Egg Destruction 



winter shelters for the angulat slate-coloured pupae 

 of the cabbage butterflies. They should be searched 

 out and destroyed. 



A special method of cleansing should be adopted 

 with fruit trees and bushes, and with ornamental 

 trees which are not too large to deal with. Moss, 

 Hchen, and loose bark all afford lurking places for 

 insect pests, and may be removed by spraying with 

 caustic soda (1 lb. to 10 gallons of water) between 

 November 30 and February 15. This must be done 

 only in the dormant season, and only on trees and 

 shrubs that drop their leaves completely in autumn. 



IV. Destruction of Eggs. — There is a widespread 

 belief, sometimes fostered by advertisement, that 

 caustic winter washing destroys insect eggs. This 

 belief is erroneous. No wash that can be safely 

 appKed will destroy insect eggs. When the eggs are 

 about to hatch a proportion of the young may be 

 destroyed, and hence late use of this spray (mid- 

 February) is likely to be productive of more good 

 than early, but that is all. The spraying also 

 loosens many scales under which eggs of scale in- 

 sects were lying, and these are Kable to be destroyed. 



Hand-picking of eggs where they are laid in 

 masses can be adopted with advantage. 



The eggs of the lackey moth are laid as bracelets 

 round twigs of fruit and rose trees, and may be 

 primed out during winter ; the cocoons of the 

 vapourer moth and of the gold tail, and the egg 



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