficient of the liquid in a kero.sene tin or 

 ordinary bucket. Make a swish by tying several fruit-tree cuttings to- 

 gether. Thrash the liquid up smartly until a good foam is obtained. 

 Apply by taking enough of the foam in both hands, and work it well in 

 amongst the foliage, and along the stems with the fingers to the affected 

 parts. This method is very effective, thorough, and economic. If found 

 practicable, almonds, nectarines, or peaches, should, not be grown twice 

 upon the same soil in succession, seed fruits should follow stone, and vice 

 versa. Those kinds of fruits subject to root attack, if succeeding a similar 

 crop, are more prone to attack than those planted and grown upon virgin 

 soil, especially if the first crop were attacked. The only feasil>le explana- 

 tion to this is that the insects exist upon those parts of the roots left be- 

 hind in the soil when removing the young trees. The following will bear 

 out this statement : — During the month of July, 191 1, a prepared bed was 

 planted with selected almond nuts. During early November, and wheii 

 the seedlings had attained an average iieight of 6 inches, numbers of them 

 started to die back from the tips, the -foliage becoming yellow, in coloui 

 and drooping. There being no signs of insect or fungoid disease above 

 ground, and indications pointing to root trouble, several of tTie seedlings 

 were carefully removed ; and, upon examination, the roots were found to be 

 badly attacked by the black peach aphis. The crop pre\ious to the seedling 

 almonds were peaches. Soil that is going to be replanted with stone fruit 

 should be allowed, to remain in fallow through the summer, should receive 

 a good dressing of lime, and be kept stirred in the autumn. Use a suit- 

 able chemical fertilizer when planting. Before planting peach or other 

 stocks liable to attack from aphis, it is advisable to dip them whoHv into 

 a decoction of strong t>bacco water, or tobacco and soft soap mixture. 



Orange Aphis {SiplioiiopJioraf Sp.). — This pest usually makes its ap 

 pearance in early autumn, but it is not unusual to find trees attacked dur 

 ing the summer months particularly if the weather be cool and unseason 

 able. Standard or established citrus trees in an orchard should not receive 

 any great hurt from an attack by these aphides, as they are so easily con 

 trolled ; one application, if thoroughlv applied, generally is sufficient to 

 arrest their spread. With growing buds or young and tender autumn 

 growths upon citrus trees in the nursery, this aphis can do severe damage. 



