124 INSECTS AFFECTING THE ORANGE. 



On mulching and the use of decaying Wood as a Fertilizer in the Orange 

 Grove. — A inulch of muck, leaves, grass, pine-straw, succulent vegetable 

 matter, and even well-rotted and disintegrated wood from old brush 

 piles, does not in itself attract Termites, and its use is not attended with 

 any danger, provided it is not piled against the trunk of the tree, the 

 crown of which should in all cases be left exposed to the air. It is well 

 to maintain an oi^en space immediately about the tree, and the mulch- 

 ing should not be allowed to approach nearer than six or eight inches 

 to the trunk on any side. 



The practice of bringing brush, logs, and chips of wood into the 

 orange grove, and either burying or allowing them to rot upon the 

 ground, is hazardous, and will surely attract and colonize Termites, 

 which, under any circumstances, must be considered dangerous and 

 undesirable neighbors for orange trees. If disintegrated wood is used 

 at all as a fertilizer, all solid fragments should be carefully excluded. 



Deep planting. — This is a most frequent cause of trouble, and should 

 be obviated by raising the trees too deeply set. In cultivating, also, the 

 tendencj" of the earth to heap about the trees should be corrected by 

 turning the furrows toward the centers between the rows, or by drawing 

 back the earth with the hoe. 



Remedies. — Exposure to Light and Air. — As Termites require for their 

 existence darkness and moisture, on discovering their attacks the first 

 step should be to remove the earth about the affected parts, and uncover 

 the crown and root to a depth of several inches, at the same time re- 

 moving with the knife, as far as possible, all the dead wood and bark, 

 and exposing their galleries to the drying action of the air. In cases 

 of slight attack this will generally suffice to drive them away. 



Hot Water. — If the galleries extend too deeply into the wood to be 

 readily uncovered with the knife, or if a numerous colony is found to 

 have established itself at a considerable depth beneath the surface, a 

 liberal application of hot water will usually reach and destroy them 

 without injury to the tree. 



Pi/rethrum. — Termites are exceedingly sensitive to the action of this 

 insecticide, and are invariably killed by contact with the powder. It 

 may be used to great advantage whenever it can be brought into con- 

 tact with the insects. Pyrethrum loses its properties rapidly on expos- 

 ure to the air, and although it retains its power for a longer time when 

 covered with earth, it remains effective for a few days only, and cannot 

 be relied upon to permanently protect the plant from the attack of this 

 or other insects. 



Penetrating Liquids. — Kerosene in emulsion is very effective, and may 

 be safely used in moderate quantities; but all penetrating oils should 

 be applied with great caution to the roots of plants. 



Bisulphide of carbon is most useful for destroying colonies remote 

 from the trees, but is far too dangerous a substance to use upon or near 

 the roots. The central nest, when its position is known, may be broken 



