148 Second Report on Economic Zoology. 
Treatment of the Orchard. 
1. The cherry trees should be sprayed in January or February 
with the wash recommended in Leaflet 86, and later with Bordeaux 
mixture. 
2. All the trees should be sprayed with soft soap and quassia 
wash as soon as the buds commence to burst and again whenever 
lice (Ajjhicles) are noticeable. 
3. It would also be well to spray all the trees with caustic 
alkali wash in winter. 
4. All diseased and dead wood should be cut away and burnt. 
Aphis Blight (Aphis pruni) on Plum Trees. 
Some plum trees referred to by a correspondent from near Crewe 
were suffering from the combined attack of (1) Plum Aphis {Aphis 
pruni), and (2) to a small extent from the larvae of Tortricid Moths 
{Tortrix ribeana, Antithesia pruniccna, and probably others). 
The Plum Aphis {Aphis pruni, Pieaumur) is one of the most 
destructive plum pests, and has been unusually severe in its attack 
this year. Complaints have come to hand from all parts of the 
country regarding the harm done by this Aphis. Its attack is very 
characteristic, the leaves shrivelling up, the edges gradually rolling 
around and forming nests for the rapidly increasing insects ; the 
fruitlets soon commence to fall and the leaves die right off. During 
the present season I observed that the young leaves that were attacked 
fell prematurely when still green, but, as a rule, they hang on and 
the tree presents a strikingly characteristic appearance. 
Damson plantations often suffer most severely from this blight. 
A good show of blossom may be seen in May, and by June scarcely 
a fruitlet or leaf will be seen on the trees. Plums of all kinds and 
greengages suffer nearly as severely. The same species may be seen 
on peach, apricot, apple and, according to Buckton, on the aster. 
It is subject to considerable variation in size and colour and probably 
occurs on other plants, amongst which have been mentioned 
chrysanthemums and the gooseberry. Wild prunes, as the sloe, afford 
a constant means of invasion of our plantations. This species must 
not be confused with the Hop-damson Aphis {Phorodon humidi, var. 
mahaleb), easily told by the frontal tubercles, which are absent in 
this species. 
