INSECT PESTS 49 



For some time past we have made use of a mixture 

 of paraffin, soft soap and water, that we find of 

 great assistance in repelling the attacks of these insects. 

 We make sufficient of the mixture in the following 

 proportions, to fill a large water tub that is fixed on a 

 framework with wheels, thus enabling one to take it to 

 any part of the garden : warm water, two gallons ; soft 

 soap, one pound ; and two wineglasses full of paraffin. 

 If this emulsion is well mixed together by means of the 

 syringe before being used, it will, if applied to the 

 points of the shoots, where the aphides are usually to 

 be found, effectually dispose of them. 



American Blight is one of the worst enemies the 

 apple has to contend with, and if allowed to establish 

 itself in an orchard is difficult to get rid of. It will 

 be known to most readers by its white woolly appear- 

 ance, though this, which many people believe to be the 

 American Blight, is simply a secretion from the bodies 

 of the aphides. These feed upon the tissues of the bark 

 and the underlying layers. As this pest spreads very 

 quickly the cultivator should keep a sharp look-out for 

 any signs of it, for if taken in time it is not difficult to 

 destroy. The best plan when the trees are not badly 

 affected is to go over the infested portions with a brush 

 dipped in methylated spirit. If, however, the blight 

 has become well established, the bark affected must be 

 first scraped off and burned, and the portions under- 

 neath thoroughly cleansed with some insecticide, for 

 which purpose none is more effective than caustic soda 

 solution. It is made thus : dissolve one pound of caustic 

 soda in one gallon of water; add three-quarters of a 

 pound of carbonate of potash : stir until all is dissolved, 

 and add nine gallons of water ; then add six pounds of 

 soft soap previously dissolved in a little boiling water, 

 and well mix the ingredients together. 



The Winter Moth. The caterpillars of this moth 



