ii6 ROSES FOR ENGLISH GARDENS 



verse weather influences the Rose grower is to a great 

 extent powerless, whereas insect pests, if attacked 

 with promptness and perseverance, can, as a rule, 

 be readily subdued. The great thing is to watch for 

 their appearance and at once proceed to destroy the 

 first comers, and when this is done to continue to 

 harass the enemy until the attack has entirely ceased. 

 It is, as a rule, only when any insect pest has been 

 allowed to obtain a firm footing that there need be 

 any difficulty in getting rid of it. Good culture is a 

 great help, as well-nourished and healthy plants do 

 not suffer so much from insect and other attacks as 

 those that are ill-fed and weakly. The only remedy 

 against all the larger insects that attack the Rose, 

 like caterpillars, grubs, beetles, sawflies, &c., is hand- 

 picking ; whereas the smaller ones, like greenfly, 

 thrips, red spider, &c., may be best kept in check 

 by syringeing. Where Roses are largely grown, a 

 knapsack spraying-pump will be found very useful in 

 distributing and spraying insecticides and fungicides. 



Grubs and Caterpillars. — The Rose maggot and seve- 

 ral other equally destructive leaf -rolling grubs and 

 caterpillars are generally the first pests to attack the 

 Rose in the spring. They will be found curled up 

 in the young foliage, and must be sought for every 

 few days and crushed between the thumb and finger, 

 or much damage will be done. This is not a plea- 

 sant occupation, but unfortunately there is no other 

 remedy except it be to pinch off the affected leaves 

 and afterwards burn them or throw them into a 

 strong solution of salt and water. 



