THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



has proved injurious to the young tender 

 growth, especially when first taken 

 from the greenhouse. It is sometimes 

 necessary to shade rather closely for a 

 few days until the new growth has 

 hardened a little. Afterwards a few 

 slats of wood or lath about an inch apart, 

 is all that is required to shade the 

 plants, providing the plants are properly 

 attended to in the matter of syringing 

 daily, and the roots kept fairly moist, 

 without allowing the roots to become 

 quite dry ; neither must they be kept 

 sodden with water at this stage. 



The Azalea is sometimes planted out 

 in specially prepared beds, but this is 

 only done where large numbers are 

 grown. If after flowering, the plants do 

 not look healthy or the roots vigorous, 

 repot into the same sized pot, and take 

 a little more of the old soil from the 



plant than before recommended, as bad 

 drainage produces sour soil sometimes, 

 which no plant, especially the Azalea, 

 will thrive in. Syringing with diluted 

 tobacco water once a week, or oftener 

 if necessary, prevents and keeps down 

 thrip and red spider, the two most 

 destructive enemies of the Azalea 

 grower. The tobacco water can be 

 made by placing a handful of tobacco 

 leaf or stems in a pailful of hot water, 

 allow the liquid to cool, add a teacupful 

 of the liquid to two gallons of water, 

 and syringe with as required. The peat 

 required for potting had better be pur- 

 chased, as it requires to be specially 

 prepared before using ; it can be ob- 

 tained at most seed stores, and is not 

 expensive. 



W. Hunt. 

 63 Aberdeen Ave., Hamilton. 



APHIDS OF PLUM, CHERRY, AND APPLE. 



{Aphis prunico/a, Myzus cerasi, Aphis mali.) 



PURING the spring and early sum- 

 mer, few days pass without bring- 

 ing some inquiry as to the method 

 of getting rid of the lice on one of these 

 trees. As these three species of lice all 

 yield to the same treatment, it seems 

 expedient to discuss them together. 



The apple-louse passes the winter in 

 the form of an egg. These oval eggs 

 are very characteristic ; they are black 

 in color after they have been laid for 

 some time, and are usually crowded 

 together in large numbers. These are 

 very difficult to destroy, and thus far 

 nothing has been found which will do 

 any good without killing the tree as 

 well. As soon as the buds burst in the 

 spring, the young lice crowd on to them 

 and commence to suck. The remain 

 on the leaves for some time, but usually 



disappear in the early summer to re- 

 appear again in the fall at the time of 

 depositing eggs. 



The plum and cherry aphids differ in 

 some respects, but the life-history in 

 general is similar. They may be easily 

 killed by a spray of kerosene-emulsion 

 (Hubbard formula), diluting the emul- 

 sion ten times, or by a spray of whale- 

 oil soap, using one pound of the soap to 

 six gallons of water. In the case of the 

 cherry aphis it is best to apply it a little 

 stronger, as this louse is able to stand 

 more than the others. Tobacco tea, 

 made strong, is used by many with 

 success, but whatever is used must be 

 applied thoroughly, for each louse must 

 be hit to be killed. — Mich. Exper. 

 Station. 



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