OUR MOUNTAIN GARDEN 



stems, from the ground up, with " scale- 

 cide " every few days, until they have all 

 been exterminated, and then I do it some 

 more so that if any vagrant home-seeking 

 scale comes along, he will not enjoy the 

 taste of that particular tree. By this 

 means I have actually succeeded in banish- 

 ing it from a few of the infected trees, but, 

 truly, the scale is mightier than the paint 

 brush, and I never expect to get the upper 

 hand of it until I can persuade enough 

 woodpeckers, creeping warblers, and nut- 

 hatches to come and work for me. 



Perhaps there is no enemy more persist- 

 ent or difficult to hold in check for con- 

 quer it you cannot than mildew, or rust. 

 When I see little powderings of white, here 

 and there, or a general all-overishness of 

 sickly yellow making its appearance on 

 some cherished shrub or plant, my heart 

 198 



