PLUM PESTS, 12) 



and b lines iteelf in the ground, where it remains in the 

 larval state till spring; then changes into a jDupa, emerg- 

 ing as a perfect iSawfiy at the time the blossoms of the 

 plum begin to open. 



REMEDiErs. — ^All plums that fall early from the trees 

 should be picked up as soon as possible and burnt, before 

 the larvae can escape from them into the earth. Dig in, 

 where possible, a soil fumigant to asphyxiate the pupae. 

 Do this in autumn. 



Plum Weevil (Otiorhynchus tenbricosus).— This 

 black, shiny weevil, measuring about half an inch in 

 h^ngth, does a great deal of injury sometimes to the foliage 

 of plums, raspberries, strawberries, and other fruit trees, 

 more especially in Kent. The weevils strip the shoots 

 of their leaves, destroy the buds, and also attack the bark. 

 The eggs are laid in the ground during the summer, and 

 grubs hatch from these in August and September, and 

 then commence to feed upon roots of any crops that may 

 be in the vicinity. 



Remedies. — Dress the soil for some distance aroinid the 

 trees, in autumn, with a soil fumigant. 



Red Plum MSLggot (Opadea funebrana).— The larvr? 

 of this moth feed on the interior of the fruit, and may 

 often be found in rijoe fruits. The moth is a small one, 

 and it lays its eggs on the stalk of the fruit in June and 

 July. The larvae, w^hen hatched, enter the fruit near the 

 stalk, and feed on the flesh around the stone till they 

 reach maturity ; then they escape and winter in crevices 

 of the wall, etc. 



Remedies. — Gather and burn infested fruits, and searcli 

 for the pup;ie hiding in shreds, crevices, etc. 



Wa.sps. — The Wasp (Vespa vulgaris) is very partial to 

 ripening fruits in the garden and orchard. 



Remedies. — (1) Find out their nests, and late in the 

 evening saturate cottonwool with cyanide, of potassium, 

 j^.hrust this into the nests, and seal up tightly with soil. 



