124 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA: 



CHAPTER XX. 



TABULATED LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL MATERIALS IN USE 

 FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF Noxious INSECTS, ADAPTED 

 FROM MASKELL, WITH PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS. 



1. ALCOHOL (SPIRITS OF WINE, &c.). Will kill most 

 soft-bodied insects, but sprayed over scale produced no 

 apparent effect. Comstock. Tried against Rutherglen 

 bug pest, but failed to kill the insect. Is also too expen- 

 sive for general use. C. F. 



2. AMMONIA. Whether used pure (diluted) or in wine 

 damages the plant much more than it does tne insect. 

 Hubbard, Comstock. 



3. ASHES. Ashes, powdered or mixed with lime, salt, 

 soot, &c., of no use whatever. Hubbard. I have seen 

 wood ashes used with good effect on peach aphis and 

 pear slug. C. F. 



4. BENZOLE. A valuable and well-tried remedy against 

 insects attacking ripe or ripening fruit, as grapes, 

 cherries, &c., as it will kill almost any insect by contact; 

 no perceptible flavour of the benzole being noticeable on 

 the fruit. Must be kept well stirred, and used with a very 

 fine spray pump and nozzle ; should not be used on young 

 and tender foliage of fruit trees of any kind. C. F. 



5. CARBOLIC ACID. Of no avail, either as spray or 

 brushed on, unless used in such strength as to seriously 

 injure the tree. Hubbard, Riley, Comstock. A weak 

 solution is very good for use against the elm-borer and 

 peach-borer, also for the preservation of cabinet speci- 

 mens of insects, and against clothes moths. C. F. 



6. CARBON BI-SULPHIDE. A very useful material, but 

 very combustive and offensive to those who use it. It is 

 especially valuable in destroying the white ants at roots 

 of vines and the citrus family ; but as it evaporates very 

 quickly, Quibell's Mixture was found to be more suitable 

 as being more lasting in its character. Bi-sulphide has 



