ON FRUIT CULTURE. 



993 



and healthy for many years, if adequately supplied with plant- 

 food. Frequently Aphides, especially Myzus cerasi, infest the 

 young shoots and foliage ; but the XL All Insecticide or 

 McDougall's fumer will quickly destroy these pests. The syringe 

 should be used freely while the trees are growing, except 

 when they are in blossom and when the fruit is ripening ; 

 this will assist to keep the foliage healthy and clean, and at 

 the same time will encourage a sturdy habit. When our trees 

 have produced a great mass of flowers we have with good 

 effect cut away all the worst-placed with a pair of grape-scissors ; 

 the remaining flowers received extra support, and always set 

 more freely than on trees not thinned. 



The following sorts are admirably suited for growing under 

 glass : Early Rivers, Belle d'Orleans, Bigarreau Jaboulay, Governor 

 AVood, Guigne de Louvain, Late Duke, May Duke, Xouvelle 

 Royale, Royal Duke, Ronald's Black Heart, and Emperor Francis. 

 All of them possess fine flavour, and are abundant bearers as 

 pot or other trees. When the fruit is picked, the trees should 

 be induced to rest as mentioned under Apricots, never allowing 

 them, however, to suffer for want of water at the roots. 



Outside the other animal pests which it is proposed to deal with 

 under general headings, there are only two calling for special 

 mention. One is the Slug-worm, the larva of a species of Saw- 

 fly {Eriocampa limacind). It is about ^in. long, and when mature 

 of a dark brown colour. Prior to that it has undergone several 

 changes, and in the first stages of that condition it has a most 

 disgusting look, owing to its exudation of a black slimy secretion. 

 The head is abnormally big, and makes the insect look repulsive. 

 When nearly full - fed the slime disappears. The pupa - state is 

 passed in an earthen cocoon in the soil, a little below the 

 surface. The perfect insect has a black body and transparent 

 wings, and is seldom 

 recognised. The 

 female selects the 

 upper surface of the 

 foliage for egg- 

 deposition, and the 

 young larv^ when 

 hatched soon reduce 

 it to the condition 

 shown in Fig. 644. 



Quicklime is the 

 best remedy to apply 

 in the early morning, repeating it after an interval of a couple 

 of days. In very bad attacks the surface-soil may either be 

 stirred to expose the pupae, or removed for 4in. or 5 in. and 

 buried elsewhere at such a depth that the insects could not 

 make their way through. Pears are also attacked by Slug-worms. 



3 s 



Fig. 644. — Leaf with Epidermis Eaten 

 BY Slug-worm Larva. 



