THE COTTON ROOT-LOUSE 139 



the aphids acquire wings the ants foresee what is 

 coming, and are very active in the cotton-fields. 

 By the time the aphids reach the fields the ants are 

 there to receive them. The little rogues have al- 

 ready finished the tunnels, and, running in every 

 direction, they discover the aphids and carry them 

 to the roots of the young cotton through the tunnels 

 made for- that purpose. Here the aphids find plenty 

 of food and are soon 

 surrounded by little 

 family groups." 



" Gentlemen," said 

 Joe Gardner, "this is a 

 treat. I never knew 

 that these little bugs (After Forbes.) 



Were SO Wise. Could FIG. 57. "And fly through the air 



in every direction. 



you tell us what we 



might do to prevent them from killing our young 

 cotton ? There are plenty of other plants here to 

 which they are welcome. They can have my whole 

 wood-lot pasture over there and I would watch them 

 work whenever I had time. They are cute and 

 hard working little fellows and they are welcome to 

 live on my farm, but I cannot let them have 

 my cotton merely to satisfy their thirsty little 

 throats for honey-dew." 



"Put something in the fertilizer," exclaimed Will 

 Gray. " Can't you do that ? " 



