CHAPTER XYI. 



DISEASES AND ENEMIES OF FRUIT TREES. 



THERE is at present no prospect of protection by law 

 from those who neglect their orchards and spread pests 

 and vermin around their neighbours. No " Contagious 

 Diseases Bill for fruit trees and bushes" has yet been 

 introduced into the "House," so it would be well to 

 select those situations and districts where there are 

 fewest ravages from American blight, caterpillars, or 

 other destructive insects. It will be far better to evade 

 and avoid all such risks, whenever possible, rather than 

 have to fight the uphill battle of trying to eradicate 

 them. Prevention is in such cases infinitely better than 

 cure, and wherever such dangers are to be feared, it is 

 well to be on the alert in advance. 



We may bear in mind that all insects that suck, can 

 be smothered by rubbing on the parts, cotton seed or 

 other cheap oil, and those that eat will be effectually 

 coped with by a thorough washing of the trees two or 

 three times a year with a solution of a cheap arsenic 

 poison known as "Paris green," say lib. to the 200 

 gallons. Orchard trees can be syringed with a garden 

 engine. 



For the apple moth on fully grown trees, a band of 



