182 



THE BOOK OF NATURE STUDY 



When the pest has established itself in quantity the remedial 

 operations include spraying, and in some cases handpicking or 

 trapping. 



Aphides, scale insects, and beetles feed during both the larval 

 and adult stages ; moths and sawflies, during the larval stage 

 only. In combating insect attacks, the eggs and chrysalids may 

 be destroyed in the winter, the larvae in the summer. Moss, 

 lichen, and dead bark afford shelter to the eggs during the winter, 

 and consequently care should be taken to keep the trunks of 



fruit trees as clean 

 as possible. Fungi 

 frequently make 

 wounds and cut sur- 

 faces their point of 

 attack in the case 

 of fruit trees, and 

 such surfaces should 

 therefore be cauter- 

 ised with tar if 

 fungus pests are pre- 

 valent. 



For spraying, on 

 a small scale, a knap- 

 sack sprayer is re- 

 quired, costing about 



FIG. 74. Small Ermine Moth and Caterpillar. Moth twice thirty shillings. Such 

 natural size ; larvae and web about natural size. (By Q Sprayer delivers the 

 permission of the Board of Agriculture) Solution in a fine 



mist, which coats leaves, twigs, and stem, but is not in suffi- 

 cient quantity to run off the plant and so be wasted or injure 

 the roots. Spraying, if done at all, must be done with 

 thoroughness, and the jet must therefore be directed to all sides 

 of the stem, and also the under, as well as the upper, sides of 

 the leaves. 



WINTER WASH. This may be applied to fruit trees every 

 second or third year. It will remove moss and lichen, and kill 

 a good many eggs and chrysalids. It should be applied in 



