TIMELTT HINTS ON DESTROYING INSECTS. 



With all the luxuriance of spring vegeta- 

 tion, and all the vigor of early summer 

 growth, comes the army of countless 

 thousands of insects, with which the gar- 

 dener has to contend. 



This is often a drawback so serious, that 

 the inexperienced aniateur who, resting on 

 his hopes and the promise of fruition, which 

 nature holds out, is bitterly disappointed 

 to find that just in the midst of this fair 

 promise, the insect army attacks him, and, 

 if it does not completely put him to rout, 

 at feast vexes him Tery seriously in all his 

 oi^tposts, and not unfrequently lays his 

 cQuntry under ve)ry heavy contribution. 

 : Curculios, rose-bugs, rose-slugs, aphides 

 of every hue, borers, caterpillars, — these 

 are a few of the names of the principal 

 regiments of the allied array of attack. 



We have nothing new to ofifer regarding 

 the two first, which have been pretty libe- 

 rally discussed iu our columns already. 

 The only effectual way of raising stone- 

 fruit, on a large scale, in curculio districts, 

 is to plant the trees in a quarter by them- 

 selres, where pigs and chickens, having 

 the run of the ground beneath them, may 

 keep them (the insects) down. For a 

 wJbolesale mode of destroying the rose 

 bug, the pest of light soils, we are yet in 

 the dark ; the usual way, of handpicking 

 aad scalding to death, being that practiced 

 by. all skilful growers as yet. 



"Kut wlule these insects are in a great 

 degree local, the aphides, (or plant lice,) 

 'and the rose slug, are becoming general 

 depredators, and must have especial at- 

 I'erition at this season of the year, or they. 

 will suck the juices out of the young 

 growth, and destroy the beauty and value 

 of the garden. 



Our own favorite remedy against these, 

 (and a large part of the regular army be- 

 sides,) is tobacco water. Every good gar- 

 dener, and every amateur, should have a 

 few gallons of it at hand at this season, 

 and should use it the moment they per- 

 ceive the attack of the insects commen- 

 cing. After trying many remedies, we 

 find this the most unfailing in its effects. 



But tobacco water, like gunpowder, must 

 be used with caution. Though perfectly 

 harmless to plants if used in -a diluted 

 form, yet it may be made so strong as to 

 injure or partially destroy the foliage. Ix 

 is impossible to lay down any precise rule 

 for the novice, unless we say that water 

 should he added till it is brought to the 

 colour of weak black tea. A better mode 

 is to try a little on the foliage of the plant 

 infested. If, tAventy-four hours after ap- 

 plication, the foliage is entirely uninjured, 

 but the insects destroyed, then continue 

 the dose on a larger scale. If it is too 

 strong, of course dilute it, and try again. 

 This little trial is the more necessary, for, 

 while some plants and some insects will 

 bear a strong decoction of tobacco water 

 with impunity, others are injured by a 

 much weaker dilution.* 



A syringe affords the easiest and best 

 mode of applying the tobacco water; and 

 towards evening, or very early in the 

 morning, is the best time of applying it. 

 When only the ends of small trees or 

 plants, which are standing in rows are 

 infested, a dash from a small broom or 

 white-wash brush will answer the purpose. 

 In the case of delicate plants, roses, small 



* The tobacco liquor, or juice, to be had always in quan- 

 tity at the tobacconists, is tlie easiest and best form in which 

 to get this fluid It will usually require the addition of two- 

 thirds water before using it. Those who cannot get thia, 

 may boil tobacco stalks till a strong decoction is made. 



