222 LARCH. 



checked by weather or special ch'cumstances, till August or 

 later, and the last laid eggs of the year produce again the 

 large shapeless " mother Chermes," the foundress of the 

 family of each successive year, which lives through the 

 winter, and in spring lays her eggs as above described. 



Descriptions of the male Chermes laricis have been given, 

 but up to the beginning of 1881 our best authorities on the 

 subject considered that it had not been observed, and I am 

 not aware whether it has been discovered since. The above 

 notes are mainly taken from *Mon. of Brit. Aphides,' and 

 observations by Editor. 



Prevention and Eemedies. — The following remedies have 

 been of service in checking attack of Larch Bug when already 

 commenced : — 



A note is given of a plot of young Larches planted in 

 nursery-ground a year previously, which became so badly 

 infested with " Bug " in May that they appeared as if covered 

 with mould, with the sap exuding over the stems, so that the 

 shoots were soft and supple, and the plants becoming rapidly 

 exhausted. These were watered over head with dilute paraffin, 

 in the proportion of a wine-glassful of paraifin to a watering- 

 can full of water, and the first application checked the de- 

 predations of the Bug. The waterings were repeated at 

 intervals of three or four days, for about three weeks, when 

 the plants were entirely cleared of the Bug, and assumed a 

 healthy and vigorous appearance. The application was found 

 similarly serviceable in clearing Pine Bug, and in no way 

 injurious to the trees when applied judiciously. — (J. K.) 



The following remedies have proved efficacious in destroying 

 "Bug," and preventing attack on Larch and Silver Fir. 



One method is as follows : — To every thirty-six gallons of 

 water add half a pound of perchloride of mercury ; with this 

 the infested trees are drenched in the early summer, when the 

 sap is flowing freely ; a dry day is preferred for the operation, 

 as it gives time for the solution to soak thoroughly into the 

 bark. This has been applied to ornamental trees and plants 

 in the nursery, and it is noted that trees operated on in 1873 

 continued, at the time of writing (1880), free from the " Bug" 

 and in thriving condition. This application requires to be in 

 careful hands, being poisonous ; Woodpeckers that fed on the 

 poisoned insects were destroyed by it ; and especial caution is 

 given against using it to fruit-trees. — (D. F. M'K.) 



Another method found serviceable was the use of lime- 

 water prepared and applied thus : — One hundred-weight of 

 best lime-shell to eighty gallons of clear water : slake the 

 shells in the water, and allow it to stand for a week ; drain of! 



