A FEW FRIENDS. :.05 



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CHAPTEE IV. 



A FEW FRIENDS. 



Since we have described the enemies of crojDS, it is only 

 just that we should also draw the grower's attention to 

 a few of the friendly insects and animals that may occa- 

 sionally, if not frequently, be seen in the garden, in order 

 that they may be spared to help him in reducing the num- 

 ber of the former. It would be wrong to treat every livin 

 creature found on plants or in the garden as a foe. One 

 must learn to discriminate between the two, so as to spare 

 those which render the gardener a lasting service in reduc- 

 ing the pests that conspire to do so much injury to his 

 plants. 



Birds. — See our remarks on this subject in Chapter I. 

 in this section. 



Centipedes — First of all, there are the Centipedes. 

 The most familiar of these is Lithobius forcipatus, an 

 active, agile little creature, with a shining, horny, ochre- 

 ous-coloured body, and fifteen pairs of bristly, spiny legs 

 and a couple of longish horns. It measures about an inch 

 in length, and is furnished with very powerful jaws. This 

 creature may frequently be met with in the drainage of 

 pots and in the garden. As often as not it is regarded as a 

 foe, and killed forthwith. Now the centipede does no 

 harm to plants; it feeds entirely on grubs, worms, and 

 small animals, and is therefore a real friend of the garden. 

 It is easily distinguished from the Millepedes by its shorter 

 body, longer legs, and its greater activity. Spare him. 

 Another creature, often seen in company with the Centi- 

 pede, is Geophilus longicornis. This measures 2^ to Sin. 



