424 Insect Pests. 



Prevention and Kembdies. 



It is most essential that all canes cut back or pruned in autumn 

 should be burned, for undoubtedly some of the insects pass the winter 

 under the rind, as well as other pests. As far as possible brambles 

 should be cleaned away from hedges surrounding raspberry planta- 

 tions, for infestation can clearly originate from that source. This, of 

 course, is not always possible, but if it can be done such a step would 

 be advisable. 



It is well, after an attack of the " Easpberry Bug," to carefully 

 hoe soot and lime into the ground near the stock ; many of the pupae 

 are disturbed and their cases are broken, and when this occurs the 

 soot and lime may affect them when in actual contact. Paraffin and 

 ashes hoed in during spring have also been found beneficial. A 

 plantation may be cleared to an appreciable extent by collecting the 

 beetles in May and June, by jarring them off on to tarred sacks or 

 boards held on each side of the canes. This should, of course, be 

 done on a dull, warm day, when the insects are not so active. 



In an experiment conducted in 1903 I found that spraying with 

 arsenate of lead killed great numbers of the beetles whilst they were 

 busy biting the buds and blossom heads. This method of checking 

 this serious pest may be worth growers' further attention. Still 

 better results were obtained in 1908 with the formula recommended 

 by Mr. Spencer Pickering and also with Swift's Arsenate of Lead 

 Paste. On the other hand, on two occasions I have known this to 

 fail, so that growers must not place any definite reliance on it, but 

 merely experiment further for themselves. 



It has been suggested that vaporite would destroy those in the 

 ground. Even if this proves to be of any value it must not be used 

 on loganberries, for Mr. Geoffrey Hooper of Pershore tells me it is 

 absolutely fatal to the " tips." 



References. 



(1) Theobald, F. V. Second Report on Economic Zoology (Brit. Mus. N.H.), 



p. 144 (1904). 



(2) Whitehead, Sir C. Insects Injurious to Fruit Crops (No. 3, p. 7). 



Reports on Insects Injurious to Hop Plants, Corn Crops and Fruit 

 Crops (1886). 



(3) Ormerod, E. A. ' Handbook of Insects Injurious to Orchard and Bush 



Fruits,' p. 202 (1898). 



(4) Theobald, F. V. Journal S. E. Agi-i. Coll., p. 135, No. 13 (1904). 



