RASFBEBBY ENEMIES. 77 



RASPBERRY ENEMIES. 



Clay Coloured Weevil {OtiorhjncMs picipes). — There are several 

 species of Otiorhj-nohus weevil, notably O. sulcatus, tlie black weevil of 

 Vines, and 0. tenebricosus, the red legged weevil of Peaches and many 

 other plants ; bat the clay coloured species is the one with which I have 

 had most to do. And he is qnile enough. He is absolutely the most 

 difficult of all garden pests to destroy, being remarkably tough, and having 

 a truly feline tenacity of life. A harassed Raspberry grower once showed me 

 a collection of weevils in a bottle of paraffin, averring that they had been there 

 three weeks, and were subsisting on the liquid. I cannot vouch for the 

 time, but I can for the petroleum and the weevils, whic'a were alive and 

 vigorous. I have seen acres of Raspberries half ruined by them. The 

 Raspberry weevil is a little more than J inch long, and has a vicious and 

 resolute air. I have known it go from Raspberries to Peas and attack them. 

 No application that will not kill the plant will destroy the weevil. 

 There is but one plan out of many tried 

 which I have seen really effectual, and 

 that is for two persons to go amongst 

 the rows at night, each carrying apiece 

 of tarred board, which, when ready 

 for action, he holds sloping upwards 

 from the base of the canes. A lantern 

 is then flashed on to the Raspberries, 

 which induces the weevi's to fall. Or 

 the canes may be shaken. 



Red Bud Caterpillar {Lamp- 

 ronia rtibiella). — This small red, black- 

 headed caterpillar is a troublesome 

 pest, though not so bad as the weevil. 

 Ho far as my personal investigations 

 go, it feeds only in spring; so that, FIG. 61.— RED SPIDER, MAGNIFIED. 

 although damage may be done by it, (See pages 70 and 78.) 



the plant has a chance to make fresh 



growth. Not so with the weevil. Unlike the latter, the red bud cater- 

 pillar is a day feeder. (1) Except where the culture is extensive, hand- 

 picking or crushing suffices. (2) Dustings of sharp soot are good. 



STRAWBERRY ENEMIES. 



Green Chafer. — It has happened, not infrequently, that large grubs 

 have been brought to me as cockchafers, and charged with attacking Straw- 

 berry blossom, from which they are alleged to have eaten the organs of fructi- 

 fication. I have never known the cockchafer do this ; he is a troublesome 

 pest to many crops, but usually does his evil work at the roots. The enemy 

 has in each case proved to be the green chafer. Like the cockchafer, he is 

 a powerful fellow and difficult to get rid of. The best chance comes when a 

 new bed is made, as then the ground can be thoroughly forked over and 

 cleansed. As a temporary meirsure, raking the grubs out and destroying 

 them is the only real remedy. 



IVIildew. — Large growers often have much cause to complain of loss 

 from mildew. The better the culture the less troublesome the disease — 

 witness the comparatively little damage done in private gardens. I do not 



