Injurious Insects. 147 



be scrubbed thoroughly with the decoction. I have gone 

 over a fine, large Shorthorn in five minutes. If the day is 

 cold the animal should be kept in a warm stable and cov- 

 ered with a warm blanket. In a short time it will dry off, 

 and it will never feel any inconvenience. If done on a 

 warm day it will not be necessary to blank-et the animal. 

 The next morning the animal can be groomed, and will 

 look as smooth as ever. Pjrethrum will kill the lice, but it 

 often requires to be applied two or ♦hree times in quick suc- 

 cession to make the work thorough, while one thorough ap- 

 plication of the tobacco decoction usually is sufficient. I 

 say usually, for as all stockmen know some individuals 

 among our cattle are just bound to be lousy. In such cases 

 even the tobacco decoction may be required two or three 

 times in a winter. Of course sweet, whitewashed stables 

 will be an aid in this work of extermination. Crude kero- 

 sence, or some mixed in lard, will also kill lice very effect- 

 ively if thoroughly applied. But it is very dangerous to 

 handle, owing to its oily nature, and the animal is alto- 

 gether too much stuck up to suit us, at our house. We 

 don't believe in being " stuck up." 



Plant Lice Aphides — You are all familiar with the small, 

 flask shaped aphides, which so often fairly cover the stems 

 and foliage of our trees and vegetables, and are especially 

 free and at home on our house plants. I am said to have a 

 weakness; I call it a strongness, in that I am specially in- 

 terested in what interests the ladies, and when the object is 

 a thing of such rare beauty, and the giver of such whole- 

 some, lasting cheer as those window bouquets, which loving 

 hands so patiently, carefully and thoughtfully train, and 

 care for, I should be doubly ashamed not to be interested. 



These plant lice are green, or as seen on the cherry and 

 dock, black, or occasionally, when they work on the twigs, 

 grey. These are of the bug tribe, and so, of course, have 

 long, piercing peaks, with which they puncture the leaves 

 or stems, that they may pump up the rich sap. They are 

 good pumpers, rapid growers, and increase beyond all com- 

 putation. How often we notice that a few lice on a plant 

 one day will in a few days be succeeded by a multitude. 



