Reports to the Board of Agriculture . 29 
different terms for the same treatment. Hop growers call the process 
“ washing,” fruit growers both “ washing ” and " spraying.” . In all 
insecticides it is well to put the wash on the foliage or fruit in as 
fine a mist as possible, but with the Caustic Alkali wash this is not 
essential. The wash may be syringed over the trees thickly, but it 
is advisable to use a proper sprayer or washer such as the Strawson 
“ Anti-pest.” After spraying with this wash the machine should be 
well cleaned out with cold water. No care is necessary regarding 
the buds as long as they have not commenced to burst. 
Three quarters of a pound of soft soap for the ten gallons of wash 
may be used in place of the treacle previously advised. India rubber 
gloves are sometimes worn by the sprayer, but are not necessary. It 
is far better to fix a circular disc pointing downwards on the spraying 
tube so that any wash that runs down will fall clear of the hands. 
Another Board correspondent was informed that ordinary treacle 
may be substituted for coarse agricultural treacle in this wash. 
Certain gardening papers have raised an objection to the use of 
treacle or soft soap in this wash, but it is certainly a beneficial 
ingredient. 
Canker Fungus ( Nectria clitissimd) on Apple Twigs 
mistaken for Insect Work. 
The effect of “ canker ” is often mistaken for insect work. Apple 
twigs were sent to the Board of Agriculture from Bournemouth with 
brown blister-like patches over them ; these were attacked by the 
canker fungus Nectricc ditissima (fig. 3). The shoots had been 
probably damaged by frost early in the season ; canker becomes more 
prominent lower down the tree. Another correspondent from Rugby 
also sent twigs with the typical canker of apple ; the small scarlet 
fruit or perithecia of the fungus were present on most of the twigs 
sent. There was a lot of this disease showing these blister-like 
patches this year (1902). 
MAMMALIA. 
Enquiry as to Poison for Moles. 
Several enquiries have been made regarding Moles. One cor- 
respondent wrote asking the best way to poison these animals. 
This Department knows of no poison of any use in destroying 
moles, but probably bisulphide of carbon would be as successful in 
killing these animals as it is in destroying the Canadian Pouched Rat 
