Annual  Report  for  1909  of  the  Zoologist.  359 
ascertained  is  whether  the  chrysalis  remains  in  the  soil  till  the 
following  summer  when  the  hops  are  again  ready  to  be  attacked 
by  the  fly,  or  whether  the  flies  emerge  the  same  autumn  and 
continue  their  life-history  on  some  other  plant.  In  the  former 
case  there  is  no  particular  hurry  in  dealing  with  the  infested 
soil ; in  the  latter,  any  treatment,  to  be  effective,  would  have 
to  be  applied  as  soon  as  the  grubs  had  gone  to  earth. 
The  inquiry  reached  me  too  late  for  much  material  to  be 
obtained  this  season.  In  the  specimens  sent  the  grubs  were 
few  in  number  and  did  not  show  much  life.  They  were 
allowed  to  bury  themselves  in  soil  in  a muslin-covered  vessel, 
but  hitherto  (November  10)  no  flies  have  emerged.  One  of 
Miss  Ormerod’s  correspondents  believed  that  he  had  derived 
much  benefit  by  admitting  sheep  to  a badly  infested  hop- 
garden, and  allowing  them  to  tread  down  the  ground  thoroughly. 
Forest-tkbb  Pests. 
Many  applications  for  advice  have  had  reference  to  forest- 
tree  pests,  including  larch-bug,  Lithocolletis  on  Holm  oaks. 
Pemphigus  bursarius  on  poplars,  a saw-fly  attack  on  haw- 
thorn, and  a leaf-miner  on  holly  {Phytomyza  ilicis).  Several 
cases  of  rather  severe  attack  of  winter-moth  on  ornamental 
trees  were  reported.  One  of  the  pests  most  frequently  inquired 
about  was  the  beech-scale.  Cryptococcus  fagi.  An  ordinary 
paraffin  emulsion  was  generally  effective  against  this  pest,  and 
the  wash  advocated  by  Mr.  Gillanders  proved  very  efficacious. 
It  is  made  thus  : “ Take  half  a gallon  of  soft  water,  boil,  and 
dissolve  about  1 lb.  of  soft  soap  and  about  1 lb.  of  common 
soap  ; add  a handful  of  sulphur,  one  pint  of  paraffin,  and  about 
the  same  quantity  of  turpentine.  Then  add  about  four  gallons 
of  soft  water  to  this  mixture.  Churn  well  with  a syringe,  and 
when  cold  store  away  in  a stoppered  barrel  to  prevent  evapora- 
tion. Apply  with  a whitewash  brush  about  May,  just  as  the 
larvae  are  hatching  out,  but  before  application  churn  well  with 
a syringe  to  ensure  the  mixture  of  the  ingredients.” 
Fruit  Pests. 
The  inquiries  relating  to  fruit  trees  and  bushes  did  not 
present  any  features  of  special  interest.  Many  aphis  attacks 
were  complained  of,  the  black  cherry  aphis  being  particularly 
troublesome.  Specimens  of  “big-bud”  on  black  currants  were 
sent,  and  the  pear  leaf-blister  mite  was  also  reported.  The  list 
also  included  various  saw-fly  attacks,  and  some  cases  of  wood- 
boring pests,  particularly  the  goat-moth  and  the  fruit-tree  bark 
beetle  {Scolytus  rugulosus).  The  wet  season  was  not  calculated 
to  encourage  “ red-spider,”  but  a few  cases  of  attack  on  goose- 
berries {Bryobia)  came  to  hand. 
