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156 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. {1 Jury, 1901. 
Borers are another pest which cause a lot of trouble at times ; these should always 
be looked for in the early morning, as the traces of their work are then more plain, 
and itis, therefore, generally thought that they must operate at night time. A watchful 
eye should always be kept open for them in wet months, when they are usually 
more busy than at any other period. 
The general method of eradicating this pest is to prod them with a wire, and then — 
to plug the hole up with soap, but the painting of the barks above described is ofttimes 
found to be a great preventive. 
One of the greatest nuisances the orange-grower has to contend with is the orange — 
or bronze bug. 
The ravages of this insect in some seasons if not checked in time are indeed 
enormous. This pest’s particular line of annoyance is to suck the juice from the tender 
shoots and the stalks whereon are the young oranges, causing them to drop off. 
This year this pest was the means of destroying nearly the whole of the crop of a 
good many of my own trees before I was aware of its presence. 
This is where the cyanide treatment is shown to advantage, as it destroys the 
larvw of the insect as well as the pests themselves, 
The system usually practised to dispose of this most unwelcome visitor is to tap 
the lower limbs, thereby driving them into the outer branches, where they can be 
knocked off with a stick and caught in a bowl of hot water held underneath ready to 
give them a warm reception. 
This insect has a most undesirable habit of squirting a nauseous matter at any 
person who may be in proximity to it, and if this should enter the eyes it will cause 
intense pain; so the utmost care should be exercised to prevent this, for if any person 
should be treated in this manner by the said insect he will only regret it once, and 
that will be always. I speak from experience. 
One of the greatest friends and allies the orange-grower has is a bird generally 
known as the Fan-tailed Fly-catcher. This bird will, in an incredibly short time, 
absolutely clear a tree of every bug there is to be seen. It is a sight worth watching 
to see it dart in and out from branch to branch, until it is satisfied there is not one left. 
I will take this opportunity of warning those thoughtless persons who are always 
shooting every pretty bird which they come across. { am sorry to say this usetul 
bird is shot in hundreds every year, and their wings and tails find a place in the hats” 
and bonnets of fashionable ladies, and can be seen any time adorning the windows of 
high-class millinery establishments of London and Paris, and other large Huropean 
cities. JI do not think the trading in birds wings, &c., would be nearly so large if the 
ladies who wear them could only be informed how much they are robbing our hard- 
working farmers and fruitgrowers of their feathered friends, and of the consequent 
loss they sustain. 
The ground around the trees should at all times be clean, and kept free of weeds, 
and if the trees have not been planted too close, the space between should be ploughed 
once a year. A plough that turns the soil right over should be used, and it is further 
advisable to cross-plough. Care should be taken not to plough too close, so as to 
prevent injuring the roots more than can be helped, and in the event of any being torn 
up, they should be neatly cut off, as they will do no good if placed in the ground again 
after being mangled. 
A good coat of manure is necessary every year. Farmyard manure is undoubtedly 
the best for this purpose, and it should be spread just before ploughing, as it is then 
worked into the soil. In cases where the farmyard manure is not always procurable, 
the system of green manuring should be given a trial. This practice is much in yogue 
in some parts, and it may be stated with marked results. For this PERO, the 
Mauritius Bean and the Velvet Bean may be planted. ‘These are both highly recom- 
mended for the purpose, and the manuring is accomplished by ploughing the growing 
crops into the soil. All kind of work such as ploughing, &c., should be done in the winter. 
season, while the trees are resting. 
The same time of the year any pruning that may be required should have 
attention. All water shoots and cross branches “ihe be removed, and it should 
always be borne in mind to keep the centre well open so as to allow a current of air to 
ass through, but at the same time, what is usually termed the making of window 
Rats in the trees should not be made unnecessarily, and all prunings should be 
immediately burnt. 
The roots on occasions will also require a certain amount of pruning, for it will be 
noticed at times the small fibrous roots will become a thick mass, and will thus prevent 
a free passage of rain and air. Great care should be exercised not to injure the main 
roots, but a few of the smaller ones being removed occasionally will be found 
advantageous, and will in many instances promote a rapid growth of new wood. 
