9 
the winter or early spring months, before the commencement of 
growth, and should be applied with a light hand. In excessive quanti- 
ties it tends to retard growth, but does no permanent harm. _ 
In all respects I prefer castor-oil to kerosene as an insecticide : it 
is equally destructive to insect-life, and does not injure the plant, as is 
often the case with kerosene. For those who prefer kerosene emul- 
sions, [ would recommend 1 |b. soft soap, dissolved in a gallon of boiling 
water, with the addition of a pint of kerosene. 
Insecticides consisting chiefly of oils should always be applied 
lightly, as for the most part they cause injury to the superficial tissue 
of the plant. 
Mr. Weisenhavern, Mr. Budden, Mr. Hale, and other fruit-growers, 
informed me that hundreds of fruit-trees had been recently killed in and 
about Nelson by the use of kerosene, or kerosene and linseed-oil, to 
destroy scale. 
Waite Scare (Icerya). 
Syringing or spraying with a garden-engine, with a solution of 
caustic potash, 1 oz. to a let of water, is most effective; or the 
castor-oil mixture will be found excellent. Emulsions of turpentine 
and milk, or soapsuds applied with the syringe, would be of high value. 
“Concentrated lye”’ is strongly recommended by American culti- 
vators as a remedy for scale. Its cost here would be 6d. or 7d. per 
Ib. wholesale. It is applied with a syringe or garden-engine, in the 
proportion of 1 Ib. of ie to a gallon of water; stronger solutions are 
injurious to the tree. 
It is said to contain about 8 per cent. of caustic potash, the 
remainder consisting of carbonate of soda, with a small percentage of 
caustic soda. ~ 
I am satisfied that equally good results may be obtained with 
caustic potash alone, in the proportion of 14 oz. to a gallon of water, 
at a cost of 1d. or 13d. at most. 
CANKER-WORM AND OTHER SmaLL CATERPILLARS. 
Syringing freely with weak solutions of caustic potash. Dusting 
the trees with Paris-green has been found beneficial, but great care 
should be taken in applying this remedy. Should it fall on a cut or 
wound on the hand or elsewhere, the results might be of an unpleasant 
character. 
L&AF-APHIS. 
Syringe freely with soapsuds or even with cold water. In most 
cases this will be found sufficient to dislodge the insect, but with some 
kinds it may be necessary to use a weak solution of caustic potash. 
The aphides infesting fruit-trees in New Zealand appear to be 
identical with European species. 
