•25-2 GARDEN FOES. 



that they are applied both under and over the leaves. It 

 i.^ also a safe plan to syringe the foliage half an hour 

 aftt'i'wards with clean water; the insecticide by that time 

 will have <lone its work, and there will be no risk of 

 injury to the foliage. There yet remains a brief reference 

 to be made to the value of tobacco powder as a reme<ly 

 for the destruction of Aphides. Tobacco powder is finely- 

 ground tobacco, and in this state is a powerful factor in 

 the destruction of insect pests, especially Aphides ; a little 

 of it has only to be applied by means of a distributor to the 

 portions of shoots or leaves infested to ensure the speedy 

 destruction of the Greenfly. 



Bulb Mites. — Foi-tunately, these have not as yet 

 proved vei'v nu.merous, though it must be admitted they 

 are formidable pests. They belong to the spider family, 

 and are not true insects. Owing to their small size — 1-20 

 inch in length, and to their habit of concealing themselves 

 within the scales of the bulbs, they are rarely seen except 

 when sought for by experts. Their bodies are transparent, 

 of a milky-white colour, with a dark oval spot on each side. 

 They are particularly partial to the bulbs of the eucharis, 

 hyacinth, vallota, and many other plants. Bulbs of any 

 kind that become unhealthy should be carefully examined 

 with a strong lens to see if the mites are the cause of their 

 sickly condition. 



Kemedies. — So far no definite remedy is known. Several 

 have, however, been tried with partial success, and among 

 these may be mentioned that of soaking the bulbs a few 

 moments in water heated to a temperature of 140 deg. 

 Fahr. ; washing off all loose soil, removing diseased scales, 

 and carefully brushing the bulbs with a solution of 

 Eucharis Mite Destroyer, or tobacco water, prepared as 

 advised for Aphides. All the soil previously occupied by 

 the bulbs should be burnt, and the crocks and pots soaked 

 in hot water to prevent the mites reaching other bidbs. 



Cockroaches. — These are exceedingly lively and 

 eraftv insects, wh'wh feed chieflv on the roots of plants, 



