NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 189 



full grown the larvae burrow into the earth for several feet, 

 spin a smooth case, and then change into the chrysalis state. 

 In this inactive form they remain till the following Spring. 

 The perfect beetles then come from the ground, and 

 commence an immediate attack on the leaves of trees ; con- 

 cealing themselves during the heat of the day under clods, 

 in the ground, and amongst herbage, coming to feed as 

 evening approaches. Everyone who has had to do with 

 grass lawns has had experience of this pest. 



Remedies. -There does not seem to be any very certain 

 method of coping with these pests, as the damage to the 

 grass is usually done before the presence of the grub is. 

 detected. Constant rolling with a heavy roller, especially 

 after rain, will so consolidate the soil as to impede the motion 

 of the grub. The weight of the roller crushes those near the 

 surface. Flooding with water impregnated with gas lime, is 

 also recommended. More reliance can, however, be placed 

 in constant rolling during Summer, Autumn, and Spring. 

 When lawns become badly infested with the grub, the only 

 alternative is to fork over the surface and turn on the fowls ; 

 they will soon devour all within reach. Then apply a heavy 

 dressing of gas or ordinary lime, at the rate of lolbs. to the 

 square yard, with a couple of pounds of soot, and dig in. 

 This should be done in Autumn and the land should be left 

 turned over roughly until Spring, when it may be sown 

 again with grass or cropped. Professor Kirk says that this 

 grub attacks the roots of trees, even the strongest-growing, 

 such as Pinus Insignis, Araucaria Imbricata, and a number 

 of others. 



Vine Louse (Phylloxera Vastatrix). This is the 

 most destructive plague the vine is subject to, as no means 

 have yet been devised for preventing its ravages when once 

 it gets into the vine border. Affected vines grow sickly and 

 die. All that can be done to stay its progress is to root up 

 the plants and destroy them ; and to allow the ground to 

 remain fallow for a season. This terrible plague has not yet 

 made its appearance in any part of New Zealand, although 

 well-known in Australia. It attacks the leaves and roots ; it 

 is transmitted from place to place with the soil as well as- 

 with the plants. 



