jy6 TOMATO. 



ariorum] is a common pest here on tomatoes. The im- 

 perfect insect is a small white scale-like body, preying 

 upon the under surface of the leaves, and the mature 

 form is a minute fly-like insect which flies about the 

 house. It can be kept in check by fumigating with to- 

 bacco smoke. 



A much more serious pest is a small spotted mite, 

 scarcely larger than the red spider ( Tetranychns bimacu- 

 latus, of Harvey). The mites feed upon the under sides 

 of the leaves, causing the upper surfaces to appear 

 speckled with white, as shown in Fig. 59. They attack 



many plants, but to- 

 matoes and cucum- 

 b e r s are favorites. 

 We have tried num- 

 bers of remedies with 

 great thoroughness, 

 but the first way we 

 discovered of keep- 

 ing them in check 



59 . Work of the mite. WaS tO ^"^ . th 



water so forcibly 



once or twice a day as to knock them off. By the time 

 they were fairly resettled on the plants we would knock 

 them off again. By this alternating warfare, aided by 

 picking and burning the worst leaves, we kept our plants 

 in tolerable order. Later, however, we have found that 

 Hughes' fir-tree oil is fatal to them, as also to all kinds 

 of lice and scales. For the mites, we use a half pint of 

 oil to two gallons of water, and the material may be ap- 

 plied with a syringe or knapsack pump. In more recent 

 experience, we have not had so good success with this 

 oil. We now keep them in check by exercising every 

 care to have the house free of the pests before setting 

 in the plants, and by spraying the leaves (particularly 

 beneath) with a fine nozzle every bright morning. If 

 the mites once get a thorough foothold upon a plant 



