1899] EASPBERRY STEM-BUD CATERPILLAR. 125 



chrysalis state to be at baud, almost as plentiful a development of the 

 moth may be expected from the gathered shoots as if they had re- 

 mained ou the bushes. 



Excepting in the case of the experiment noted at p. 128, no 

 deterrent measures appear to have been tried with regard to the 

 establishment of little red caterpillars when they cume dawn to the old 

 stools from the ripe Raspberry fruit to spin their little cocoons on them 

 for hibernation ; nor when they cuuie out from these cocoons on the 

 stools (or it may be also from other sheltering-places where they have 

 passed the winter) for their attack on the buds of the canes. But 

 when there was reason to expect bad attack, it might for one thing be 

 worth while to try the effect of some preventive dressing thrown round 

 the bases of the canes ; and also a much more complete removal of old 

 stumps and rubbish and everything that would shelter the infestation 

 in its winter state than is commonly carried out, would certainly be 

 very helpful in getting rid of a deal of coming infestation. 



In regard to preventive applications when the caterpillars are 

 coming down to spin (that is, presuming that the method of growth 

 allowed the stools to be got at without unreasonable trouble), it might 

 be worth while to syringe a solution of soft-soap and water amongst 

 the stumps of the old stools and rubbish. Or it might help a good 

 deal to throw a dressing at the bottom of each plant of some dry 

 material mixed with paraffin at the rate of a quart of the mineral oil 

 to a bushel of ashes, dry earth, or whatever might be thought best to 

 use. We know from broadscale trial that the paraffin in the above 

 proportion did no harm to the tender shoots of Hops coming up 

 through it, and therefore there does not appear reason to fear that it 

 would be injurious to the Raspberry stems in any stage, and it might 

 have a very good effect in preventing establishment of the caterpillars 

 when they come down, and very likely, if established, lessen the 

 numbers going up again in spring. 



For ground dressing, where it is thought desirable to try this (as 

 some cocoons may be spun on rubbish on the surface), some kind of 

 application would be best that is known by common practice to be 

 harmless to plant health if used in ordinary amount, also that acts as 

 a stimulant to growth, and also which it may be hoped will act as a 

 deterrent on progress towards development of the young caterpillars. 

 Nitrate of soda, sprinkled in an amount representing an ordinary top- 

 dressing for field use on the surface beneath which maggots of the 

 Pear-tree Midge had gone down to change, was found to act so that 

 not more than ten per cent, were alive, so far as examined subse- 

 quently, in their cocoons. Kainite, applied from "sprinkling with a 

 small quantity " experimentally up to a " heavy top-dressing," or at 

 the rate of over half a ton per acre on orchard land, had still better 



