Insect and Other Pests 157 
Watering with solutions of common salt, nitrate of 
soda, and guano are believed to be distatsteful to the 
Leather-jackets, but Vaporite is even more effec- 
tive. Seagulls, starlings, and various other birds feed 
largely on the grubs of this insect, and should be 
encouraged where possible. A tame seagull might 
even be kept in the garden. Traps of Potatas, Car- 
rots ,lurnips, and other roots should be set near 
infested plants, as is done for wireworms, and the 
traps examined at intervals. With this object in 
view a peg should be pushed into the Potatos and 
other baits to facilitate finding them when buried in 
the soil. Pieces of turf or boards should also be 
used, as the grubs are given to wandering about at 
night and hiding beneath anything that affords shel- 
ter during the day. , 
. These traps can be examined every morning and 
the grubs destroyed. The grower will also be able 
to secure many of the marauders by scraping away 
the soil round the neck of the plants, where they 
often lay up in large numbers during the day. 
Red Spider. 
Carnations kept in a growing state in hothouses 
during winter are more likely to get infested with 
red spider (Tetranychus telarius) than those out of 
doors. Tree and American varieties, kept in a tem- 
perature suitable for flowering, and in the dry atmos- ° 
phere necessary during winter, are those most likely 
to suffer from this insidious pest . 
REMEDIES.—Painting the hotwater pipes with 
sulphur is a good method of keeping red spider in 
check. Should aphides be present at the same time 
the two enemies may be combatted by mixing sulphur 
and tobacco extract, or nicotine, in water, and paint- 
ing the pipes wi ) the mixture at intervals. Strong 
solutions of soft soap and Gishurst compound may 
also be used for syringing the plants, when the 
weather is sufficiently bright to evaporate the mois- 
ture and dry the plants before night. The solutions 
should be applied rather forcibly, but in a fine spray, 
to make it penetrate the fine web beneath which the 
red spider lives and preys upon the plants. 
Common, or table salt is a remedy which has been 
used with considerable success against red spider by 
Mr. C. W. Ward in America. He dissolves the salt 
at the rate of four 6-in. potfuls to 25 gallons of 
water, and thoroughly sprays the plants through a 
fine rose. After four days of fine, or two days of 
