28 
First Report on Economic Zoology. 
The Peach Aphis. 
{Aphis amygdali, Fonsc.) 
Amongst a number of Aphides sent by a correspondent from 
Tunbridge Wells were specimens of the Peach Aphis ( Aphis amygdali). 
The Peach Aphis also attacks nectarines and causes the leaves to 
•curl up and to fall, often leaving the branches quite bare. It also 
feeds on the sloe and tobacco plant. Another species, Hyalopterus 
pruni, Fabr., also attacks the peach, but from the remains sent the 
.species in question here is A. amygdali. These Aphides have 
nothing to do with the curled fleshy leaves seen on peach trees 
caused by the fungus Exogesius deformans. 
It is advisable to use quassia wash only on peach, as paraffin 
•emulsion might damage the foliage and the young fruit, the peach 
being much tenderer than the apple or plum. 
A General Wash for Fruit Trees. 
A general insect wash required by a Gloucestershire correspondent 
•of the Board of Agriculture may be made as follows : — 
A. (1) Dissolve 1 oz. of arsenate of soda in soft water and add to 
16 gallons of soft water. 
(2) Then dissolve 3 ozs. of acetate of lead in soft water and add to 
above and stir well ( = Arsenate of lead wash). 
B. Dissolve 1 quart of soft soap in 2 quarts of boiling soft 
water. Then remove from the fire and while still boiling hot add 
1 pint of paraffin and churn the whole together for ten minutes with 
a small hand syringe. (For use alone dilute with ten times its 
volume of soft water ( = Paraffin emulsion.) 
For mixing with A, add about two pints of the concentrated 
•emulsion (B) and mix well. The combined wash will then destroy 
both biting or mandibulate and sucking or haustellate insects. 
By far the most successful wash for “Apple Sucker” is Quassia 
wash as used in the Kent hop gardens. 
Further Information re Winter Washing of 
Fruit Trees. 
In answer to an enquiry of a correspondent of the Board of Agri- 
•culture, re winter washing of fruit trees, it was pointed out that 
“ washing ” and “ spraying ” of fruit and other trees are merely 
