PLUMS AND n.\MSO\S ENEMIES OF. igq 



quence. Early spraying with Paris-green mixture, 1 ounce to 20 gallons of water, is 

 the best preventive; removing the affected leaves and burning them is the only effectual 

 remedy. 



Red Grubs. These are the larvae of the plum Tortricina (Tortrix nigricana and 

 Carpocapsa funebrana). The moths are seldom seen, as they are only about \ inch in 

 expanse of wings. When the fruit is nearly half grown the females lay eggs on it, and 

 the larvae eat their way into the flesh. The grubs are reddish above, with a few soft 

 hairs on the body, paler beneath and a brownish-black head. The attacked fruits ripen 

 prematurely and fall, when the larvae crawl out, spin cocoons in selected places in crevices 

 of the bark, pass into the pupa stage, and the moths emerge in May and June. Spray- 

 ing with Paris-green when the fruit is about a quarter grown is advised in CLISC of 

 frequent recurrence of the attack, but it suffices in most cases to collect the prematurely 

 fallen fruits promptly and burn them. 



R(d Spider. These pests attack plum trees in hot and dry seasons. Though water- 

 ing and feeding at the roots are the best preventives, with occasional washings, it is 

 necessary at times to apply an insecticide in good time, otherwise the current crop will 

 be seriously impaired and the succeeding one imperilled. For an account of these 

 mites see "Red Spider," Vol. I., pages 269272. 



Sawfly. The female sawfly (Tenthredo morio) appears to deposit its eggs in the 

 blossom ; as soon as hatched the larvae eat their way to the centre of the fruit, 

 causing it to swell rapidly ; then suddenly turning yellow, it falls from the tree, the 

 larvae crawl out, burrow into the ground, become pupae and emerge as sawflies the 

 following spring. The attack of these insects is one of the causes of plums falling in 

 their early stages. Remedies must be directed to destroying the larvae, collecting the 

 fallen fruit promptly and burning it ; also removing the soil, as advised for " Slug- 

 worms," Vol. II., page 150, so as to destroy the pupae. 



Slug-worm. Considerable damage is sometimes done to plum trees by the larvue 

 (slug-worms) of Selandra atra, described and figured, with remedial measures, on pages 

 148150, Vol. II. The larvae feed on the leaves. 



Thrips. Those insects are similar in their attacks to red spider, and do not infest 

 plum trees except when the atmosphere and the soil are too dry. For description and 

 remedies see pages 274 276, Vol. I. 



< Wceberian Moth, This insect and its larvae are described on page 44, Vol. II. It. 

 is alleged that the larvae cause gumming by penetrating the inner bark, but this is 



