THE APPLE-BOOT BORER. 97 



weevil, would be likely to spread, as well in the interests 

 of the timber and wattle-bark industry as for the farmers 

 and fruit-growers themselves. 



As an example of the serious damage caused by these 

 weevils, Mr. King, the well-known orchardist of Geelong, 

 informs me that from the years 1868 to 1878 he had to 

 root up and destroy no less than thirteen acres of fine 

 trees, most of which had been in full bearing. Mr. Powell 

 also states that in his orchard, a few miles out of Castle- 

 maine, a large percentage of his trees are dying off from 

 the top downwards, and also remarks that in his dis- 

 trict the beetles come out of the ground just before the 

 buds begin to swell, laying their eggs in October and 

 November, and by December seem to have disappeared 

 altogether. Nearer Melbourne, however, the beetles are 

 to be found much later on in the summer, and, in many 

 cases, all the year round. 



Prevention and Remedies. 



When the leaves are on. the tree, look very carefully 

 for those that are sticking together. Pick them all off, 

 and destroy by burning. If the fruit be on the tree 

 shake the branches gently over and into a sheet. When 

 the fruit has been gathered, a much more severe shaking 

 can be resorted to, and which, if done carefully, cannot 

 fail to dislodge large numbers of the perfect beetles, and 

 possibly many of the young grubs also ; and as the beetles 

 are sluggish in their movements, often feigning death, it will 

 be no difficult matter to destroy them either by burning 

 or scalding water, as the whole family are, as a rule, most 

 tenacious of life and not easily destroyed when captured, 

 excepting, of course, by the means above mentioned. 



The carbon process, as explained in Part I., together 

 with such improvements as are given in another portion 

 of this part of the book, should be persevered with. 

 Great care must be exercised when replanting an orchard, 

 supposing the affected trees to have been grubbed out, 

 and in this case the land should be thoroughly treated 

 with gas-lime before replanting, as the grubs may, by the 



