ON PESTS GENERALLY. 



i°95 



taken up for a depth of 3m. or 4in. and deeply buried. 

 Numbers, too, may be got rid of by jarring the trees, having 

 first placed beneath sticky boards to catch those which drop. 



Scale Insects are found upon a variety of trees and plants, 

 from decorative Palms to Apples, Pears, and Currants. They 

 belong to many genera, and some are remarkable for the 

 coverings which give rise to the popular name they bear — 

 Scales. All the insects do not, however, form scales, which are 

 in reality coverings for both eggs and larvae. The scales as a 

 rule are exudations of the female, and are of different forms. 

 One for instance is known as the Mussel Scale (Mytilasph 

 pomorum), on account of its resemblance (Fig. 707) to that 

 animal. This covering is not readily acted upon by outside 

 influences, and is quite proof after a time against the ordinary 

 insecticides. Again, Scale Insects are most in evidence at a 

 time when radical measures cannot be 

 adopted. Male Scales are active, often 

 winged insects, but they are incapable 

 of injuring plants, as when mature they 

 have no mouth. 



For fruit-trees, whether under glass or 

 outside, an effort should be made to apply 

 an insecticide before the " Scale " hardens. 

 A recipe given by a Californian fruit- 

 grower (Mr. Maxwell Heron) for a winter 

 dressing is as follows : Unslacked lime, 

 251b.; sulphur, 2olb. ; salt, 151b.; water, 

 6ogals. Of this, place iolb. of the lime 

 and all the sulphur with 20gals. of water 

 in a cauldron, and boil until all the sulphur 

 is dissolved. Then take the remainder, 

 slake it, and add enough water to make 

 6ogals. in all. This should be kept stirred 

 and applied warm ; no injury to the grow- 

 ing buds is likely to result, we are told. 



Gishurst Compound is a capital insecti- 

 cide for Scale ; while a ready-to-hand 

 preparation is water at i5odeg., applied 

 preferably in winter or early spring. 



Silver Y-Moth (Plusia gamma). — 

 The caterpillars of this insect do immense 



damage in the garden, particularly to herbaceous plants and 

 vegetables. Little by way of food seems to come amiss. Their 

 presence upon a Cabbage patch may readily be discovered, 

 but they are not so readily seen, being green with whitish lines, 

 and sparsely hairy. They pupate in a slight web spun on the 

 under-side of the food-plant. The Moth is very distinct by reason 



Fig. 707. — Mussel 

 Scale. 



(much magnified.) 



