48 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA: 



more extensive injury. At other times a zone of brown 

 tissue surrounds the core. In a peach or in a plum the 

 maggot seems to find its way very quickly to the stone, 

 and then to feed on the tissue immediately surrounding 

 it, usually to a greater extent on one side than on the 

 other, devouring the pulp, leaving the more fibrous 

 material, and producing generally much semi-fluid 

 matter as product of decay. In a free-stone peach the 

 symptoms usually commence in the tissue immediately 

 adjacent to the stone ; but in a cling-stone the injury 

 seems for some time to be frequently limited to the part 

 opposite the lateral depression, and between it and the 

 stone. Eventually all fruit which is attacked becomes 

 a mere ' mass of corruption.' It is important to note, 

 however, that the fruit maggot never attacks the pips or 

 stone of a fruit, nor yet the rind." 



Mr. Tryon further remarks : u It is the general 

 opinion in the district (Toowoomba) that cultivation has 

 no influence in protecting the trees from the visitation 

 of these pests, nor have our observations led us to come 

 to any otlier conclusion. The same may be said of 

 neglect of cultivation, but in this we have the additional 

 loss due to the fact that the fruit saved is of an inferior 

 quality only." 



Before concluding this article, it may be remarked 

 that there have been many supposed cases of fruit fly 

 damage within the State ; but upon investigation the 

 trouble has been found to have been caused by insects 

 which have nothing in common whatever with the true 

 fruit-flies, either in point of size or general appearance. 

 When, however, we take into consideration the terrible 

 ravages for which the real fruit-flies are responsible, 

 (I am afraid to quote Mr. Tryon on some of these losses) 

 it is no wonder that growers are on the alert, as they 

 uiidotibtedly should be, and that upon the faintest 

 suspicion of the pest in the orchard or elsewhere, it is 

 earnestly hoped that the entomologist will be immediately 

 communicated with, so that the pest may be tackled 



