122 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA: 



for the fruit-growers and farming industry of South 

 Australia, and whose loss we all must deplore. 



As to the habits of this particular phytoptus, these useful 

 hints should enable us to deal promptly and effectually 

 with this and similar insect pests. 



Prevention and Remedies. 



I quite agree with the late Mr. Crawford and others, who 

 recommend the use of kerosene emulsion, proportion, say 

 1 to 14 ; caustic soda, 4, 8, and 12 ounces to the gallon ; 

 and sulphuretted lime, of the strength made according to 

 the receipt, and the same diluted with one-half and one 

 equal quantity of water. Mr. Crawford also recommends 

 these to be used in three washes as an experiment, but 

 which as yet I have had no opportunity of testing for 

 myself. 



According to Hubbard's experiments with insecticides 

 on the phytoptus of the orange, which is very trouble- 

 some in Florida, in the Southern States of the American 

 Republic (and which insect may in all probability appear 

 here in Victoria), the kerosene emulsion, 1 to 14, killed 

 the living mites, but not the eggs ; two pounds of caustic 

 potash to a gallon of water killed both mites and eggs, 

 and charred the leaves ; but the best results were obtained 

 by whale-oil soap. Soft soap, our nearest substitute, with 

 perhaps the addition of sulphur, say 1 Ib. to 5 gallons 

 of water, might be tried as a summer wash, to be repeated 

 two or three times at intervals of one week ; a kerosene 

 emulsion of 1 to 20, and 1 to 40 might, Mr. Crawford 

 thinks, be tried. 



Winter spraying should never be neglected, as it is of 

 the greatest importance, and more especially, as has been 

 previously remarked, should it be used against the resting 

 spores of micro-fungi, with which a large number of our 

 fruit trees, vines, cereals, &c., are affected. 



As a precaution, the falling leaves of the pear trees 

 should be raked up and burned, so as to prevent, as far as 

 possible, the insects from accumulating. Sulphate of potas- 

 sium, in the proportion of say half-an-ounce to the gallon 



