210 PRACTICAL FLORICULTURE. 



have to contend in the cultivation of flowers. Hundreds of 

 my amateur friends come to me year after year, with sor- 

 rowful tales of their verbenas, asters, &c., which were pic- 

 tures of health and beauty, but now are one after an- 

 other sickening and dying, apparently without cause. But 

 there was a cause, and one cause only. The Aphis was at 

 work on the roots. But the remedy ? Alas ! almost hope- 

 less at this stage of the disease. Still, as a physician 

 must prescribe in all cases, we say that the only chance is 

 an application of tobacco water, about the color of strong 

 tea, applied copiously and persistently to the roots, for at 

 least a week. 



We have occasionally saved all our stock by this reme- 

 dy, when used at once, as soon as they were seen to be af- 

 fected. Many species of plants are attacked by this insect. 

 Asters, particularly, are much injured by it. In fact, when 

 in excess, there is hardly a species of plant exempt from 

 its attacks. We have often seen this Aphis clustering 

 by thousands on the roots of melons and cucumbers, to 

 the very points of the roots, a foot below the surface. 



The Green Fly, or Plant Louse, is not so hurtful in the 

 open air as many other insects, and is easily got rid of 

 either by syringing with whale oil soap or tobacco water, 

 in the degrees of strength before named. 



The Red Spider is rarely seen in the open ground, ex- 

 cept in a hot and dry atmosphere, when it is often very 

 destructive in dry, sheltered gardens, during the months 

 of July and August. Frequent syringings of whale oil 

 soap will hold it in check. 



Ants. Although these are not generally to be feared in 

 the green-house or flower-garden, yet we have occasional- 

 ly suffered by them and have found the simplest way to 

 destroy them to be to lay fresh bones around their haunts. 

 They will leave everything else and attack these ; 

 when thus accumulated, they can easily be destroyed by 

 dipping in hot water. 



