85 



COTTONY CUSHION SCALE 



(JCERYA PURCHASl). 



in their ravages, and attack indiscriminately 

 various trees. They are all very injurious, 

 as they suck the juices from the plants to a 

 great extent. Remedies : The Scale insects 

 are rather difficult to deal with, owing to 

 their hard shells or coverings. Kerosene 

 emulsion, made rather thick, is one of the 

 most effective applications. Common starch, 

 mixed as by laundresses, is a favourite remedy 

 with some. The stems and branches of 

 affected trees should also be painted with a 

 thick lime wash, with soft-soap added at the 

 rate of half-a-pound to the gallon. 



Slugs and Snails. These pests are often 

 very troublesome, and more particularly in 

 moist weather and in old gardens. They are, 

 however, easily detected, and can generally 

 be kept under with little difficulty by fre- 

 quently dusting lime or soot over the surface 

 soil, or occasionally giving a light sprinkling 

 of salt. 



Thrips. This is a well-known genus of 

 minute and destructive insects, which in- 

 cludes a number of species. They attack 

 many kinds of plants, the perfect insects and 

 larvae being generally found underneath the 

 leaves. Their action is to suck the sap from 

 the leaves, and consequently injure the trees. 

 They are rather difficult insects to deal with. 

 Remedies : Dusting with powdered 

 sulphur when the leaves are wet. 

 Syringing with soft soap and water 

 made rather thick, and used when 

 warm. Spraying with water in which 

 Elder leaves have been steeped. The 

 stems of the trees and branches, as 

 far as practicable, should also be 

 painted with a mixture of soft-soap, 

 sulphur, and lime, in about equal 

 proportions. 



White Ants. These are very 

 troublesome pests to fruit-growers 

 in some districts, and often do much 

 damage to buildings and trees. 



Remedies : Making several holes Fig. i. The Larva (highly magni- 

 round their nests from 9 to 12 inches 

 deep, pouring into each a wine- 

 glassful of bisulphide of carbon, and 

 then covering them tightly. Another magnified). 



Insects (slightly magni- 

 fied). 



THRIPS. 



fied). 

 2 ' 



(highly 

 of Head (highly 



