140 



was known to Europe about 150 years ago, and Eisso in his Natural 

 History of the Orange tree, describes and figures the blood orange of 

 Malta, and alludes to be obscurity of its origin, and also to the theory 

 to which I have alluded as to its having originated from a graft be- 

 tween the pomegranate and the common orange, which graft he justly 

 declares to be impossible.'^ 



Professor Tagliofarro said : — 



In following the long list of the enemies which the orange tree has to 

 contend with, one must feel inclined to entertain rather pessimistic views 

 of the future of the tree, audits culiure. I entertained these views some 

 ten years back when the Coratitis Gitreperda called by Dr. Borg the 

 Halterophora capitata, made such tremendous havoc, not only in orange 

 groves, but in most of the stone fruit trees in Malta. I, and others, 

 were so much alarmed, that I forecasted the utter ruin of fruit cul- 

 ture in Malta. Fortunately nothing of the kind happened and I en- 

 tertain better views now when I come to learn that when a new insect 

 or a new enemy presents itself, although at first it spreads and produces 

 a great deal of harm, after a certain time it meets with so many ene- 

 mies that if it does not actually disappear, it loses so much of its power of 

 doing harm, that it may be considered as becoming interesting, more 

 to the scientist than to the agriculturist. I gather from Dr. Borg's 

 very interesting lecture that besides the enemies, there are so many 

 friends who are enemies of the enemies of the orange tree, that a sort 

 of equilibrium is established, and that no fears are to be entertained on 

 the future culture of the tree. An exception most certainly is to be made 

 with regard to the P aviator i Litcasi. I had the benefit of a practical 

 lesson from Dr. Borg five year ago, when he show^ed me the Parlatoria 

 Lucasi in the orange groves at Casal Lia. He says that the fruit and 

 the leaves are so disfiguered that exporters do not care to buy the crops 

 of Casi^l Lia, Casal Balzan, and Attard. I was so much impressed 

 with the miserable state to which it reduced the orange trees, that I 

 have been since then on the look-out at Musta to try and prevent it 

 spreading in that locality, and I was so fortunate as to stamp out that 

 disease. On two occasions in the last three years I was fortunate 

 enough to detect its presence when it had infected but two or three, 

 and by lopping off all the leaves ard the twigs which were affected, I 

 succeeded in stamping out the disease, and so far, I have reason to 

 believe, there is no actual danger of its being propagated. The 

 Parla'oria Lucasi is at first sight so similar to the Mytilaspis, which 

 is so well known to growers of oranges in Mal a, that it is somewhat 

 difficult for those w^ho have never before seen the Parlatoria to distin- 

 guish it from the Mytilaspis ; and I think it would be very beneficial 

 to the growlers and to the agricultural class in general if some steps 

 were taken to show to the growers, practically tho difference between 

 Parlatoria Lucasi and Mytilaspis i am sure the thing is practicable 

 and in view of ihe danger, — the imminent danger — and harm that this 

 insect produces on the orange tree, I am sure they would be on the 

 look-out in those localities which have not been hitherto infected. I 

 am throwing out this suggestion in the hope that it will be favorably 

 entertained by the members of our Society, sure as I am that the views 

 of the founder of this Society will be more fully met if our work is^ 



