DISEASES OF THE CARNATION 85 



of the grower is responsible for its presence. The 

 spittle-fly is so named for the froth or spittle which 

 it exudes. Remove this and the insect, which re- 

 sembles a large green-fly, will be found inside. A 

 little water should be used to wash off the effects 

 of the spittle. 



CARNATION MAGGOT. This is the larvae of a fly 

 known as Hylemyia nigrescens. It bears a great resem- 

 blance to the common house fly, but is not a pest to 

 trifle with, although it is insignificant and apparently 

 harmless. Few of the enemies of the Carnation are 

 capable of greater mischief, and it is the plants in 

 the borders that suffer most severely, especially seed- 

 lings and layers, but layers under glass escape. The 

 flies may be seen busy among the plants in April and 

 later. They deposit their eggs at the base of the 

 leaves, and a small maggot is hatched out which eats 

 its way down the leaves into the very heart of the 

 plant ; it works its way down the leaf under the 

 membrane, a whitish line showing the path it has 

 taken. If this tract is followed the maggot may be 

 captured, and if its presence in the centre of the 

 plant is discovered, pick out the pest with a needle 

 and destroy it. It may be found in the form of a 

 small white maggot or in the chrysalis state, when 

 it is of a brown colour. The centre leaves are often 

 quite eaten through at the base, and when pulled out 

 there is the chrysalis or maggot. The Carnation is 

 generally killed, but destroy the maggot at all cost, 

 as the chrysalis may speedily develop another fly, 

 which in its turn may be the parent of a fresh brood 



