THE NEW INSECT PEST.

Waikato Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 3493, 13 November 1894, Page 7

THE NEW INSECT PEST.

Ox the above subject Mr Ralph Stewart, Onehunga, writes to the Weekly News la your issue of last week there appeared a description of a new insect pest digcovered by Captain Broun, at Cambridge, I subsequently examined my: Japanefe plum trees, and I regrst to say that I discovered on one of them a small branch literally covered with the aphides.' It is a significant* fact, that these should be found nearly ninety miles from where the pest was first discovered. The insect is not new to me, for I observed its disastrous effects on the native clematis last year; but it did not then attack fruit trees, although they were growing in' close proximity to tho clematis. The tree now attacked is only some twelve feet from another clematis plant. Yesterday I commenced experimenting with a view to finding a remedy. I first used a solution of Little's sh=ep dip—one teaspoonfull to a pint of water—and applied it in a fine spray. It appeared to have no effect on the insects. I dipped a bunch of leaves covered with them in the solution, and then put it aside on a plate for observation. In two ; hours I examined it, and found that whilst the insects appeared to be vigorous, yet they were very anxious to get away from the leaves. Finding that this spraying had been comparatively unsuccessful;' Ij fourhours after applying the dip, syringed with kerosene and skimned milk, 1 to 15. .This seemed to have an immediate effect on the young insects, but many of the older and harder ones were alive fourteen hours afterwards. I should think, roughly speaking, that the kerosene destroyed two-thirds of them., lam not at all sure, but that the remedy will be found in the dip, as I have had excellent results with it, when used for American blight and other pests.' lam inclined to believe that it is only a question of the strength of the solution which the plum foliage will bear. At present the young leaves are very delicate, and a too free use of the dip will undoubtedly injure them. These con- > elusions] arf, of "course, only tentative, aud may be" greatly modified by further experiment. - I do not ;know Captain Broun's address, or I;should ; ,write him on the matter.