1904.] 



Remedies for Red Spider. 



173 



scales, and so are protected against the spray. Future benefit 

 would almost certainly result from a spraying, after the fruit 

 had been harvested, with paraffin emulsion, described under 

 " Remedies for Red Spider," below. The fact that the spray 

 starts the insects, which at this time are adult and able to fly, 

 need not be regarded as discouraging. In experiments directed 

 against the adult pear psylla in America, on account of the 

 shyness and activity displayed by the insect, it was recorded that 

 spraying has practically no value against the insects in their 

 active summer existence," but in spite of this there are several 

 recorded successes with the paraffin emulsion spray against the 

 pear psylla in its winged condition, one such report telling how 

 -in an infested pear orchard in New York State, " when the leaves 

 were about to fall, the paraffin emulsion spray was directed 

 against the enemy, with the result that it brought down millions 

 •of adults." Many adults would certainly escape by flight, but 

 a second spraying would account for many of them. 



The life history of the apple psylla shows that the winter is 

 passed in the egg stage, and after egg laying has taken place in 

 the autumn the following wash may be recommended for use 

 in the winter (see leaflet 70): — Dissolve in water 1 lb. caustic soda 

 (70 per cent.), add 1 lb. carbonate of potash (80 per cent.), and 

 stir till dissolved ; dissolve 10 oz. of soft soap in boiling water, 

 .and after adding to the above stir thoroughly. The whole should 

 then be made up to 10 gallons with added water. 



An account of the Red Spider or Spinning Mite (TetranycJnts 



and Bryobid) is given in the Board's leaflet, No. 41, and as 



supplementing the information therein 



Remedies for oriven, it is believed that the following 

 Red Spider. * ' . r , . , , , * 



remedies, if diligently practised, would be 



attended with success. 



As mixtures for spraying : — (1) Boil 6 oz. of black soap in 

 1 quart of water for 15 minutes, then add 4 oz. of white soap in 

 powder and boil for 15 minutes. Next pour a quart of paraffin 

 into a pail, add the above, and stir thoroughly. This " stock " 

 might be allowed to stand for a day or two, being stirred 



