THE 



PESTS OF GARDEN PLANTS 



WHEN adverse weather operates injuriously on vegetation, the 

 insect plagues that infest the garden usually acquire in- 

 creased power in proportion to the degree of debility to which 

 vegetation is reduced. This circumstance perfectly accords with 

 the general scheme of Nature, and is full of instruction as to the 

 means of eradicating vermin, for it suggests that one way at least is 

 to augment, if we can, the vigour of the vegetation about which we 

 are most concerned. The subject is, however, too important to be 

 disposed of in general observations, and we propose to enter into a 

 few particulars. 



Agencies that weaken plants usually promote the increase of 

 vermin upon them. The keen, dry, east wind that so often jeopar- 

 dises our fruit crops is usually followed by outbreaks of fly and 

 maggot, and in the case of pot plants neglect of watering and air- 

 giving will cause them to be quickly covered with Aphis, Mealy 

 Bug, and other of their insect enemies. As prevention is better than 

 cure, so in the case of plants good cultivation not only insures fine 

 specimens, but in a great measure keeps insects at bay. It should 

 always be borne in mind that insects, one and all, are among the 

 frailest of living creatures, and their very frailness places them within 

 our power. They perish at a touch. As they breathe through the 

 pores of the skin, water alone the grand promoter of life and 

 cleanliness is death to them, and they are, of course, still more 

 subject to sure destruction when to the water is added an active 

 poison such as tobacco, or a substance that adheres to them and 

 stops the process of breathing, such as glue, clay, sulphur, and so 

 forth. We repeat that good cultivation is to a considerable extent a 



