FARMING. BEETLES IN FRUIT GARDENS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2827, 15 October 1883, Page 3

FARMING. BEETLES IN FRUIT GARDENS.

(Agricultural Gazette, July 14th.) Misa Ormerod writoa :— " Tho specimens of beetles forwarded by G. B. aa now doing much damage by biting the bark of shoots m fruit plantations are the very injurious ' Weevils ' (Otiorhynchus picipes). This is ono of the several kinds of Otiorhynchu.B, which are very destructive to the roots or shoots of vines, strawberries, and, m fact, most fruit plants or trees where- thoy happen to have established themselves, and as far as I know, are alike m their habits, and tho remedies to bo used (or tried). I believe this Bpecies has tho samo history as the almost more destructive kind, the aulcatcus, which is as follows :— The eggs are laid a little below the snrfaco of the ground. Tho maggots which hatch from these are whitish, legless, fat grubs, about the size of tho weevil when they are full grown. They turn to chrysalida (which are like the weevil, oxcept m being whitish, and that tho forming limbs are folded down under them) about three or four inches below tho surface of the ground. The grub 3 may bo found from August until about April at tho root of the food plant, and are terribly destructive to Braall plants. With regard to prevention at present, tho weovils havo wing cases, but no wings under these cases, consequently thoy cannot fly, and consequently if by any means they can bo kept from walking up tho plants, attack would be stopped. I would suggest for preservation of trees trying the plan of twisting some rough bands of hay, or old rough rag or anything at hand, and just dipping them m a mixture of tar and oil, and laying a band round each tree to be protected. Tho weevils do not care for h.-vlf-dry tar, but the oil keeps it soft and sticky. Fresh gas lime shovelled round tho stems of fruit trees or iti lines along the rows of raspberries might do much good — ofcourao, taking care not to put it near enough to kill the soft shoots or m quantity sutlicient to hurt the plant. The only way however, which I havo notes of, as succeeding thoroughly, is tho plan sometimes used m raspberry grounds m Cornwall, which is to send two men along the lines after dark, when tho weevils are feeding. Ono carries a Bort of rough wooden tray well smeared with wet tar, and the other a lantern. Tho tray is held under the arched raspberries, and the man with the lantern shakes tho bush. The weevils drop at the sudden light oven more than at the shake, and thus by clearing tho tray into boiling water and rotarrinc enormous quantities are got rid of. The light must not be used before tho shako, or the creatures will drop and hide themselves. Watering with strong solution of ammoniacal liquor, also with common salt, has been found useful m preventing increase. Also removing tho infested soil and replacing it with fresh has answered well. If it is possible to carry out the plan, I would suggest skimming off about four inches of tho surfaco of a piece of ground by an infested treo, and putting tho oarth into a tub of water, to bo sure whother the weevils nro there. If found there I bolievo it would answer to have the earth skimmed off, wheeled away, with caro that tho weevils should not beallcreeping outof the barrow before the earth waa moved, and the mass thrown m a heap, and the contents destroyed by a cnat of now gas lime. In this way many, if not noarly all might bo got rid of, at a much less expense than their presence entails. I shall havo much pleasure m giving further details on application. Notes of the success of any application would much oblige." Don't Die m the House.—" Rough on Rats" clears out rats, mice, booties, roaches, bed-biiifrt, flics, anfc>, insouts, moles, jaokrabbits, gophers. Moses, Moss and Co., Sydney, goneral agontn. — [Advt.] Skinny Men.— " Wella 1 Health Konower" restores health and vißor, euros Dyspepsia, Impotence, Debility. Moses, Moss and Co., Sydney, goneral agents. — [Advt.] "Wells' " Rough on Corns " — Ask for AVolls' "Rough on Corns." Quick rolief, complete permanent euro. Corus, warts, bunions. Moses, Moss and Co., Sydney, general agents. — ] ADVT ~\ (1) We bklikvk thatif everyone would U3o Hop Bittors freely there would bo much loaa sickness nud misery iv tho world, and people aro fast finding' thia out, wholo families keeping well at a trifling co*t by its uso. Wo ftdviso nil to try it. Read.— Adv. A Wise Deacon.—" Deacon Wilder, I want you to tell mo how you kept yoursolf and family so woll tho past season, when all the rest of us have boon Bick so much, and have had tho doctors running to us so often." " Brothor Taylor, the answer is vory easy. I used Hop Bitters m timo, and kept my family well, and saved large doctor's billa. Foui shillings' worth of it kept us all woll and able to work nil tho timo, ami I will warrant it has cost you and most of tho neighbors .£lO tc .£IOO apiece to keop sick tho same timo. 1 fancy you'll tako my mediciuo beroaftor." Sco — Ai>v.