Uo. I. ] American Blight. 57 



Coceinellidse (Lady-birds) also feed on the plant-lice, and the larvse of ' 

 the Lace-winged flies {Chri/sopn), known by having four delicate lace- 

 like wings (Saunders, L c, f. 133, 131). 



Remedies. — For the trunk and branch-inhabiting form is recom- 

 mended the use of a stiff brush and the application by it of an alkaline 

 wash. This may be made by mixing five seers of fresh lime with one 

 seer of sulphur and four gallons of water and heating until the sulphur 

 is dissolved. Common country soap, reduced to the consistence of paste 

 by the addition of a strong solution of washing-soda in water, also forms 

 a good wash for application with the brush. This should be rubbed 

 into all hollows in the barks, wounds, and wherever the insects appear. 

 The use of the brush and wash has been found effective in England 

 during 1888, and by Mr. Daly at Conoor in 1889. Another effectual 

 but troublesome plan, described by Harris, is to scrape off the rough 

 bark of the infested trees and make them perfectly clean and smooth 

 eai'ly in the spring; then rub the trunk and limbs with a stiff brush, 

 wet with a solution of potash ; after which remove the earth about the 

 bottom of the trunks, and with the scraper brush an alkaline liquor 

 over that part so far as the roots can be conveniently uncovered. The 

 earth removed should be carried away to a distance or burned, and be 

 replaced by fresh earth, and all cracks and wounds should be filled with 

 grafting cement or clay mortar. Small infested limbs and branches 

 beyond the reach of the application should be cut down and burned. 



As a preventive measure, Blot recommends : — " Avoid giving to the 

 nursery, in which the young trees are, any more shade than is absolutely 

 necessary ; avoid placing the trees in too flat or humid ground, give to 

 both nursery and orchard all ventilation possible, so that they may be 

 thoroughly aired, and keep the heads of the trees open so as to favour 

 the circulation of air and the drying of the soil : dig up around the trees 

 frequently, and do not allow rubbish to accumulate at the roots; surround 

 each tree with a mixture of soot or tobacco or sand/' The application 

 of a remedy must depend in a great measure on the climate and soil, 

 and from the suggestions made here, the Indian fruit-grower must select 

 that one which experience will show him to be the most suitable. 



For the root-inhabiting form Dr. Fitch recommends the clearing 

 away of earth from the roots and the application of soap-suds in suffi- 

 cient quantities to penetrate the excrescences on the rootlets. Similarly, 

 when transplanting young trees, if the lice appear on the roots, they 

 should be dipped in a solution of soap-suds. Others recommend the 

 application of scalding hot water to the bared roots, but if young trees 

 in a nursery are thus treated, care should be taken not to allow the 

 temperature of the water to exceed 120° to 150° Fahr. Plant lice appear 

 to flourish in some places best in a dry porous soil ; hence some recom- 

 mend that the earth around the crown of a tree should be kept hollowed 



