86 SMALL FEUIT CULTUKIST. 



weeks, and in that time they scarcely left an entire leaf 

 on a half acre bed which they attacked. The next season 

 I saw but few, and since that time I have never met with 

 any. I have been informed that this worm, or one very 

 similar, has lately made its appearance in Central New 

 York. The scientific name of this worm I have been un- 

 able to determine ; although I sent many specimens to a 

 noted Entomologist, I have received no information in 

 return. 



The snail or slug which is so abundant and destructive 

 to the Strawberry and other garden products in Europe, 

 has found its way to this country, and is now quite plenti- 

 ful in some gardens near New York. These snails are 

 great gourmands, and will destroy the Strawberry fruit 

 in quantities if they become very plentiful. Hand picking, 

 or destroying them with lime, is a pretty sure way of 

 getting rid of this pest. 



The Plant Louse (Aphis), or Green Fly, as it is usually 

 called, sometimes becomes quite numerous upon the roots 

 of the Strawberry, particularly when the soil is quite loose 

 and open, so as to admit them readily to the roots. Upon 

 these they congregate in immense numbers, sucking the 

 juices of the plant, and thereby effectually checking its 

 growth. A liberal application of dry ashes or refuse from 

 a tobacco factory will usually destroy them. The Aphis 

 also attacks the plants when grown under glass, but they 

 are more readily destroyed than the Red Spider (Telaris), 

 which insect is very destructive when numerous. 



The best preventive to the ravages of the Red Spider is a 

 moist atmosphere, but when this cannot be allowed, flour 

 of sulphur should be freely scattered among the plants or 

 upon the soil near them. The fumes of melted sulphur 

 will make quick work with them, but it requires great 

 care in its application, for should the sulphur take fire and 

 burn, the fumes will destroy the plants as well. 



Birds are, in some portions of the country, very de- 



