DEradication of Woolly Aphis

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 August 1916, Page 3

DEradication of Woolly Aphis

At the annua, conference 01 the n »t Australian 1< ru.igrowars' Association, iiaid recent at lii uigotowßj Air .Newman. Government Entomologist, read an interesting paper dealing with the growth of the aphis through its various stages. Ladybirds were its worst enemy, tand he strongly recommended spraying three times a year with keiosent emulsion, used hot, and after which examine each tree and hand-paint with the emulsion any spots that survived the spraying.

In the discussion which foil • reading of the paper, Mr Booth said that a few years ago his trees were rotten with aphis, but very little was showing now. He had carefully studied ladybirds, and found it was the larvae that destroyed the aphis. 'I ho present system of spraying was unfortunately very often deadly to friendly insects, and many, though ignorance, destroyed ladybird larvae under the idea it wa.s a pest. He recommended hanging straw bottle envelopes on the trees "just before hibernating time, and the insects would crowd into these, which could then be removed. The ladybirds during hibernating time should be treated like silk worms, and bv following these simple directions he had completed eradicated the pest and iit the same time had millions of ladybirds. Mr Stanley Parke traced the ravages of the pest through Ballarat and Gippsland. He found tho best remedv was to paint the trees and roots with Tlh of American rock potash, .lib sulphur, and three gallons linseed oil. after having sprayed them with kerosene emulsion. Mr Orasby said be had not gone into the question of Time and potash feitilizers as being fatal to the pest, hut he knew from experience that these hardened the bark and the roots, therefore making a better resistant. He recommended spraying, and then e-:i re Fully painting with pure kerosene. the disease, spots affected, at the same time taking care not to Tef the kerosene run on to the unaffected

parts. Mr Harper said he did not- agree with Mr Newman re the kerosene spray. He had found tho resolvent soda spray Par more effective. An orchard ist that day had asked him to examine a tree which was bought as guaranteed blight proof, but was covered with ' aphis. The orchards thought that the nuresryman who supplied the trees had acted dishonestly, tie (Mr Harper* dug round the tree, and found it was grafted truly, but owing to the earth washing up tTie Northern Spv roots, the new roots had sprung from the graft. He advised growers who suffered similarly to thoroughly examine the trees. "FYint World.