5oo 



Protection of Fruit Trees. 



[NOV., 



The Tulip Mite, which is a minute but widespread pest, does 



not confine its ravages to tulip bulbs, but willingly attacks bulbs 



of hyacinth, lily, eucharis, onion, dahlia, 

 Tulip Mite. L o , 



potato tubers, &c, and can pass from one 



of these plants to the other. It has the habit of burrowing 

 under cover of the bulb scales, and successful treatment is very 

 difficult. If the number of bulbs infected is small, burning 

 these rather than attempting to treat them would be the wisest 

 plan, so as to prevent the risk of the pest passing to others. 



As a remedial measure, fumigation with sulphur has been 

 tried, and the spraying of affected bulbs with paraffin has been 

 recommended. Probably a better result would be obtained 

 by enclosing the infested bulbs in an air-tight chamber and 

 exposing them to the vapour of bisulphide of carbon ; I pint 

 of carbon bisulphide would serve for 1,000 cubic feet of space. 

 The saucer or open plates containing the bisulphide of carbon 

 should, when introduced into the air-tight chamber containing 

 the bulbs, be laid down on the top of or above the bulbs, as the 

 vapour that comes away is heavy and sinks. The bulbs should 

 be exposed to this treatment for 24 to 36 hours, which should 

 be repeated m a week. Bisulphide of carbon fumes are very 

 poisonous and must not be breathed, and no naked light must 

 be brought near them. 



With reference to the experiments referred to in the October 



number of this Journal (p. 435), it may be added that the 



spraying of bushes infected with Black 

 Black Currant r . r n , , 



Gall Mite. Currant Gall Mite was commenced when 



the buds began to burst, in 1901 on April 



19th, and in 1902, 1903, and 1904 on the 12th, 30th, and 26th of 



April respectively. The spraying w r as done twice a week, and 



continued until about the middle of June, each bush being 



sprayed on an average fourteen times. 



The Blue Tit (Parus cceruleus) is a pretty little bird about 

 four and a-half inches in length. The wings and tail of this 

 Protection s P ec i es are blue, the breast and belly 

 of Fruit Trees sulphur-yellow, the back yellowish-green, 

 ag'ainst Blue Tit. and the side of the head white with a blue 

 band running across it from the beak to the nape. Its nest of 



