THE STRAWBERRY BEETLE. 177 



closely allied species, the strawberry beetle may have 

 lived and bred in the substance of some of the more suc- 

 culent of our native plants, but this is, of course, merely 

 conjecture. It would be not only interesting but pro- 

 bably useful also to have this matter cleared up, as it is 

 hard to believe this pest to be an importation, as every- 

 thing points to the fact of its being indigenous to this 

 colony, of which there are not less than eighteen other 

 species found in, and described from, various parts of 

 Australia. 



This is clearly another case of one of our native insects 

 forsaking its natural food for something more palatable 

 to its tastes, and herein lies the danger of new indigenous 

 pests making their appearance. This serious difficulty in 

 our orchards, however, has to be faced, and the main pre- 

 caution to be taken is for every grower to be on the alert, 

 so that if a new pest is discovered it should be reported 

 immediately and measures taken for its extermination. 



Prevention and Remedies. 



When preparing the" land for planting out a new crop 

 see that as little rubbish as possible is left in or on the 

 land. Be careful that the headlands are kept clear #f 

 weeds or rubbish of any kind whatever. If possible, give 

 sufficient room both between the plants and in the rows, so 

 that there may be space to work at them with the sprayer 

 or other machines commonly used for the purpose. 



The use of sulphate of ammonia in the proportion of 

 1 cwt. to the acre is to be commended, as also gas-lime. 

 The latter, according to eminent agricultural chemists, 

 should, in most cases, be exposed to the air for several 

 weeks before turning it into the soil. 



In soils where there is a deficiency of lime the super- 

 phosphate of lime, at the rate of about 2 cwt. per acre, 

 will be not only a good fertilizer, but will help to keep 

 down insects of many kinds. In using these artificial 

 manures, however, growers would do well to ask the 

 opinion of the Chemist of the Agricultural Department, 

 who, by his advice, would probably save them both 



