43 
Dusting the trees with quick-lime, or even with common road-dust 
or wood ashes, on a wet morning, has been found sufficient to clear 
badly-infested trees. Even dry sand has been used with advantage, 
notwithstanding its weight. Mr. Goodhue’s dry powder would be 
excellent. 
_ In many cases it will be found necessary to repeat the application 
at intervals of ten days, in order to destroy any larve as fast as they 
are hatched. 
PEAR-SCALE. 
(1) Mytilaspis pomorum. 
(2) Aspidiotus camellia. 
(83) Diaspis santali. 
The first of the scale-insects enumerated above is frequentl 
found on the pear, often in great abundance; the second, althengh 
like the first, of European origin, is only met with occasionally. The 
last is of native origin, and is unhappily becoming frequent on many 
of our fruit-trees. 
I have seen newspaper paragraphs stating that the oyster-scale 
is troublesome on pear-trees in the colony, but I have seen no 
specimens. In all probability the camellia-scale, which is of occasional 
occurrence on pear-trees, has been mistaken for it. 
For treatment, see under “ Apple-scale,” page 16, ante. 
FIRE-BLIGHT (Restelia cancellata?). * 
At Whangerei, the Bay of Islands, and other places, pears are 
attacked by what is termed “ fire-blight,” which destroys the tree in a 
longer or shorter period. Some varieties are more subject to attack 
than others, notably the Summer Bon-chrétien, which in the North 
appears to be dying out from this cause. 
Unfortunately i was unable to gather much information respect- 
ing fire-blight, as my examination of affected trees did not begin 
until the last week in May, when the leaves had all fallen. Its first 
indication is said to be the appearance of black blotches on the leaves ; 
these increase in dimensions until the greater portion of the leaf- 
surface is discoloured (my informants differed as to the presence or 
absence of blisters): at length the leaves fall, the fruit shrivels, and 
cankerous patches are formed upon the bark. The disease spreads 
with great rapidity, and is most severe when the trees are growing in 
a cold damp subsoil. Further observation is necessary before the pest 
can be identified with certainty or remedial measures suggested. 
But little doubt, however, can be entertained as to the injury being 
eaused by a fungus, which will, in all probability, prove to be a well- 
known European species (Restelia cancellata). ot ; 
Affected trees may be headed down and grafted with some variety 
capable of resisting the attacks of the fungus. In two cases I was 
assured that this course had been followed with success, the Summer 
Bon-chrétien having been replaced by Williams’s Bon-chrétien with 
the most satisfactory results. 
