49 



plant and the pests to be destroyed, as also does the time of exposure 

 Change according to these conditions. 



Washes.— Winter washing is very essential every three or four 

 years, as in that time the tree becomes alive with mosses and hchens 

 which are excellent shelters for the woollv aphis, the apple blossom' 

 weevil, the earwig, the larva of the codling moth and its cocoon 

 besides many other insects. 



Insects' eggs, which are about at the time you winter wash are 

 impossible to kill or injure by these washes, but their hiding 'and 

 resting places can be destroyed. 



The alkali wash, often used, is of the following constituents :— 

 Caustic soda, 98 per cent. . . . 2 lb. 

 Commonest treacle . . . . | lb. 

 Water . 10 gallons. 



This is a good wash, and should be used about the end of February, 

 and it will often kill also mussel scale. 



A wash known as the lim6-sulphur spray can be used as a winter 

 wash with good effect. 



The constituents are : — 20 lb. of quick lime. 



36 lb. of flowers of sulphur. 

 80 gall, of water. 



The lime is slaked in a little water and whilst stiU hot the sulphur 

 is added, and the whole covered with canvas in a wooden vessel. 

 Allow to boil for twenty minutes, stirring occasionally, and then the 

 rest of the water is added. It is further diluted before spraying, and 

 using as a winter wash, one gallon of the wash to 12 gallons of water. 

 This wash kills both insects and fungi. 



The recipes given for the insecticides are not always very poisonous 

 to the insects, but more practice is needed and many more experiments 

 will have to be made before the " last word " in spraying is given. 



A fruit farmer, or any gardener who takes an interest in horti- 

 culture and the well-being of his trees and plants, will keep them 

 free from disease and other ravages. 



It is an interesting and helpful plan to study the plants you 

 are growing, and to study the pests attacking them individually. 

 By studj^ng their life histories, whether insects or fungi, you can 

 generally find a way to destroy the pests. 



Also experimental work will be well repaid, besides being very 

 interesting, as by this means you might get a wash or spray that 

 is more detrimental to the pest or pests than the wash already being 



used. 



Every gardener should be a botanist and entomologist, and so 

 should the fruit farmer, especially the latter. 



I will now take the individual insects and describe them, giving 

 their life histories wherever possible, and the best and most general 

 insecticide used, giving only one remedy for each insect. 



