THE APPLE-EOOT BOEEE. 73 



purpose of co-operating with the growers in the event of 

 any serious inroads of native insects taking place that is, 

 where forests or public reserves are in close proximity to 

 either farms, orchards, or vineyards. This could be 

 accomplished by destroying any native tree which was 

 found to be particularly badly infested with insects of any 

 kind, as well in the interests of the timber and wattle- 

 bark industry as for the farmers and fruit-growers them- 

 selves. 



As showing the damage done to apple and pear trees by 

 this Curculio beetle, I may cite one instance only, as sup- 

 plied to me by Mr. King, where he says that in the years 

 1868-78 he had to root up and destroy 13 acres of fine 

 trees, most of which had been in full bearing. It would 

 be well, then, now that an Entomological Branch has been 

 established, to at once report the appearance of any strange 

 insect, so that advice might be obtained as to the best 

 means to be adopted in promptly dealing with it. 



Prevention and Remedies. 



When a tree is attacked by the grub of this beetle, the 

 fact will be discovered by the branches dying off from the 

 top downwards. Procure a crowbar, make, say half-a-dozen 

 holes to the depth of from six to twelve inches (not too 

 close, however, to the stem of the tree), into which pour a 

 small wineglassful (to a large tree) of pure bi-sulphide of 

 carbon ; cover the hole as tightly as possible to prevent the 

 escape of the fumes, and by these means it is hoped that 

 the grubs, as well as any eggs or perfect insects, will be 

 almost instantly killed. Quibell's tar compound, which 

 Mr. Knight, the Government Fruit Expert, tested at my 

 request, it is also expected, will have a good effect in 

 destroying the insect without injury to the tree, and can 

 with confidence be recommended for the purpose. 



Painting the larger roots with a weak solution of corro- 

 sive sublimate would, in my opinion, be well worthy of a 

 trial, as I feel convinced, from past experience of its use as 

 a preservative for natural history specimens, that no insect 



