THE 



©AKOEil §0 





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September, 1859. 



HE Aphis tribe occasion the gardener more trouble and 



^' annoyance than all other pests put together, and have 



^ hitherto been as difficult of destruction as any. Their 



'' sudden appearance, their enormoiis fecundity, and the 



) voracity of their appetites, render them a formidable 



,,p , plague. Incessantly sucking from the plant its vital juices, 

 )l-y ^ they seriously check its vigour, retard its growth, and impo- 

 > verish both bloom and fruit ; and the gardener who allows them 

 to have full play, to settle, to multiply, and to depart as they 

 please, need not expect any very satisfactory results, however 

 excellent his practice may be in all other respects. But how to destroy 

 the pest has ever been a matter of difficulty. 



The smart dash of a powerful engine proves water to be a veiy efficient 

 agent when used with force, and among garden-roses and fruit-trees the 

 engine will continue to be the best aphis devastator, because it promotes 

 the health of the plants besides removing their enemies. The great objec- 

 tion to tobacco is, the expense attending it where it needs to be exten- 

 sively used ; it is jjrompt and effectual ; and whether used in solution or 

 as a fumigating agent, needs only moderate caution to insure success. But 

 it is a troublesome remedy ; a slight mistake with it may result in serious 

 disasters, and it is of no avail whatever against many other of the plagues 

 by which plants are beset during the season of active vegetation. 



The announcement in The Floeal AYoeld by om- correspondent C. C. H., 

 that bitter aloes possessed all the properties of an aphis destroyer, gave rise 

 to inquiries and experiments neither small in number nor trivial in import- 

 ance. In the course of a few months afterwards, the value of bitter aloes 

 was discussed in all the gardening periodicals, and those who have some 

 responsibilities as advisers on such matters, began to test its value and the 

 proper modes of using it. Many of our correspondents put the matter to 

 proof, and informed us of their progress whether towards success or failure. 

 We tried bitter aloes on peaches, cherries, roses, greenhouse plants, cine- 

 rarias, etc., etc., with no apparent result whatever. After being tho- 

 roughly drenched with a solution of two ounces to the gallon, green fly 

 VOL II — yo. IX. K 



