Annales de la Societe de Horticulture de Paris. 203 



Ohservations 07i the Puceron lanighe {Aphis mali). By M. de Noyelle. 

 — This insect is oviparous ; commits its greatest ravages about the middle 

 of August, and from that time till the end of September; it then attains its 

 full growth, and is fecundated,* runs over all the tree, resting in the places 

 where it finds the greatest supply of sap, on which it lives, and consequently 

 exhausts the plant. The eggs are laid in the crevices of the bark, and in 

 punctures made by the animal itself. Over these punctures little tume- 

 factions are visible, caused by the extravasation of the sap. This insect is 

 found on the willow (5'alix vitellina), as well as on the apple; it prefers the 

 sweetest-tasted apple trees, and such as grow on a dry soil, rather than 

 those on a stronger damp soil. M. de Noyelle tried many different things 

 to kill or banish these insects, viz. soap-suds, soda, potash, decoctions of 

 ■walnut leaves, and white-wash of lime, without avail. At last he tried 

 sulphate of lime, and his success was complete. Three years' experience 

 confirms this discovery. He thus describes his practice : — " Towards the 

 end of February I examine my trees, and wherever I see nodosities which 

 contain the eggs, I cut them smoothly off with a knife. I move the earth 

 from around the bottom of the tree, to see whether they have fixed them- 

 selves on the neck, or point of junction between the stem and the roots ; 

 if nodosities appear there also, they are pared off. I then, with a large 

 brush made of bristles, and one of a smaller size to enter the crevices, 

 wash my trees from head to foot. A good workman will go over a great 

 many trees in a day ; but, as it often happens that some of the crannies or 

 retreats of the insects are not reached, it is necessary that the washing 

 should be repeated the following year. The composition should be laid 

 on before the buds swell ; as its caustic quality would be detrimental. 

 Lofty trees are washed by means of a hand pump or engine. The compo- 

 sition is thus prepared : — Boil in six or eight parts of water, two parts of 

 quicklime, and one part flour of sulphur, for a quarter of an hour; then 

 strain through a hair sieve ; when it is ready for use. It should be always 

 well shaken before it is used. 



A Hew Process proposed for destroying the Mole Cricket, {fig. 45.) 

 By M. Robert, Director of the Botanic Garden at Toulon. — Farmers 

 and gardeners have 



long complained of " ^^ 



the damage sustain- 

 ed in their crops of 

 peas andbeans,from 

 the mole crickets; 

 and without being 

 acquainted with any 

 efficient means of 

 destro3'ingthem. "I 

 capture them," says 

 the writer, "by plac- 

 ing fresh sods or turves, on the beds or borders of the garden where 

 any traces of the insects are seen. These turves, being well watered over- 

 night, attract the insects to hide under thenij where they may be easily 

 caught in the morning. This scheme persisted in, will soon rid any place 

 infested with them, especially during the months of April, May, and June." 



The mole cricket is very common in the neighbourhood of Paris, but not 

 very frequent in Britain. The only place where we happen to have seen 

 it is in the pleasure-grounds at Syon, in the moist turf along the artificial 

 river. The figure we now give is from a drawing made from nature, by a 

 young lady, from an insect she found in the neighbourhood of Salisbury, 

 and sent us in order to ascertain its name. The drawing, Mr, Sowerby 

 observed, was beautifully done; and this notice of it will, we hope, begrati- 



