PESTS AND SPRAYING. 101 



alone it is well worth becoming- a member of the 

 National Rose Society; but when, in addition, you are 

 given tickets for the shows and other publications on 

 receipt of only los. 6d., it is surprising that every Rose 

 grower in the United Kingdom does not join. Now, I 

 do not intend to cfive. you a lesson on entomology or to 

 describe in detail every insect that attacks t'he Rose, 

 for this book could not cope with so large a subject. 

 Indeed, it is not necessary to describe more than four 

 of the worst offenders, for nearly all come under the 

 same treatment in our efforts for their extermination. 

 It is interesting to know the name of a criminal, but 

 it matters very little when you have laid him low or 

 frightened 'him off the scene of his operations. 



Spraying will not be necessary until May, and 

 possibly not then, for insect pests can be kept down if 

 only they are taken in time, and not allowed to in- 

 crease. With fungoid diseases it is different, for on 

 the first signs you must spray; but of these we will 

 treat later. The first attack, as a rule, comes from 

 grubs and caterpillars, the larvae of all sorts of moths, 

 flies, and beetles. 



These 'have their own little peculiarities, but, as 

 far as the Rose is concerned, each is out but for one 

 object — to plunder her of her foliage. 



To work, Rosarian, and open every curled leaf, 

 killing the enemy with your finger and thumb. Do 

 not let him fall to the ground to rise up again, which 

 he will do if left, but kill him. Nol not between the fold 

 of the leaf, unless with great care, for, remember, 

 every leaf is of value to your tree; so do not pluck it 

 off, as advised by some more squeamish brother, and 

 do not bruise it in the pinching. Open it out to grow, 

 and help feed your tree from the air with those pro- 

 perties that are so essential to its well being. Simple 

 instructions, but this is all as far as grubs and cater- 

 pillars are concerned, and it dispenses with m.ore than 

 half of the little N.R.S. text-book; but you will have 

 to train your eyes to find your enemy, for he is very 



