WINTER MOTH. 349 



termed, make thirty gallons of wash. Warning is given that 

 care must be taken with each new crop to ascertain the 

 strength that can be borne by the leafage, and this equally 

 api^lies to all applications to live bark. 



Soft-soap and paraffin oil wash, — The following recipe, which 

 was used by Mr. Ward, Superintendent of the Gardens at Stoke 

 Edith, Herefordshire, in 1883, as a Hop-wash, is a much 

 simpler form. As this was found to kill the Aphides without 

 injuring the Hop plant or the burr, it might be considered 

 quite safe as a bark application, and more of the ingredients 

 might be added, as thought desirable. The proportions for 

 large quantities are 12 lbs. of soft-soap and half-a-gallon of 

 paraffin oil to 100 gallons of hot water ; the nearer to boiling 

 the water is used the better the paraffin mixes. This mixture 

 should be stirred well together, and used when cool. 



The above applications may be used so as to destroy the 

 eggs laid on the bands or below them, and, without doubt, 

 would also be of use in preventing ascent of much insect 

 vermin ; but there are two plain reasons for possibility of some 

 amount of " loopers " being present in spring on the trees, 

 notwithstanding careful autumnal banding. One of these is 

 that some of the JVinter Moths may develop in spring instead 

 of autumn, and consequently, though few in comparison to the 

 autumn numbers, they need watch to be kept by an examina- 

 tion of trees in the evening or after sunset, or by banding a 

 few experimentally, and, if necessary, grease-banding again. 

 This operation would also prevent ascent of the so-called 

 *' March Moth " (for fuller account of which see reference in 

 Index). 



Another point is the transportation of the wingless female 

 Winter Moths to the trees by the males ivhilst pairing. This 

 point was not sufficiently observed, until within the last two or 

 three years, to be taken into practical consideration, but it 

 bears to a very important extent on presence of attack. 



The only method of meeting this difficulty appears to be the 

 plan sometimes used of placing a light at night under an open 

 shed, of which the lower part of the roof or boards are tarred 

 or greased. This so far attracts the moths that it has been 

 found to answer in some degree, and more elaborate arrange- 

 ments on the same principle have been suggested ; but the 

 plan appears to me open to many objections, on the score of 

 bad use that might be made of lights left unguarded at night, 

 and at best is but a palliative. 



Skimming of the surface-soil in autumn, and burning it so as 

 to destroy the contained chrysalids, is a good remedy where it 

 can be carried out, but unfortunately it is only now and then 

 that this can be managed. 



