OUR MOUNTAIN GARDEN 



fully stabled in one corner. No doubt the 

 ants had kept them all winter, and intended 

 to take them up the nearest shrub to pasture 

 as soon as it should put forth its first spring 

 leaves. Tobacco water is effective in kill- 

 ing this pest, provided one sprays the under 

 side of the leaves before the aphids have 

 worked on them long enough to make them 

 curl. But after that period has passed no 

 spray can reach them. Bordeaux mixture, 

 with a dash of Paris green in it, is also fatal 

 to the aphids, but I do not like to use 

 poisonous compounds on my plants if I can 

 help it, as they may also kill the birds. I 

 have no doubt that the rapid disappearance 

 of the birds in our city parks is largely due 

 to the poisonous sprays everywhere in use 

 as insect destroyers. Birds often drink the 

 drops of dew on the leaves, and if these are 

 impregnated with poison, it must kill them. 

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