258 Insects and Sprays 



burning them. They do an immense amount of 

 damage to plant life in a very short while 



Wireworm is one of the most troublesome of pests. 

 These worms bore into the stem of the plants below 

 the surface of the ground, hence their damage is 

 not easily detected. Common salt mixed with the 

 earth will often kill them, but it should not be 

 permitted to touch either the branches or the roots 

 of the plant or it may prove fatal. Nitrate of soda 

 is often used in getting rid of them. 



Bordeaux mixture, which contains arsenic, makes 

 a good spray for plants infested with caterpillars. 

 These troublesome pests bite off the leaves of 

 plants and are easily detected. Spraying may 

 have to be given three or four times but it is 

 either spray or give up the plant 



The green aphis which so often attacks house plants 

 may be controlled by spraying with a nicotine solu- 

 tion. This can be purchased at the florist's or 

 made at home by boiling a pound of plug or smok- 

 ing tobacco in a gallon of water. 



Lime-sulphur should be used on trees which are 

 covered with a thick, hard scale or shell. These 

 scales are very tiny indeed but they do an immense 

 amount of damage. The lime-sulphur should be 



