74 HORTICULTURE LECT. v 



The female winter moths are wingless, and creep up 

 the stems in October to deposit eggs for hatching in 

 the spring. Grease-proof paper bands smeared with 

 sticky matter, such as resin and sweet oil, two-thirds 

 of the former, melted, and one-third of the latter, 

 wrapped round the stems before the middle of the 

 month named, secure them on the way. Oily and 

 tarry substances applied direct to the bark are in- 

 jurious. 



A golden rule in subduing pests and insects of all 

 kinds is to attack them early, while they are still few 

 in number, and a horde of pests may be prevented. 

 They increase amazingly, and to wait till they are 

 numerous is the very worst policy that can be 

 adopted. 



Grubs in Soil. These are favoured by foul 

 land, weeds and decaying vegetables. Everything 

 useless should be promptly cleared off. 



For most kinds of grubs, including wireworms, gas 

 lime is one of the best-known remedies. If spread 

 on land in the autumn 5 Gibs, may be used per rod 

 (30 J square yards), letting it remain six weeks or two 

 months, then point it in, mixing evenly in the soil. 

 If it is not applied till spring, and can only be on 

 the surface about a week, 28 Ibs. will be sufficient, 

 and then seed sowing and planting should not be 

 done immediately. This is good for land in which 

 club root in plants of the cabbage family is pre- 

 valent. Salt is also good against wireworms, at the 

 rate of 7 Ibs. per rod applied in the autumn, mixing it 

 in the soil by digging. Only half the quantity should 

 be applied in spring. 



Wireworms are the grubs or larvae of a beetle 

 (Agriotes), shown natural size and enlarged. They 

 attack potatoes voraciously, and if tubers are placed 

 in infested ground, or pieces of carrot with a stick 



