686 



The Banded Pine Weevil. 



[FEB., 



and although the market value is thereby depreciated, such fruit 

 is not materially injured, the scabs being quite superficial. 



If, however, infection occurs when the fruit is young, its 

 further growth is checked ; the surface becomes more or less 

 covered with scabs of various sizes, and at a later stage is 

 irregularly cracked. 



On the leaves and young shoots the fungus forms minute 

 velvety, dark coloured patches, which have an olive-green tint 

 when the spores are ripe. 



Spraying with half strength Bordeaux mixture (i.e., 6 lb. ot 

 copper sulphate, 3 lb. of quicklime to 100 gallons of water) 

 should be commenced on the first appearance of the fungus on 

 the foliage ; if spores are once allowed to mature the case is 

 practically hopeless, owing to their enormous numbers and 

 rapid dispersion. Spray at intervals as found necessary until 

 the apples are about the size of a hazel-nut. 



Strong Bordeaux mixture must not be used, otherwise the 

 foliage will be scorched. 



When the disease has been present in an orchard all apple 

 and pear trees should be thoroughly drenched with a solution of 

 sulphate of copper — 1 lb. of the sulphate to 25 gallons of water. 

 This should be applied during the winter, before the buds begin 

 to swell, otherwise the foliage will be completely destroyed. 

 This winter wash is of great value in destroying fungus spores 

 present in crevices in the bark, and as a preventive should be 

 regularly applied. 



The fungus tides over the winter in fallen diseased fruit, 

 consequently all such should be gathered and burned. 



The Banded Pine Weevil (Pissodes notatus) is one of a genus 

 of weevils of which, in our country, three species are enemies 

 of the forester, viz., P. notatus f P. piniphilus y 

 The Banded Pine anc j p^pi n i- y complaints are most frequent 

 of the first of these species. 

 P. notatus is injurious both as beetle and as larva. The 

 beetle in feeding pierces the bark with its rostrum or snout 

 right into the cambium and the innermost layers of the wood ; 



