120 ARTIFICIAL REMEDIES FOR 



the plant by the suctorial apparatus contained in the inte- 

 rior of the rostrum, and its feet, too, seem well calculated 

 to assist it in maintaining its position. Moreover, the de- 

 stroyer lives generally at the under surface of the leaf, so 

 that the leaf serves it as an umbrella to ward off the fluid. 



(469.) It would certainly be a good plan, in many cases, 

 to gather those leaves which are infested with the insects, 

 and to burn them, before the creature has made any ex- 

 tensive progress. New leaves would doubtless be thrown 

 out of the haulm ; but this mode of proceeding would only 

 be applicable to a very small extent in the potatoe plant. 



(470.) With regard to beet root, however, I am decided- 

 ly of opinion that the removal of the infected leaves is 

 the best course to be pursued. If they are left on the 

 plant they perish, and thus become unserviceable ; where- 

 as, if they are removed before extensive mischief has been 

 effected in the tissue, they may still afford useful nourish- 

 ment to cattle. As, moreover, the insect first attacks the 

 larger and more exhausted leaves, we should thus destroy 

 masses of insects, which would otherwise progress to other 

 and more important leaves. 



(471.) The action of quicklime, sprinkled dry over the 

 plants, is said to be particularly destructive to the Aphides; 

 and I have seen several notices in the papers where persons 

 had sprinkled lime empirically over the haulms the moment 

 the disease appeared, which arrested the progress of the 

 disease. This proceeding I should recommend to be largely 

 tried, by sifting fine quicklime over plants as soon as the 

 vastator appears.* 



* Perhaps also various saline matters might be employed for the 

 same object. 



