DESTROYING INSECTS. 77 
ane eaterpillar of the beautiful little ermine moth is a gregarious 
feeder, like the lackey caterpillar, and is nearly as destructive; and it 
is the more necessary to mention this because the moth itself is so 
small, so delicate, and so quiet, that no one unacquainted with its 
habits would think of killing it as an injurious insect. 
The leaf-rollers, the saw-flies, and the gnats which occasion the 
oak-galls, are all very destructive. The leaves of the rose-tree are 
often found marked, in summer, with pale-brown zigzag lines, witha 
narrow black line running down the middle of each. These lines are 
the work of a very small orange-coloured caterpillar, not more than 
two lines long, that lives on the parenchyma of the leaf; and the pale 
brown mark is occasioned by the epidermis drying where the pulp 
beneath it has been removed. The moth is called the red-headed 
pigmy, and it is so small as not to measure more than two lines and a 
half broad, when its wings are fully expanded. The “worm 7 th’ 
bud” of the rose, is the maggot or grub of one of the kinds of saw- 
_fly ; a beautiful transparent-winged little creature that no one would 
suspect of springing from such a frightful-looking maggot. But of all 
the insects that infest the rose, the most destructive are the aphides. 
These little green flies cover the tender leaves and buds of the young 
shoots in myriads, and are extremely difficult to destroy, without 
spoiling the appearance of the shoots that have been attacked by 
them. ‘Tobacco-water is an excellent remedy, if not too strong. It 
should be made by steeping half-a-pound of the best tobacco in a 
gallon of hot water; and as soon as the infusion has become cold, 
the young shoots should be dipped in it, and suffered to remain a few 
seconds, after which they should be immediately washed in clean 
water before they are suffered to dry. If this be done carefully, the 
insects will be destroyed, and yet the shoots will remain uninjured. 
Lime-water may also be tried, if no more lime be used than the water 
will hold in solution; as unless the water be quite clear in appear- 
ance, when applied, the plant will be very much disfigured with the 
white stains of thelime. Another means of getting rid of all noxious 
insects, is to fumigate them with tobacco; and the best way of doing 
this is by a small brass fumigator, applied to one of the patent blow- 
ers. The fumigator is filled with loose tobacco, which is lighted, 
and the brass tube is then screwed on the blower, and the fume 
gently spread through the green-house, or among the plants. By 
putting a little of the moxa or Spanish tinder among the tobacco, or 
G* 
et 
et, 
