Small and Bush Fruits: Raspberries 161 



became epidemic, the price was 45 per ton, and the crop there 4 tons 

 to the acre. Now there are upwards of 2000 ac. planted round the town 

 the price has got down to 10 a ton, and the crop to 2 tons to the acre. 



From 2 to 3 tons may be taken as the average crop, and 18 to 20 

 per ton the most favourable prices that can be expected. [w. G. L.] 



2. RASPBERRY PESTS 



The Raspberry Beetle (Byturus tomentosus). A small beetle, from 

 ^ to ^ in. long, of a pitchy -brown colour, clothed with golden-brown 

 pubescence, which is found flying about as soon as the Raspberry blossom 

 buds show. The beetles then eat the buds, cutting some off; as the flowers 

 open they get into them, and on from that period they lay their ova in 

 the blossoms. The beetles also eat the various parts of the blossoms and 

 ruin them. 



On dull days the beetles shelter in the opened and just -opening 

 blossoms, and are difficult to move, but on warm days they fly about 

 and are active. They also feed and lay their eggs in Loganberry and 

 Brambles,, and do much harm to the former fruit. 



The larva the so-called Raspberry Maggot lives in the core or 

 receptacle of the berries, where it forms dark tunnels, and later escapes 

 from the fruit, and, if mature, either falls to the ground or gets into 

 any crevice in the canes or stakes. The maggot is dull yellowish or 

 grey, with brown markings in the middle of all the segments, six jointed 

 legs in front, and the anal segment with a more or less pronounced rudi- 

 mentary leg and two pointed curved spines; length, J in. 



PREVENTION. All canes cut back should be burnt. Land around the 

 stools may be treated in early spring, before the canes burst into full 

 bud, with vaporite or soot and lime. Jarring, or shaking of the beetles 

 by women, is one certain means of preventing the enormous damage the 

 larvae may do. 



The Raspberry, or Clay-coloured, Weevil (Otiorhynchus picipes). 

 This weevil also attacks other fruit, Hops, and pot plants. The beetles 

 gnaw the buds, shoots, and leaves; and their footless, white larvae feed 

 on the roots of bush fruit, Strawberries, Ferns, Hops, &c. The weevil 

 is about | in. long, pitchy in colour, but covered with light -brown and 

 ashy pubescence, which gives the elytra a tessellated appearance. The 

 snout is short for a weevil. There are no wings. They appear in May 

 and go on through the summer. The Otiorhynchus weevils hide away 

 during the day under clods of earth, boards, stones, &c., and come out to 

 feed at night. The larvae live over the winter in the soil, and when 

 mature reach J in. in length. They pupate in the soil and hatch in 

 early March. 



The beetles may be trapped by placing pieces of sacking about on 



the ground. They collect under this, and may be destroyed in daytime. 

 VOL. ni. 41 



