532 



Eoot up and burn all infected plants ; do not plant solanaceous 

 plants in quick rotation on the same ground. 



Quite lately Delacroix has described an organism connected 

 with the disease in question, to which the name B. solannicola is 

 given. The organism is believed to be present in the soil, from 

 which it spreads to the plants, and unfavourable meteorological 

 conditions are said to aggravate the infection. Associated with it 

 is a soil fungus, Rhizoctonia solani, which is an active parasite of 

 the potato and the tomato plants. 



DESCRIPTION OF INSECTS. 

 INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL. 



Of the numerous insects which attack fruit trees and crops in 

 Western Australia, a few are described in this chapter. 



For easier reference, they are given in the alphabetical order of 

 their popular names. 



ANTS. 



Of these there are two main groups ; the Red and the White 

 Ants. The first belong to the fornica family ; the second are not 

 ants but are popularly termites. 



The first category of ants burrow in the ground forming 

 " ant-hills " on lawns and paths. A tablespoonful of bisulphide of 

 carbon injected into the ground, or mixed with kerosene and 

 poured into holes six inches deep and a foot apart, and immediately 

 filled up. Operate in the evening when all the ants are in. When 

 the ants cannot be found, place a sponge found with sweetened 

 water in their track and dip it every now and again into hot water. 

 Another successful ant-destroyer is a mixture of flour, sugar, and 

 arsenic, made up to the consistency of putty with water. Pieces 

 of the mixture are placed about the nests of the ants. A great 

 number of dead ants will be found in the vicinity of the poison. 

 After a few days what is left of the ants generally move away to 

 fresh quarters. 



WHITE ANTS 



never work in the open daylight, but make tunnels of clay on 

 the surface of any dry vegetable matter which they may attack. 

 They do not attack growing vegetation, although they do eat the 

 heartwood of living trees if they can get access to it without eating 

 through the living wood. The following is recommended : 



A mixture of loz. of Paris green with 31bs. of seconds flour 

 and 3oz. of sugar, with a little water to make a stiff dough, 

 will poison the termites. This dough should be placed in holes 

 near to the stems of the attacked plants and covered with a shingle 

 or any flat substance to exclude the light, but allowing room for 



