2 7 
Reports to the Board of Agriculture. 
were shrivelled and killed, as also were the two Bsylla eggs ; some of 
the former, however, had hatched out. Psylla mali has been most 
destructive during the past season, both in Worcestershire and 
Herefordshire, and has been more or less troublesome in Kent. 
For these two pests a combined wash of paraffin emulsion and 
sulphur should be used. Ordinary paraffin emulsion may be made 
by mixing equal portions of boiling soft soap solution and paraffin 
together, and then churning them up by means of a force pump until 
a creamy emulsion is produced. When required for use, this may be 
mixed with twenty-live times its bulk of warm water. 
To every three gallons of this dilute emulsion, add one ounce of 
liver of sulphur and well mix. Spray in a fine spray, so that every 
part of the tree is wetted. 
(ii) The only thing to do after the buds have burst to destroy 
mussel scale is to wash with paraffin emulsion two or three times 
during the late spring and early summer. Commence at end of 
April — if possible a look out should be kept — and as soon as any 
signs of the young active scale insects are noticed crawling about 
the trees washing should be carried out ; the corroding effect of 
paraffin emulsion is not great on the mature scales, but it soon 
destroys the immature forms. 
The wash recommended for the two former insects will do also- 
for this scale. 
Aphides (A, mali , Fabr.) on Apple Trees. 
Some insects sent by a correspondent of the Board from Chesham 
proved to be the Apple Aphis {Aphis mali), which has been doing an 
enormous amount of damage this season (1902) in the South of 
England — many orchards being covered by them. Steps should be 
taken as soon as the plant lice are seen to destroy them. This can 
easily be done if the leaves are not too far curled up, but even then 
some good can be done by spraying. 
The best wash to advise for this Aphis is soft soap and quassia, but 
if the operator has proper sprayers, paraffin emulsion. It should be 
pointed out that the wash must go on the under surface of the leaves. 
Tv o washings, at a few days interval, are usually necessary for this 
pest. 
This pest was also reported as doing considerable damage at 
Tunbridge Wells, and also from Glazebrook, near Manchester. 
