1 5 o THE FRUIT GROWERS GUIDE. 



ounces of water, place in a bottle, and keep corked. A few drops of this solution 

 added to the Bordeaux mixture immediately give it a brown colour if it contain free 

 copper, and it is then unsafe ; but if there be no reaction when the ferrocyanide solution 

 is added, the mixture may be safely used. The mixture is equally efficacious against 

 other fungi. For " speck " it need not be employed after the first week in August, and 

 only then on late pears. 



PEAR INSECTS. 



Aphides. These may be so abundant as to entirely cover the foliage and fruit with 

 filth. One of the most common enemies is Aphis pyraria, but A. lentiginis and other species 

 have been found on pear trees. All aphides succumb to the treatment given on pages 

 257 262, Vol. I. The pests subsist on the juices of the young wood and foliage, 

 clog the leaves, and render the fruit unsightly. 



Pear Blister Moth (Tinea clerckella) appears at the end of May or beginning of June, 

 is minute and shining like pearly satin, wings orange, spotted with black and other 

 colours. The female deposits its eggs on the foliage, and the larvse penetrate the leaves, 

 raising numerous dark brown blisters, continuing to feed on their substance till Sep- 

 tember, when the grub lets itself down to the ground, spins a cocoon on a fallen leaf, 

 and changes to a chrysalis, from which it emerges as a moth in early summer. Attacks 

 may be prevented by spraying them with petroleum emulsion (Vol. I., page 261), the 

 third or fourth week in May and again early in June. The worst infested leaves may 

 be removed and burnt as soon as any spots appear in August, not, however, excessively 

 defoliating the trees. Eeniove and burn all the fallen and dead leaves in autumn. 



Pear Chermes (Psylla pyrisuga Forst. ; syn: P. pyri Schmidb.). This and other 

 species infest the young shoots and leaves of pear, also apple trees, and live on their 

 juices. The insect closely resembles P. mali, Fig. 19, page 39, Vol. II., has a similar 

 life history, and may be destroyed by the agents named for apple chermes, Vol. II., 

 pages 38 40. The larvee are most destructive, and may be extirpated by Mr. C. Lee 

 Campbell's preparation, page 296, Vol. I., applying it before the blossom buds unfold, 

 and again just before the blossoms expand. The first application prevents the larvse 

 eating the buds, and the second hinders their depredations on the flowers. The treat- 

 ment may be again repeated as soon as the fruit is set, and it is good against all 

 insects that suck the juices or eat the foliage and tender fruits. 



Pear Gall Mite (Phytoptus pyri). The leaves of pear trees often have blistered spots 



