192 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Mar., 1899. 
Iam sure our New South Wales friends will, in the near future, have 
bitter cause to regret the attack on their orchards by this seale. Judging by 
the increase among the apples affected this year, above what was discernible 
last season, this scale has made considerable headway in the orchards. ‘The 
growers then have a most unpleasant task before them to restrict the ravages 
to the districts already affected, and to clean the orchards where this disease is 
now evidently rampant. Observation has also disclosed the fact that this 
season nectarines, Japanese plums, and, to a small extent, peaches from New 
South Wales have been affected with the San José Scale. The appearance of the 
fruit-fly maggot in the New South Wales peaches is a great source of trouble 
this season. This pest has, in common with the San José Seale, evidently made 
considerable headway since Jast season among the orchards of the sister colony. 
» [t has also disclosed itself in the pears from the same place. Black Brand and 
Red Scale on citrus fruits are frequently found, and evidently the New South 
Wales growers have not been able to diminish to any extent the ravages of 
these diseases. Pears are frequently affected as well as apples from the same 
source with Codlin Moth, the pears being also frequently badly affected even 
to distortion by Pear Scab. ‘Io our mother colony then must be awarded the 
unenviable distinction of having a plethora of insect pests that menace our 
horticultural industry by land and water, San José Scale, fruit-fly infested 
fruit, Codlin Moth, &c., having been frequently interdicted from the New 
England districts, us well as from Sydney direct, by sea. Victoria, so far, has 
not been a shipper to this colony to the same extent as New South Wales and 
Tasmania, and, save for a few examples of Black Spot on pears and Codlin 
Moth in apples and pears, the sum total of fruit interdicted has not been 
serious. 
Tasmania, at present,is no formidable danger to this colony so far as our 
observation goes with regard to insect pests; the soft fruits coming in, such as 
plums, apricots, gooseberries, &c., are usually free from affection. The most 
troublesome aspect of the trade is the serious attack of the fungus of Black Spot. 
This, however, is not common to all the species grown there. Apples, such as 
French Crab, Pearmains, and other yarieties, are not nearly so liable to the 
disease as the Sturmer Pippins, which in some districts are scarceiy free from 
this unsightly fungus growth. I am informed, on the authority of one of our 
most experienced traders, that, as a sequence of our interdictions during the 
past season, the growers in affected districts have this season invested largely 
in modern spraying outfits, and, as a result, we hope to have the pleasure of 
passing Tasmanian apples in full conformity with regulations to the mutual 
satisfaction of all concerned. In summing up the results of our fruit 
inspection, I may now be permitted to portray the useful and practical trend 
of our operations. J have always emphasised the fact that fruit inspection at 
ports of entry has a most practical reflex action on the horticultural pursuits of 
the shipping colony ; hence the interdiction of diseased fruits from one colony 
by the other so militates against the producer that as a measure of self- 
protection he must do all in his power to minimise the ravages of disease, 
otherwise he has no outside market for his fruit. Thus foreign interdiction of 
diseases by reasonable decree means more attention to local disturbances 
of the trade, and our inspection becomes valued as a necessary evil, which 
exisis “‘for some good by all not understood.’’ To the researches of scientists 
we are now indebted for a very great amelioration in the conditions 
attendant on the destruction of scale insects affecting fruits. The hydro- 
cyanide treatment of citrus and other fruits by fumigation in a close chamber 
has resulted in a cheap and effective method of destroying scale insects. We 
are How insisting that citrus and other fruits on which the presence of scale is 
discernible must be treated with cyanide fumes before admission. ‘This has 
already been to a very great extent adopted with regard to Italian lemons, and 
the fiat has gone forth that New South Wales apples must be so treated when 
infected with San José Scale. As this method is cheap, simple, and practical, 
it is now being greatly availed of, and will ultimately, to a very great extent, 
. 
