80 FRUIT TREES IN POTS [ch. 



the leaf to present a yellow or spotted appearance. 

 "Whenever the fruit is not ripe or ripening, the 

 most simple remedy is a good syringing with rain- 

 water. If unable to apply the syringe, then use 

 a little insecticide or quassia, applying it with a 

 small painter's brush. 



Thuip. — Thrip is an insect (brown or black) 

 very inuch resembling what is commonly termed 

 " thunder bug." It often causes the leaves to 

 partially curl up, and gives them a white or silver- 

 like appearance. The same remedy should be 

 used for thrip as for red spider. 



Earwigs. — These insects often put in an 

 appearance when the fruit is ripening, and gene- 

 rally attack nectarines more than peaches. Their 

 presence will soon be detected, for they will 

 puncture the crowns or apex of the fruits, and 

 so cause them to decay. There are two very 

 simple but very good traps in which to catch 

 these intruders. First, some pieces of soft news- 

 paper can be folded up and placed round the 

 stems and on the lower branches of the trees. 

 The earwigs will crawl into the folds of the paper, 

 and can be shaken out and easily destroyed. 

 Secondly, some beanstalks can be placed on top 

 of the pots and also about the tree, and the ear- 

 wigs will crawl into these hollow stems, and can 

 be shaken out and destroyed. 



