PARAFFIN FOR FRUIT TREES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 9334, 10 February 1891, Page 6

PARAFFIN FOR FRUIT TREES.

Fruit trees of all kinds, .both as standards and on walls, the latter especially. ar'e"(sjiyii an exchange) .apt .to. -be -..iniested-.v-wifell insects. These are not always transitory summer occupants, but include scale and the host of pernicious pests that American blight. Summer syringing has little effect on these, and if once a tree, is allowed to get into leaf burdened with, parasites, the chances are that, do as one may, they will remain there all the summer, and affect the health of the tree to a most injurious extent. To remedy this I have tried many kinds of insecticides, hub not one of them has proved so efficacious as paraffin oil. This is the best insect destroyer that any one could possibly use. If it is mixed at the rate of half a pint to three gallons of water and sprayed lightly on the trees, every vestige of insect life will disappear as if by magic. If one man keeps the solution well 'stirred while another applies it with the syringe, there needs to be-no fear of its not mixing with the water and going on evenly. It is a mistake to apply it with great force, as is often done, as the object is not to knock off the insects, but merely to moisten and thus consume them. If all fruit trees in any way affected with insects are treated thus after having been pruned and before they; come into leaf, their improved condition throughout the next season will be apparent. ■ ■