82 THE BOOK OF THE CARNATION 



thence to the stem of the plant, where it lives at the 

 expense of its host. The maggot happily betrays its exist- 

 ence in the leaf by the mark it and all its kind leaves on 

 the surface, and if caught at this stage, not much harm 

 follows. Once in the stem, however, it is difficult to 

 locate, and in any case the mischief it has effected 

 is irremediable. Another fly (Phy/oma y sp.) lays her eggs 

 on Carnations, the larvae feeding on the foliage and 

 stems during winter, but this is a by no means common 

 pest. 



Red spider is sometimes troublesome. Treat as 

 Thrips. 



Slugs are mischievous in the case of Alpine species, the 

 flowers of which they are exceedingly fond of. A stand- 

 ing army of thrushes and blackbirds works wonders, and 

 as a local remedy, tobacco-powder dusted over the plants 

 may be tried. 



Thrips is troublesome mostly on light and dry soils, 

 though in dry seasons it is apt to spread all over the 

 country. It also attacks pot plants, mostly in those 

 instances where the treatment is averse to the Carna- 

 tion. In bad attacks of this very lively little insect, the 

 flowers are so much damaged as to be worthless. Fumi- 

 gating, or vaporizing with Cory and Co.'s lethorion cones, 

 dusting the buds with tobacco-powder, and in the case 

 of out-door plants syringing with quassia extract or with 

 soap-suds to which a very little petroleum has been added, 

 are each effective. Thrips, when they appear, admit of 

 no parleying. It is known as Heliothrips htemorrhoidalis. 



Wireworm is a terribly destructive foe. It is the well- 

 known larvae of three species of beetle, Agriotes ttneatus, 

 A. obscurus, and A. sputator, that feed on :the roots of 

 plants, those of Carnations proving a favourite morsel. 

 Repeated exposure of the soil by digging, and permitting 

 no vegetation to grow on the ground for a period, is 

 a measure that should be carefully carried out where 



