89 



during^ this period they do practically no dam;i-r, and in 

 fact it is difficult to tell which fruits have been attacked. When 

 the fruits begin to ripen the caterpillars leave them and crawl 

 about searching for places in which to make cocoons. These 

 cocoons are about one-tenth of an inch in diameter and are 

 placed sometimes in cracks or crevices in the canes or support- 

 ing stakes, sometimes among the soil or rubbish round the 

 stools. The young caterpillars spend the winter in the cocoons 

 and then, early in April, leave them and crawl up the canes to 

 the shoots into which they burrow. Each caterpillar then 

 feeds within a shoot for four to six weeks, and during this 

 time it becomes bright pink in colour, with a blackish head 

 and plate 011 the first segment. When mature it changes to 

 a brown chrysalis, usually within the burrow in the shoot, and 

 three or four weeks later the moth appears. 



(1) Methods of Control. After an attack every effort 

 should be made to clean all rubbish from the stools, carting 

 it, and also old canes, a short distance from the plantation, 

 where the whole should be burnt if possible. Old cracked 

 stakes should be renewed and the soil forked or hoed right 

 up to the stools. 



(2) There appear to have been few experiments in spraying 

 in this country but the following trials should certainly be 

 made. 



(a) Spray the canes, the soil round the stools and all 



stakes during the winter with paraffin emulsion (or 

 miscible oil*) at winter strength, the object being to 

 soak the cocoons ajid kill the larvae inside. 



(b) At the end of March spray the canes, soil round the 



stools and stakes heavily with lime-wash as used for 

 apple a.nd plum trees. At this period the larvae will 

 be preparing to leave their cocoons and the object 

 in spraying is to cover the canes, stakes and soil 

 round the stools with a coating of lime which will 

 prevent the larvae reaching the buds. 



(c) At the beginning of April spray the young shoots with 



lead arsenate using a. strong mixture. In Russia, 

 Paris green and lime used in this manner have been 

 found quite effective and might also be tested here. 

 The object in this case is to cover the shoots with a 

 poisonous coating so that the larvae must eat the 

 poison and be killed while entering the shoots. 



(3) In plantations which are so badly affected that little 

 crop is obtained, a radical cure may be attempted by cutting 



* Miscible oils may be taken as comparable to paraffin emulsions in 

 their action. They are so prepared as to emulsify at once in water 

 without the addition of soap, but are not usually designed for summer 

 washes only for winter use. The makers' instructions for mixing should 

 be taken. 



