230 



DISEASES AND ENEMIES OF GROWING PLANTS. 



in their appearance ; some are 

 covered with a white flocculcnt 

 matter so as to entirely conceal 

 their bodies, as in figure 81, 



Fig. 81. .--i 1-1 



and others are entirely naked, 



and of various forms. The application of strong. soap 

 suds, will be an almost infallible remedy for all these cases. 

 813. The chinch or chintz-bug, (Fig. 82,) 

 and the little-lined plant-bug, (Fig. 83,) 

 are often very injurious to green and tender 

 plants, of different kinds, by sucking the 

 sap from them. No effectual remedy has 

 yet been discovered for them, but it is 

 recommended to water the crops thoroughly 

 so as to bring them rapidly forward beyond 

 the reach of these insects. This is only 

 /^Hr\ practicable upon a small scale. Wild birds 

 ium\ and domestic fowls destroy an incredible 

 amount of these and other similar pests 

 annually, and we must take especial care 

 of the former, and allow no person to kill or molest them 

 upon our premises, if we would have our crops secured 

 from their numerous insect enemies. 



814. The army-worm, as it is 

 called, (Fig. 84,) is the cater 

 pillar of a common night-flying 

 moth, (Fig. 85,) and is found in 

 meadows, devouring the blades of grass, and occasionally 

 in corn and grain fields. It has many enemies, in the 

 form of ichneumon-flies, and other parasites, and is eaten 

 by many birds. It is rare that so many escape destruction 

 by these means as to prove seriously dangerous to the 

 whole crop in any place. But when they make their 



Fig. 83. 



Fig. 84. 



