274 WILLOW. 



effect of dusting soot on the plants, but the early part of the 

 summer was so dry, with so little dew, that the soot did not 

 remain on the leaves. He syringed them and dusted the 

 soot, but this also was of no use. Hellebore powder was 

 used with the same result, the leaves being too dry to receive 

 it ; but even when the effect w^as tried of putting the beetle 

 into it (in a vessel), in a quantity beyond what could be put 

 on the Willow plant, it took some fifteen minutes to destroy 

 the beetle. 



Paris-cjrecn ''answered mueli better.'" Mr. Leigh mentioned 

 that he then tried Paris-green, with about half an ounce to 

 three to four gallons of water. The Willows by this time 

 were grown three feet high ; therefore he could not apply a 

 good spra,y, but the application to the plants on the compass 

 of ground sprayed with Paris-green ivas successful. It 

 scorched the leaves a little, and made them curl, which he 

 l)elieved was the cause of the beetle removing itself; but "it 

 did not injure the main shoot." Also, it is noted, " I cannot 

 say it killed the beetle right out, as it immediately dropped to 

 the ground, being always on the alert when anything touched 

 the leaves." 



Mr. Leigh added : — "I am of opinion that all ruhhish 

 brought by the winter floods should be destroyed, or buried 

 deep enough so that the beetles could not harbour on the 

 banks. 



" I am also of opinion that Paris-green, if used early, 

 would prevent, if not completely destroy, them ; and if it was 

 more used with a good spray it would destroy it in the early 

 stage." 



At the conclusion of the reports of the summer the Paris- 

 green had been most satisfactory of all the dressings which 

 had been tried, and Mr. Cameron remarked: — "Indeed, I 

 believe by applying this dressing early enough the beetle might 

 be kept fairly well under, the difficulty at this season of the 

 year being to get the wash distributed ; the Willows grow so 

 thickly on the ground, and so high, that any spray distributed 

 cannot be used. I find the Willows are easily damaged if 

 Paris-green is used stronger than the quantities given by Mr. 

 G. Leigh in his notes. I tJtink our safety is in early spring 

 work, and trapping \yf some amount in early winter'" ; and in 

 the following year, on Jan. 2-ith, he further observed : — 

 " Where diligent Itand-jncking was attended to, the crop of 

 Willows has proved an average one ; and where the Paris- 

 green dressing was applied they have also proved a good crop. 

 Where no remedial measures were adopted the growth has 

 been small, the stocks showing damage, and in many cases, I 

 fear, they are ruined." 



