THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 249 



when mildew has really obtained what gardeners call " a firm holt," 

 it continues to the end of the season as a chronic disease. The 

 " aphis wash " is the best of nostrums for this affection, for it is 

 highly charged with sulphur, and appears to nourish as well as 

 cleanse the trees. We have recommended it to be used with hot 

 water to eradicate fly ; now we sball advise that it be used with hot 

 water and clay, or liquid mud, to prove a destroyer of mildew. Dry 

 flour of sulphur dusted, as recommended for the application of 

 tobacco powder, is at once the simplest, and, as a rule, the surest 

 remedy, provided it is applied with care, to cover all the affected, 

 parts of leaves and bark while they are moist, and will hold the 

 powder. Strange to say, dry dust, very dry dust, very fine dust, 

 but dust alone, pure et simple, is a grand medicine for mildew if 

 powdered on freely when the affected parts are damp, and in the 

 interest of the operator (who may not desire to sneeze his head off), 

 it should be applied on the windward side of the trees. An impor- 

 tant matter for rosarians who are much troubled with mildew is to 

 eradicate the sorts on which it makes its first appearance, for these 

 serve as nurseries to propagate the vile fungus for the destruction 

 of the rose garden. Generally speaking, Geant des Batailles will be 

 found the first and greatest offender, and after him, perhaps, Lord. 

 Clyde and Loid Raglan. Burn these root and branch. Better fifty 

 sorts and no plagues of Egypt, than five thousand and a broken 

 heart ! 



Geub is a collective term. It comprises " leaf rollers," "leaf 

 miners," " canker," the " worm i' the bud," the " saw fly," the 

 "Bedeguar" or cynips, the " leaf cutter," and a host of other com- 

 paratively high-class insect depredators. If we could give direc- 

 tions for preventing or eradicating every one of these plagues we 

 should be delighted, but in truth we can only, in a most general 

 way, recommend hand-picking and leaf-pinching. 



As a matter of fact, these enemies of the rose rarely commit any 

 serious mischief, and when they eat to the core only a few amongst 

 many buds, they really do good by effecting a judicious thinning, 

 which the amateur might not have the courage to perform. Be not 

 troubled about them, dear friend, but encourage the flycatchers and 

 other small birds, for they are active, hungry people, and have the 

 most direct interest possible in keeping down the visible insects that 

 ravage your rose garden. A shower of hot Bewage now and then, 

 and a dusting with tobacco powder, will render the roses unpalatable 

 to these marauders, and by diligently hunting with the aid of a sharp 

 eye and a quick hand, you will surely manage to mock these vaga- 

 bonds, whose aim it is to rob you of your roses and your peace. 



The little friends of the rose are by no means few in number, and 

 should have brief mention here. The common sparrow is one of the 

 most active and assiduous, for if left alone sparrows will banquet 

 on green-fly, and pick, pick, pick for leaf-rollers and nibblers, and 

 excavators of all sorts. If you find your roses are becoming dread- 

 fully clothed with aphis, and you really have no time to pult or 

 poison them, you may adopt an efficacious method of enlisting the 

 sparrows in your service. Two or three times a day, sprinkle a 



August. 



