66 GARDENING 



be exposed, many of which could be smashed if the 

 ground, after raking, were beaten down with spades. 

 Upon grass land the grass should be cut off and 

 removed. — ' Farm and Home.' 



Magpie moth attacks the leaves of gooseberries, 

 currants, aloe, and even the peach in early summer. 



RED SPIDER 



Red spider is one of the gardeners' greatest pests. 

 It is so small it is almost invisible to the naked eye. 

 When a plant is much infested by them it has the 

 appearance of being scorched. 



The best remedies are fumigating with the 

 vapour from sulphur, and then syringing the plants 

 continually with water afterwards. 



It is a good plan to beat up soft soap in warm 

 water, three ounces to the gallon, and add as much 

 finely dissolved clay as will make it into a thick 

 paint. To this add three or four handfuls of 

 sulphur, and keep the mixture well stirred. Whilst 

 applying it to walls and also on the stems of fruit 

 trees, soot mixed with it takes away the objection- 

 able yellow colour. 



SCIARA, OR PEAR MIDGE 



When a pear falls often, if it is cut open it will 

 be found core-eaten and with a brown powder ; 

 which is caused by the larva of these insects. They 

 appear early in July. They survive the winter and 

 deposit their eggs in the blossom when it opens in 

 early spring. The larva eats its way into the core 



