Encyclopaedia of Gardening 143 



may be seen in flight in autumn, when it lays eggs on the shoots of 

 Apple and other trees; these hatch into wingless yellow larvae in 

 spring that feed on the buds. A good remedy is to spray with 

 lime-water in spring, just before the buds start, using 40 Ib. of lime 

 to 25 gallons of water. The best white stone lime is necessary, and 

 it should be slacked in a small quantity of water first. Caterpillars : 

 Several caterpillars attack Apples, but the worst is that of the winter 

 moth, which ascends the trees in autumn and lays eggs that hatch 

 the following spring. The caterpillars feed on the bloom trusses 

 and leaves. As a preventive, fasten strips of grease-proof paper 

 about 7 ins. deep round the trees just under the crutch (if the trees 

 are staked, the stake must also be protected) and smear with an 

 approved grease, in order to trap the crawling moths on their way 



THE WINTER MOTH. THE LACKEY MOTH. 



up. If caterpillars should appear in spring in spite of this precau- 

 tion, spray with arsenate paste, | oz. per gallon of water, directly 

 they are seen. Codlin Grub : This comes from eggs laid in the eye 

 of the fruit directly it forms. The grub eats into the fruit, and 

 leaves a train of foul matter behind it. The remedy is to spray 

 with the arsenate paste wash directly the flowers set. Blossom 

 Weevil : In some districts a weevil eats into the fruit bud just before 

 the breaking stages, and, destroying the fertilising organs, prevents 

 fruit forming; the lime spray recommended under Sucker is 

 good. Moss and lichen : When the branches of fruit trees tend to 

 become green they should be cleansed. A lime spray is an excel- 

 lent cleanser, but in bad cases something more may be required, 

 and it may be found in caustic soda. One pound of this, with i Ib. 

 of pearl-ash, in 10 gallons of water, will cleanse the wood if sprayed 

 on in winter. 



Apricot (Prunus (Armeniaca) vulgaris). One of the most delicious 

 of the stone fruits, the Apricot is also one of the most capricious. 

 It is difficult to suit in soil, and even in good loam on limestone 

 which is the ideal soil for fruit it often casts its main branches 

 after a few years. It should be given firm soil with plenty of lime 

 rubble. It blooms very early, and on this account should not only 

 have the protection and support of a wall, but should have tiffany 

 or netting hung in front of it while in flower when frost threatens. 

 In starting with Apricots it is best to buy a young trained tree from 

 a fruit dealer, and plant it in autumn. If it grows very strongly 

 root prune it. The summer side shoots may be shortened as advised 

 for summer pruning under Fruit. Varieties: Blenheim, Moor 

 Park, Powell's Late. 



Blackberry or Bramble (Rubus fruticosus). A wilding in Great 

 Britain, where it is a feature of many hedgerows, and its fruit is 



