466 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Dec., 1897. 
Again in the case of an insect, allied to one of our destructive western plant-bugs, 
the Chinch Bug (Blissus leucopterus, Say.), 8. A. Forbes, of Illinois, has stated that 
“a single female has the capacity of giving origin during a single season, if all things 
are favourable, to about 90,000 progeny.” ; 
These facts point to the paramount importance of the following procedures on the 
part of the fruitgrower :— 
1. If practicable, he should not permit the bringing of a single plant on to his 
land —whether it be fruit-tree, ornamental or flowering shrub, &c.—without submitting 
it to a very close scrutiny, with a view to discovering whether it harbour insect pest 
or not. This will involve removing all the soil from its roots by aid of a brush and 
water. Moreover, even if apparently clean, he should immerse every such plant for 
at least ten minutes in water containing an insecticide.* f 
2. The discovery of even one or two Scale Insects, or indeed of any insect that he 
has grounds for regarding as pernicious, upon the trees or bushes in his garden or 
orchard should be the occasion for the commencement of measures of repression ; 
and the expenditure of a few hours now and then in work of inspection with lense in 
hand, especially in a newly-planted orchard, will be time well spent, as after-events 
may demonstrate. Should any insect new to his experience be discovered, it might 
be profitable for him to seek the advice of a trained entomologist before attempting 
to deal with it. ‘ at 
A very large proportion of the destructive insects that the orchardist is called upon 
to contend against, are not native species; and it will generally happen then that, if he 
does not himself bring them on to his own land, or is not beholden for their presence 
to the vicinity of unclean trees the property of others, his cultivation will remain free 
from them. And this consideration, together with a knowledge of the rate of insect 
increase, should justify the adoption of the course recommended for adoption. 
Seasonable Measures.—Those ot you who may be unhappily called upon to deal 
with the Codlin Moth, are aware to what extent the success of their operations— 
especially when resort is had to the use of Paris green—will depend on applying this 
reagent at the correct time. Fruitgrowers in Australia do not, however, appear to be 
equally persuaded that itis also to their advantage to apply the appropriate remedies at 
certain definite times when contending with other pests. 
Thus, (1) in the case of insects that manifest several successive broods during a 
portion of the year, measures should be resorted to on their first appearance, although 
it may be a matter of comment that such-and-such a pest ‘‘does not seem to be bad 
this season,” or that “we have none [i.e., comparatively none, H.T.] of this or that 
destructive insect with us as yet.” 
Again, (2) all insects, wherever practicable, should be attacked before they have 
laid their eggs—a matter to be ascertained by actual investigation. When once they 
haye accomplished this act, and thus taken steps to ensure their preparation, they will 
soon die without man’s intervention. , 
Thus, too, (3) insecticides should be used when the insect against which they are 
being employed, are the most vulnerable or capable of being injured. For instance, . 
Plant-bugs (Hemiptera and Homoptera) or Grasshoppers should be assailed when 
their wings are as yet undeveloped and their unprotected bodies have a soft con- 
sistency. So also similarly with Scale Insects. When the eggs of these redoubtable 
pests are protected as they lie beneath the hard scale of the parent, in which position 
they may rest for a period of at least two months, the application of insecticides, 
other than those consisting in fumigation, is not asa rule successful. It will be 
otherwise, however, when their tiny but numerous progeny are crawling about or have 
but recently settled down. Further operations, having for their end the prevention 
or repression of insect injury, should be regarded as ordinarily cultural operations, 
and should not be intermitted or suspended when still called for. The gathering of 
the crop, instead of being made to mark the season for their discontinuance, is often 
the proper occasion for their employment. Chance and overlooked fruit that is said 
to be ‘not worth troubling about,” may serve to perpetuate the existence of a 
deleterious insect ; so also may plant débris and general orchard refuse. An apt 
illustration of this is afforded by agricultural procedure in Queensland so far as it 
relates to maize. The field is made to subserve the purpose of a barn, with the result 
that grain becomes affected with weevils to an extent proportionate to the time it is 
left in the field. Again, even when the cobs are removed, the maize stalks are still left 
standing, with the result that all the Stem-borers that they may contain are enabled to 
develop into moths and so augment the numbers in which these deleterious pests occur. 
_.* Little’s soluble Phenyl at the rate of 1 gallon for every 50 gallons of water, or carbolic 
acid crystals 24 lb. to every 50 gallons of water, or kerosene emulsion wash, 1 in 9, are suitable 
for the purpose indicated. 
