264 AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 



For the protection of orchards, fires kindled in the evening, 

 during the perfect or winged stage of insect life, are effective 

 means. They may be made of brush or other rubbish, or small 

 lighted tapers set in shallow pans of water may be used. Oth- 

 er processes for the prevention or destruction of insects are 

 given under the proper heads. 



APHIDES. 



Fig. 123. 



a, Flos Aphis ; &, common Aphis, natural size ; c, rf, various common Aphides magnified. 



FLOS APHIS, Aphis (Eriosoma) Lanigera. 



CHERRY " Aphis Cerasi. 



APPLE " Aphis Mali and Malifolia. 



GRAPE " " Vinifera. 



ROSE " " EOSOB. 



The Flos Aphis, Fig. 123 a, is called in Europe, erroneous- 

 ly, American blight. It is of a peculiar white, cottony ap- 

 pearance, and is met with in large or small bunches, or as sin- 

 gle white spots, on forest and fruit trees, and not unfrequently 

 upon the roots of the latter in the nursery. The floss-like ap- 

 pearance is caused by the white wavy or crinkled filament or 

 tail of the insect, by the aid of which, though wingless, it is 

 sometimes carried on the wind from tree to tree. An English 

 writer prescribes washing with a mixture of sulphuric acid in 

 ten times its measure of water. Tobacco smoke or infusion, or 

 ley, or whale-oil soap ; or for the roots, ashes mixed in the soil, 

 are efficient remedies. 



The cherry, apple, grape, and rose aphides, though distin- 

 guished by writers on insects, require no distinction in their 

 practical treatment. Perhaps every infected tree or plant has 

 its own peculiar variety, but all are remediable by the same 

 means. They are invited by disease, and also cause it. The 

 remedies are those named above for the Flos Aphis, applied in 

 any way that may be found convenient. 



