152 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA: 



lighting of the lamp, and the burning .wick heats the clay 

 wickholder and keeps the fat in a liquid state. The moths 

 fly to the light, drop into the hot fat, and are destroyed. 

 The lamps require lighting about dusk in the evening." 



That these moths will be attracted by a light I have 

 myself proved, so that I feel quite justified in quoting 

 the experiences of Mr. Lucas, as above. 



Here we have a remedy which may be termed a pre- 

 ventive one, and is one that growers can, without any 

 outlay worth mentioning, use for themselves, as, should 

 it be found that the moths can descend into the soil, 

 they will in most cases be able to as readily ascend. 



If the egg-laying is confined to the stems or young 

 shoots, as supposed by Mr. Tepper and many other of our 

 best observers, the " lamp " plan will answer all the same, 

 and probably better. 



The next point to be considered is, how to treat the 

 tubers supposing the grubs to have already got at them ? 

 This would appear to be a most difficult matter, and prob- 

 ably the best advice that can be given would be to keep 

 your lands as clear from weeds and rubbish as possible. 

 Use none but " clean sets," which, to be on the safe 

 side, might be planted at a greater depth than usual. Pay 

 great attention to deep and careful earthing, and, after 

 digging, get the tubers off the ground and bag as soon as 

 possible. When in the pit keep them well turned over, and 

 be careful to destroy any badly-infested tuber, as from 

 these the moths will hatch, only to commence their depre- 

 dations in another place. Lime, if judiciously used when 

 the potatoes are in the pits, has a good effect. Seed 

 potatoes should be carefully examined before planting 

 out. After the crop has been dug, more especially on 

 land where the moths are known to exist, if at all possible, 

 a good dressing of gas-lime, at the rate of, say 30 bushels 

 per acre, would be of much benefit. This must, how- 

 ever, as advised by our chemist, Mr. A. N. Pearson, be 

 exposed for some weeks to the air before using. Air- 

 slaked lime, if well harrowed in before planting the 

 " sets," has been tried and found to be of very great use, 



