125 



soil 2 feet away from the trunk are snflicient. The fluid 

 must not reach any of the larger roots and, moreover, it 

 IS very poisonous and highly inflammable. If summer 

 spraying is not sufficient, a winter wash, as detailed m 

 Leaflet 34 of the Board of Agriculture, is advisable. 

 Banding the tree trunks in early spring is said to give 

 encouraging results, and several cases have been reported 

 of large numbers of Aphides migrating from the roots, 

 being trapped on these bands as they were ascending the 

 trunks. " Tree tanglefoot'' is best for this purpose. 



As regards preventive and remedial measures (4, 1 5) 

 against Aphides there are three seasons of application, 

 (a) In autumn to kill oft the egg-laying females. The 

 leaves are then of much less value, and it matters very 

 little if they are injured. Thorough spraying vrith a 

 mixture of i pint paraffin and iMbs. soft soap added 

 to ic galls, of soft water, which should be made up in 

 the manner suggested in the previous lecture for dealing 

 with the Onion Fly. In the case of Currant Aphides 

 heavy pruning is valuable, as the eggs are present in 

 large numbers on the shoots. All prunings should be 

 taken away and burnt, [h'j Winter measures: these con- 

 sist of using sprays, which have the eftect of sealing up 

 the eggs with a coating through which the young Insect 

 is unable to make its way. A good mixture recommended 

 by Theobald consists of i cwt. of fresh lime, which 

 should be gradually slaked, and mixed with 100 galls, 

 of water m which 3olbs. of salt have been dissolved. The 

 addition of Slbs. of water glass is stated to be an advan- 

 tage, though not essential. Failure in obtaining satis- 

 factory results are usually to be traced to want of care 

 in starting with freshly-burnt lime, or in slaking this. It 

 is best used as a late winter wash, as its efl"ects wear oft' 

 owing to weather action if it remains on the trees all 

 through the winter. ihis wash is useful m sealing up 

 the eggs of the Apple and Plum Aphides, and may also 

 be used for the same purpose against the Currant Aphides 

 if pruning has not been done, ^c) Spring spraying, which 

 should be done as early as possible. A useful mixture 

 for most Aphides is made up by boiling for 2 hours lib. 

 of quassia chips (which must be quite fresh) in just 

 sufficient water to keep liquid. This solution should" loe 

 strained, and then well mixed with 10 galls, of warm 

 water, m which lib. of soft soap has been previously clis- 



