THE 



PESTS OF GARDEN PLANTS 



WHEN adverse weather operates injuriously on vegetation the 

 plagues that infest garden plants usually acquire increased 

 power in proportion to the degree of debility to which vegetation is 

 reduced. This circumstance perfectly accords with the general law 

 of Nature, and is full of instruction as to the means of saving plants 

 from serious injury by vermin. The keen, dry east wind that so often 

 jeopardises fruit crops is usually followed by visitations of fly and 

 maggot, and in this case the cause is beyond human power or fore- 

 thought. But neglect of watering and air-giving to pot plants can 

 be avoided. Good cultivation not only insures fine specimens, but 

 is often the means of preventing the plants from failing under the 

 attacks of Aphis, Mealy Bug, and other enemies against which the 

 gardener has to fight an unceasing battle. 



It should be borne in mind that insects are among the frailest of 

 living creatures. They perish at a touch. As they breathe through 

 the pores of the skin, water alone the grand promoter of life and 

 cleanliness is death to them ; and they are still more subject to sure 

 destruction when to the water is added an active poison, such as 

 tobacco, or a substance that adheres to them and stops the process 

 of breathing, such as glue, clay, sulphur, soft soap, and the prepara- 

 tions that are specially made to annihilate insect hosts. " . 



The various stages through which the larger insects pass place 

 them within our power at some period of their existence. The 

 butterfly may float beyond the reach of harm, but in the caterpillar 

 or the chrysalis state it can be dealt with effectually. Again, we may 

 be powerless to destroy the Chafer grubs as they feed or hibernate 

 beneath the turf, but in their perfect state as Cockchafers or Rose 

 Chafers many may be beaten down during quiet evenings, and others 

 can be shaken from Roses at dawn or sunset. A knowledge of the 

 life-history of injurious insects will suggest what is to be done and 



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