CHAPTER XVII 



FUNGOID AND INSECT PESTS 



Owing to most varieties of fungi and many varie- 

 ties of insects thriving better in a humid climate 

 than in an atmosphere that is both hot and dry, the 

 fruitgrowers of the Murray Valley have to contend 

 with fewer orchard and vineyard pests than do the 

 horticulturists of many other parts of the Com- 

 monwealth. 



It is not necessary to touch upon the various 

 classes of pests that are but seldom met with on the 

 Murray irrigation settlements, and all that is needed 

 here is to describe those varieties that are most 

 prevalent on' our irrigation areas, and the methods 

 usually adopted in combating their ravages. 



OIDIUM IN VINES. 



This fungus, in the form of a mildew, attacks the 

 leaves and fruit of the vine, and under conditions 

 favourable to its growth spreads with great rapidity, 

 and causes the destruction of both fruit and foliage. 

 It increases most rapidly in a damp and muggy 

 atmosphere, and thrives best in the shade where 

 the foliage is dense. The currant is more suscep- 

 tible to oidium than most other varieties of vine. 



Treatment. The approved method of combating 

 this pest is by dusting the vines with powdered sul- 

 phur. The sulphur is most economically applied by 

 means of a "sulphur bellows," which appliance 

 usually consists of a receptacle for the sulphur, a 

 pump, and a piece of indiarubber hose. The machine 

 is worked by one man (strapped to his back), while 



