13 PESTS 169 
ing of pests there is nothing like the industrious 
finger and thumb, used in the earlier stages. When 
a zealous amateur discovers a few aphides and sends 
off at once to get and boil his quassia chips, according 
to the approved recipe, for elaborate operations on 
the morrow, while finger and thumb might have 
destroyed them all in a short time, I am always 
reminded of the story of the man who was vending 
some nostrum for the destruction of certain 
nameless parasites. When the “ directions for use ”’ 
of his specific were disclosed, it appeared that each 
creature had to be caught and a little of the powder 
inserted into its mouth, death following infallibly. 
The obvious objection to this invention was that 
when once the finger and thumb held the victim no 
more aid was required. 
The aphis brush, deftly used, may take the place 
of actual fingers where the pest has attained some 
dimensions: and when, through neglect, or such a 
sudden and wholesale attack as sometimes occurs, 
wholesale means must be applied, a syringe and the 
quassia and soft soap mixture will probably prove 
the best resort. 
The late Mr. B. R. Cant’s directions for the use 
of this remedy are: ‘‘ Take 4 oz. of quassia chips and 
boil them ten minutes in a gallon of soft water ; 
then strain it, and while cooling dissolve in it 4 oz. 
of soft soap: to this may be added another gallon or 
two of water.” The plants should be syringed with 
this in the morning or evening, not in the sunshine, 
or badly infested shoots may be dipped in it. Pure 
water should follow the next day to cleanse the 
leaves and shoots. There are many insecticides 
advertised, which ought all to be good enough to 
