82 AUSTRALIAN BUG. 



fire-engine. I have had this done in England under 

 special circumstances, with great success. 



The following note by Mr. W. Or. Klee, State Inspector 

 of Fruit Pests in California, regards application of 

 various forms of soft-soap wash for the extermination 

 of the Australian Bug, or "Cottony Cushion Scale," as 

 it is well named in California, on small evergreen trees, 

 or on deciduous trees when out of leaf or lopped back 

 to the main trunk or branches. [It will be observed that 

 the ingredients of the wash that are given in full detail 

 are especially directed to be boiled. Probably much 

 danger and damage would be spared if attention was 

 always directed to the point that soft-soap washes should 

 be raised to boiling-point in the process of mixing. ED.] 

 Mr. Klee states : " For all deciduous trees ... we 

 recommend one-fourth of a pound of concentrated lye, 

 one-fourth of a pound of whale-oil soap, to one gallon 

 of water. Before treating the tree, cut off the tops down 

 to the main branches and burn them. 



" For evergreens the summer wash recommended last 

 summer is useful, and will not hurt healthy foliage : 

 dissolve 30 pounds whale-oil soap (80 per cent, soap at 

 the most costing 5 cents per pound) in 60 gallons of 

 water by heating the whole thoroughly. Boil 3 pounds 

 of lye (American concentrated lye is what we have used) 

 with 6 pounds of sulphur and a couple of gallons of 

 water. When thoroughly dissolved it is a dark brown 

 liquid (chemically sulphide of soda). Mix the two, 

 the soap and the sulphide of soda, well, and allow 

 them to boil for about half an hour ; then add about 

 90 gallons of water to the mixture, and it is ready for 

 use. 



" Apply it warm, at about 130 Fahr., by means of a 

 spray-pump. Used warm its effect is better, and less 

 material is required than when cold. It must, however, 

 be remembered that the minute scales are especially 

 numerous on the under side of leaves. This fact makes 

 the extermination on a large tree in full foliage almost 

 impossible. Only small trees may be successfully treated 



