CONFERENCE ON SPRAYING OF FRUIT TREES. 



349 



in the destruction of caterpillars. So far I have not found nicotine is 

 good for caterpillars : it may destroy them, but certainly its killing power 

 is not very high — it is only suitable for creatures like Psylla. 



Mr. Percy Bunyabd : There is no difficulty whatever in killing 

 caterpillars with nicotine. 



Mr. Theobald : I'm afraid I have never come across any preparation 

 that will do so. Probably I shall come across it at some time. The 

 only other point is in connection with red spider. Is it not true that 

 the red spider hatches out as early as February ? 



Mr. Hammond : Yes, that is something like it. The red spider is one 

 of the most erratic of the pests with which we have to deal. After an hour 

 or two of bright sunshine you find the boughs covered with them ; and 

 after an hour or two of dull weather you cannot find one. Their hatching 

 extends over a good many weeks. 



Question ; Will you tell us how you use liver of sulphur for killing 

 red spider — do you mix it with water ? 



Mr. Hammond : 4 lb. to 100 gallons — it is almost universal knowledge. 



The Secbetaby : We are very much obliged to both Mr. Theobald 

 and Mr. Hammond for the very valuable papers they have read ; but 

 I need not propose a vote of thanks, because they have seen our thanks 

 in the interest we have all taken in them. I only hope that this Con- 

 ference may be suggestive of some good to fruit growers ; and, if we are 

 to renew it in another year, that you may all come and tell us that we 

 have no insects and no fungus left. 



APPENDIX A. 



PEINCIPAL WASHES USED AS SPRAYS AGAINST 

 INSECTS AND MITES. 



By Mr. F. V. Theobald, M.A. 



CAUSTIC OR WINTER WASHES. 



Of these we have Caustic Alkali Wash, the Woburn Winter Washes, the 

 Lime and Salt Wash, and the Oregon Wash. 



Caustic Alkali Wash. 



Formula : 



Caustic soda (98 per cent.) . . . lb. 

 Water 10 gallons. 



Uses. — For cleaning old mossy and rough-barked trees in winter 

 and killing mussel-scale ova. Must be used only on dormant wood. 

 The best time is February or March. Caustic potash is as good as the 

 caustic soda, but is dearer, and hence is not now recommended. Pickering 

 has shown that the carbonate of potash is of no value, and thus only 

 waste of money, yet previous results have shown that it improved the 

 wash. The addition of paraffin to the caustic wash has been found to 



