190 



practicable, as it will be much more easy to deal with them then than 

 when they are numerous. It will also be necessary to make several 

 .applications of whatever remedy may be used, as one or two are seldom 

 thoroughly effective. 



Natural enemies : The Scale insects, like others, have their natural 

 enemies, which materially assist in preventing their increase. Several 

 kinds of insects feed upon them to some extent, prominent among which 

 .are various species of Ladybirds. Some of these are very active and 

 voracious, and both in the larva and perfect state wage incessant war 

 with various kinds of Scale insects. These Ladybirds are indigenous t< 

 Australia, and, owing to their usefulness as Scale destroyers, have been 

 introduced to American orchards with excellent results. Some of these 

 insects are shown by the illustration in various forms, and particulars 

 respecting others will be found at pages 87 and 88, volume 1. Scale 

 insects have also natural enemies in various '' Flies," some of them being 

 very destructive. Two of these are shown by the illustration. Parasitical 

 fungi probably assist in keeping down this class of pests, but though this 

 is known to a limited extent, our knowledge upon this point is very 

 imperfect. It is within the range of probability that careful investigations 

 will enable cultivators in the not distant future to combat Scale and 

 other insect pests to a great extent with their natural enemies. 



Case Moths. These insects derive their common name from the 

 <coverings or cases with which they are enveloped, and they are familiar to 

 most people who are connected with orchards. There are several species, 

 .all of which are more or less injurious to the foliage of fruit trees. One 

 of the most destructive of these insects is the Large Stick-case Moth 

 (Metura eloiic/ota), which affects various fruit trees, and is very partial to 

 those of the Citrus family, and often proves very destructive to the foliage 

 .and shoots, as also to flowers and young fruit.. The young larvte are at 

 first very minute, but they rapidly increase in size. They are very 

 voracious even at the earliest stage, and from that period they also 

 commence to spin or form their cases. In the perfect insect the male is 

 .a quick-flying bright-coloured moth. The females have no wings, and 

 are practically caterpillars. Remedies : 1. Sprayings with weak solutions 

 of London Purple or Paris Green. 2. Hellebore Powder, dry, dusted 

 over the foliage, or used as a spray when mixed with soft soap and water. 

 When used in this way the proportion should be one pound of Hellebore, 

 three pounds of soft soap, and forty gallons of water. Full directions for 

 the preparation and use of the remedies will be found at page 101, 

 volume 1. Powdered lime dusted over the trees will also assist in keeping 

 down the pest when in its larval state. 



Other Insects. Trees of the Citrus family are also liable to the attacks 

 of the insects known as Mealy Bug, Red Spider, and T Imps, more or less. 

 Remedies for these are described at pages 1)S to 102, volume 1. 



INJURIOUS FUXGI. 



The Citrus family, like others, are to some extent troubled by various 

 kinds of fungi, but less so than many other fruits. In the majority of 



