104 THE ROSE GARDEN. 



be discovered, except by the effects he produces ; but let us catch him as soon as 

 we can, and much mischief is prevented. He eats and destroys when young, but 

 when he arrives at maturity he is a perfect gourmand, travelling from shoot to 

 shoot, spreading devastation in his track ; and if he reach the moth state we 

 may calculate on a numerous progeny the next year. I had a lot of plants re- 

 markably free from these pests one season, which I could only account for by the 

 fact that they were closely sought and destroyed the year before. 



The Aphis, or Green-fly, may be destroyed by removing the plants to a pit or 

 house, and smoking them : it may be kept away by dipping the ends of the shoots 

 in, or syringing with, tobacco water, or by laying the shoot in the palm of the 

 hand, and brushing the fly off. 



There is a very small canary-coloured fly, which did great mischief among 

 Roses last season. They are generally found on the back of the leaf, close to the 

 midrib, eating the leaf, working from the under side, and not only disfiguring, but 

 injuring the plants. They are remarkably active. By giving the plant a tap, 

 they will rise instantly in the air, fly round, and settle again on the leaves. As 

 they were too nimble to be dealt with as their more sluggish compeers in mischief, 

 I applied sulphur and snuff in equal portions, dusting the mixture on the back of 

 the leaves when wet, and found it prove an excellent remedy. 



A long thin caterpillar, the larva of a saw-fly, committed great havoc among 

 Roses in many places last year. They came in such myriads upon a Rose Gar- 

 den in this county that the plants were almost stripped of their leaves before their 

 course could be arrested. Hand-picking was resorted to, by which means they 

 were ultimately got rid of. 



The red fungus, which often attacks Roses out of doors late in autumn, may 

 visit the Pot-plants ; and should it do so, the leaves where it appears should be care- 

 full v rubbed between the finger and thumb, using a little sulphur in the operation. 



Mildew is sometimes a source of great annoyance. Watering with a solution 

 of nitre is said to destroy it. If the situation is airy and sunny, there is little to 

 fear on this account. Forced Roses are more subject to it, and, when speaking of 

 these, it will require a brief notice. 



We have followed our plants through the first training season. They have been 

 shifted twice, once in spring, and again in July. In autumn they will be well esta- 

 blished, when a portion may be selected for forcing, and part left for blooming at 

 other periods. 



If to produce large and handsome specimens quickly is the point aimed at, we 

 would advise sacrificing the bloom in part, even the second training season, by 

 pinching out some of the flower-buds so soon as they are formed. The same 

 routine of culture will require to be gone through now as in the first season, avail- 

 ing ourselves of whatever knowledge we may have gained by experience and ob- 

 servation. But a new source of amusement now opens upon us, and one which 

 will discover and exercise our ta*te. The first year little training is necessary ; 



