10 GARDEN FOES. 



Animal Pests._The«6 include millepedes, worrrns, 

 slugs, snails, birds, cats, dogs, eelworms, hares, rabbits, 

 and every other living creature which is developed from 

 an egg or born alive, but which does not go through the 

 four stages of development described in the preceding 

 paragraph. Mites, again, do not belong to the insect 

 tribe, but are included, in the present category. 



Fung^oid Pests. — These are composed of minute or 

 larger fungi which develop from spores or mycelium, and 

 live on or in the tissues of living or dead vegetation. Fungi 

 are of two types — parasitic, living on living tissue, as 

 mildew; or saprophytes, living on dead tissues. There is 

 a third class, called slime fungi, of which the Finger and 

 Toe disease is an example ; but mycologists are doubtful 

 about these being true fungi. Then again, there are bac- 

 teria, minute organisms which produce disease somewhat 

 similar to that caused by true fungi. 



Blig^hts. — Many gardeners and country folk use the 

 term " blight " as signifying any disease or insect infesta- 

 tion of their crops. This, however, is- .a loose and vague 

 term. The so-called " blight " is really the injured state 

 of the growth crippled by frost, by cold winds, or by 

 insect and fungoid pests. When " blight " is spoken of 

 the true cause must be sought for in one of the murierous 

 pests hereafter described. 



A Word of Caution. — Whenever anything is de- 

 tected amiss with a plant or crop, take the earliest oppor- 

 tunity to find out the cause, and apply the remedy at 

 once. Delay is dangerout.<. In a few hours or a few days 

 the pest will seriously cripple the growth, and no remedy 

 in the world can then repair the damage done. 



You may, it is true, get rid of the cause, but you cannot 

 easily cure the after-effects. Growths badly infested with 

 fungoid or insect pests should be promptly removed and 

 speedily burnt. Never throw diseased roots, leaves, or 



