THE PEAR AND CHERRY SLUG. 101 



In speaking of the damage done by this insect it may 

 be mentioned that both Mr. Neilson and Mr. Allen are of 

 the opinion that the Pear Slug is the worst enemy with 

 which growers of fruit have to contend, and surely when 

 one sees the havoc done, more especially to cherry trees 

 when the fruit is ripening, we cannot help agreeing with 

 these and other growers that some combined action should 

 be at once commenced against this new and much dreaded 

 pest of the pear and cherry. 



Prevention and Remedies. 



Now that growers have been made aware of the real 

 identity of the above insect, and have also learned some- 

 thing of its habits, the task of dealing with the Pear Slug 

 in all its stages will, we hope, be considerably lessened. 



The great difficulty in dealing with the above pest 

 would seem to be in the fact of the larvae being on the 

 leaves when the fruit is either ripe or ripening, in which 

 case the ordinarv material used for spraying, as kerosene 

 emulsion, the resin compound, London purple, and others, 

 could not well be applied with safety, as the fruit would, 

 in all probability, be rendered unfit for sale, caused by 

 the presence of the flavour of either kerosene, tar, or 

 eucalypti oil, to say nothing of the well-known poisonous 

 qualities of London purple when not used at the proper 

 time. 



The best time to tackle the Pear Slug is before the 

 fruit becomes far advanced, and not when the tree is in 

 bloom, as the material, if used at this period, might 

 prevent the fruit from setting properly. 



Treat the roots of the trees as recommended for 

 using against the apple root borer, both the bisulphide of 

 carbon and Quibell's mixture being very good for the 

 purpose, the effect of the latter being, however, of a more 

 lasting nature, and at the same time not so offensive to 

 use as the bisulphide of carbon. Sulphate of Iron (1 oz. 

 to gallon of water) is also an excellent "ground" mixture. 



As a material for spraying, when the fruit is not 

 on the tree, the kerosene emulsion, say 1 part of the 



