57 



AGRICULTURAL AND MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 

 Injurious Insects and the Fruit Crop of 1898. 



Among the most troublesome insects that have been a 

 cause of complaint this year, the two species of Otior- 

 rhynchiLS^ sulcatus and picipes^ have been rather prominent. 

 The latter has been found abundantly in hop grounds in 

 Worcestershire and Kent ; the larvae were injuring the 

 roots among which they were feeding throughout the winter 

 until March, and the beetles attacked the young bines 

 directly they appeared. 



Raspberry plants were also attacked in some localities. 

 OtiorrhynchtLs sulcatiLs was found in strawberry beds, but the 

 great quantity of rain during May forced on the plants 

 quickly, so that they grew away from the beetles. Some 

 improvement was effected in infested raspberry plantations 

 and hop grounds by holding boards covered with tar near the 

 plants and tapping them smartly with sticks to cause the 

 beetles to fall into the tar. Frequent hoeings round the 

 plants appeared to be of some benefit. 



Aphides were extremely abundant upon plum and damson 

 trees. Many growers sprayed the infested trees with soft 

 5oap and quassia, with much benefit. The blossom of these 

 trees was unusually full, and a great crop was expected, but 

 this has been diminished by the aphides, especially where 

 the trees were not sprayed with strong quassia and soft soap 

 solutions. 



Aphides of all kinds have been numerous this year, 

 probably on account of the very mild winter ; they have been 

 found materially injuring deodars and other conifers, and 

 are also plentiful on apple, plum, and damson trees, 

 currant bushes, hop plants, roses and other flowers. 



In some places oats suffered from the attacks of the corn 

 aphis, known as Aphis granaria, upon the blade, and it is 



