78 



GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



the "love apple" and the plants were placed 

 in gafdens lor decorative purposes only. 

 The fruit was then no larger than a small 

 Plum or large Cherry. Tomatoes of tlie 

 size now popular are the result of cultiva- 

 tion. The use of Tomatoes as food did not 

 grow until after Civil War times. Today, 

 in the United States alone, some 300,(K)0 

 acres are devoted to Tomatoes, and tlie 

 annual crop, most of w-hich is canneil or 

 made into catsup, amounts to almost one 

 million tons. It is the third in value of the 

 vegetable crops.^I'liilMtclplua A<'(/.!,'iV'. 



THE LACE FLY 



The Rhododendron bug or lace Hy, 

 Stephanitis rhododendri, was first found on 

 our native Rhododendron ma.ximum. but in- 

 fests both hemispheres. These small insects 

 attack all the Rhododendrons with the ex- 

 ception of R. Smirnowii, which has leaves 

 the under part of vvliich are covered witli 

 a felt-like substance that repels the insects. 

 The Mountain Laurel and other Kalmias 

 suffer from attacks of the pest, and the 

 flowering quinces are occasionally infested. 



Li the eastern states this pest has two 

 broods. The first one will appear just be- 

 fore the flowers of the Rhododendrons and 

 Kalmias open, and the second about the end 

 of August. Plants infested by this insect 

 can be readily determined by the discolora- 

 tion of their foliage. 



In the dormant stage (November to be- 

 ginning of May) the under side of the leaves 

 are dotted with coffee-brown spots along the 

 main mid-rib of the leaf, which indicates the 

 presence of the eggs from the second brood, 

 which will hatch just before the flowers 

 open. 



During the Summer months the leaves 

 are covered with a sticky substance, and 

 numerous black shiny spots which are the 

 excretions of the insects present. The upper 

 surface becomes dull green, and spotted a 

 greenish yellow throughout. Plants which 

 have this appearance are usually badly in- 

 fested. In extreme cases of infestation the 

 Rhododendrons and Kalmias will drop their 

 foliage early in the Fall, with the exception 

 of the leaves produced during the Summer's 

 growth, which will be one-third the normal 

 size and are usually not sufficient to keep 

 the plants ahve after another year's injury. 



Rhododendrons and Kalmias which grow- 

 in an open, sunny situation arc mostly at- 

 tacked by the fly, whereas the ones which 

 grow near the water, on a northern slope, 

 or shaded by hcinlocks or other tall ever- 

 greens from the hot sun, are very seldom 

 injured. 



In the early stages of life the insects have 

 no wings, but have the appearance of lice. 

 Th'ey usually congregate in small numbers 

 tir crawl slowly over the under surface. 



After two or three weeks wings begin to 

 appear, and at a touch on the brandies many 

 insects will fly away. Then your spraying 

 will have little or no results. The time to 

 spray RhcKJodendrons is just before the 

 flowers burst open. Uo not delay until the 

 Kalmia flowers open, for that will be too 

 late to catch the first brood. The second 

 application must Ijc made about the middle 

 of .August. The main point is to have as 

 much pressure as possible and the spray 

 must be applied thoroughly to the under side 

 of the leaves. A hand or a power nozzle is 

 the best; it can be attached to a fr>iir- or 

 six-foot extension rod. 



Remember the following: 



First, this is a sucking insect. It must 

 Ijc hit hard with the spray, the more force 

 the better. 



Second, always spray on the under side 

 of the leaves. 



Thir<l, use a power nozzle with a forty- 

 five degree angle, attached to a six-foot rod. 

 — Iloriicullurc. 



Beautiful Lawns and Gardens 



— require a water system of sufiicient capac- 

 ity and stamina to deliver an abundant, un- 

 failing supply of water. 



At the residence of Mr. Ale.xis L. Ehrnian 

 at Atherton, California, a compact Deming 

 Triplex pump of 91 gallons per minute 

 capacity supplies this beautiful country place 

 with all the water needed for house require- 

 ments, for spacious grounds, and lire protec- 

 tion at very economical operating cost. 



THE DEMING COMPANY 



Established 18S0 SALEM, OHIO 



Tl'.c nearest distrihtitor will give you "uH'the-spot" 

 cooperation. 



KORTON Chas. J. Jager Co. 



lil I'FAi.o Root, Neal & Co. 



I'Hir.vliO Heiiion & Hubbell Co. 



IiKTliolT Stanilanl Bros. Hardware Co. 



N1-:\V YOiiK Kalpli B. Carter Co. 



1'HII,.\1H:U'HI.\ W. R. Dallet Co. 



PTTTSHimill Harris Pump and Supply 



S.W F'R.\NC1SC0 (^ane Co. 



Afti'iii-ii's in all otln-r Principal Cities 



neining Triplex Piuiip used on 

 tlie Ehrman estate. 

 Catalog of pumps and coinplftu 

 watep syslenis of all capacilU-s 

 or typts of power drives .si-nl 

 on request. 



MW AND POWER fil/JfPfS^ FOR ALL USES 



RHODODENDRONS in car lots 

 AZALEAS, in variety, in car lots 

 Fruit Trees and Fruit Plants 

 La France Fall and Ever- 

 bearing Raspberry Plants 



Write (or price ait-d General Price List 

 THE MORRIS NURSERY CO. 



1133 Broadway New York, N. Y. 



RHODODENDRON Maximum 



KALMIA Latifoiia 

 Northern Grown Stock 



III Carlom! Lois 



PLANT NAMES 



AND THEIR MEANINGS is the title of 

 a srricH of articles now appcarinR in The 

 American Botanist wlicre a multitude of 

 other things of interest to the plant lover 

 are also discussed. Quarterly, $1.50 a year; 

 specimen copy, 25 centt. 



THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 

 Joliet, III. 



Nursery Grown [ 



TSUGA CANADENSIS 



WATER WORN STEPPING ! 



STONES { 



for garden walks and walls. | 



liny your stock direct from tlie | 



grower. | 



Send for Price List. | 



The Charles G. Curtis Co. f 



CALLICOON, N. Y. f 



