172 Scco//(/ Report on Ecoiioniic Zoology. 



sliuuld bear their full weioht, and I neetl only quote one extract 

 from his paper : — " When thickly covered, the bark separates from 

 the si em, and the tree ultimately dies in consequence." 



An observation was made with regard to wind distributing this 

 pest ; glass slips with grease were hung in trees neighbouring the one 

 infested, and were found to eontiiin fragments of the wool nnd tlic 

 larvii^ of the coccus. 



I'lIEAT.MKNT. 



The great increase and loss from this coccus makes the subject of 

 treatment a very important one, es))eeially as erroneous statements 

 have been made as to the impossibility of washes doing any good. 



An ol)server in Gloucestershire states that he had saved sever:d 

 trees in parks and gardens by '' scru))bing the trees with a hard 

 seruliber in dry weather and spraying the trees with a mixture of 

 petroleum, soft soap, quassia and water." 



Mr. Gillanders destroyed the coccus by tlie following mixture : — 

 " Take about half a gallon of soft water, boil and dissolve about 

 1 lb. of soft soap and 1 lb. of common soap, add a handful of 

 sulphur and a pint of })nrafFin and about the same (juantity of 

 turpentine. Then add about four gallons of soft water to this 

 mixture. Churn well together, and apply with a wliitewash brush 

 just as the larvffi are hatching out." 



Anoilier plan adopted some years ago, said to l)e successful, is to 

 liore three holes with an inch auger at alxiut equal distance right 

 into the centre of the trunk, about three feet from the ground and 

 sloping slightly towards the root of the tree. Into these holes place 

 as much liowers of sulphur as can be conveniently got in, aucl till u[) 

 the holes with soft wood. This should be done in autumn. How 

 this acts I fail to see, unless the sulphur permeates the sap and so 

 kills the insects. Mr. Gillanders tried tliis with Chcrmes oti Silver 

 Firs with considerable success. 



From experiments 1 made 1 found paratlin enndsion destroyed 

 ihe pest, especially when useti early in Septemljer Mhen the larvie 

 were moving aliout. Better results still were obtained by caustic 

 alkali washing in winter and early spring. The emulsion if applied 

 with warm water is most effective. The trees should be sprayed 

 twice at intervals of two da}'s. 



This pest is not attacked l\y Itirds, and rarely by insect parasites, 

 according to ]\Ir. Newstead. 



All trees cut down should b(^ brtrked at once nnd the bark l)urnt. 



