1 Aprin, 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 279 
little, if any, damage was done to the fruit or trees thereby, except in the case 
of Redwood’s specific, which slightly discolours the fruit if applied during 
pace sunshine, but does no injury if applied in the evening or during a dull 
ay. 
Many of the mixtures used had a very strong and persistent smell, which 
was retained on the trees and fruit for at least a week after application, and 
the smell was not washed out by rain but rather intensified for the time. 
2nd. Hanging balls of cotton waste saturated with bone oil and other 
strong-smelling substances in various trees to determine whether 
the odour emitted would deter the flies or not. 
The result of the first series of experiments may be briefly summarised as 
follow :— 
1. The hanging of cotton waste saturated with strong-smelling sub- 
stances has not been a success, flies having been seen on fruit 
within a few inches of the waste, and the trees so treated being as 
badly infested as any untreated trees in the orchard. 
2. Spraying the trees and fruit with strong-smelling substances has 
been partially successtul, certain mixtures having had a distinctly 
deterrent effect for the time being. The mixtures that proved to 
be the most deterrent were those that besides having a strong smell 
adhered least to the fruit. Of all that were tried, we found the 
following to be most effectual : — 
A.—A mixture made as follows :—Boil 2 ib. of sulphur and 1 Ib. of 
98 per cent. caustic soda in 2 gallons of water till the sulphur 
is dissolved, and a mixture known as sulphide of soda is formed. 
Add 6 1b. of whale-oil soap, 80 per cent.; and boil for half an 
hour, adding boiling water to make 5 gallons of mixtnre ; then add. 
AO fl. oz. of black leaf tobacco extract. Next add water to make 
40 gallons, and it is ready for use. 
B.-—A. mixture made as follows:—Dissolve 1 lb. of whale-oil soap, 
80 per cent., in 4 gallons of boiling water. When dissolved, add 
25 fl. oz. of bone oil and mix well; add water to make 40 gallons, 
and it is ready to use. 
O.—A mixture of equal parts of A and B. 
D.—Redwood’s specific. 
In conducting the experiments we found that some of the sprays used had 
distinctly beneficial effect other than deterring the Fruit Fly. Thus: 4 
destroyed numerous young scales; B, aphides and plant lice of various kinds ; 
and the black leaf tobacco extract and nicotine proved to be effectual remedies 
for aphides of all kinds, as well as several other insects. These tobacco washes 
are of special value to gardeners, as they do not injure the tenderest foliage. 
No spray used has, however, been a complete success, even though numerous 
applications have been made ; but those mentioned have certainly the properties 
of keeping the fly from the fruit for a certain time after their application, as 
in the case of the same varieties of fruits, on trees that have been sprayed, we 
have been unable to detect a single fly at work (viz., laying its eggs), whereas 
they were numerous and busy on adjacent trees. No spray has, however, been 
lasting, as where the applications have been from a week to 10 days apart, part 
of the fruit has been infested, but not to the same extent as in untreated trees, 
thus showing that the applications must be frequent during the ripening of the 
fruit. We were not able to definitely determine the time that any spray acted 
as a deterrent, as unfortunately one of us (Mr. Voller) was laid up with a 
