118 



The leaves of palms are, in general, tough, and fairly 

 strong insecticides may be used without injury to them. 

 Whale-oil soap, lit), to 3 or 4 gallons of water, or kerosene 

 emulsion, used as a spray or applied with a sponge or cloth, 

 will give good results in the treatment of most scales on 

 palms. 



Ferns are more delicate, and care must be exercised in 

 applying insecticides to them. A solution of whale-oil soap, 

 1 Ib. to 5 or I) gallons of water, applied in a very fine spray, 

 should be sufficient for treatment of scale insects, mealy- 

 bug or thrips. The application, in the case o ferns 

 and palms, should be repeated after an interval of about 

 two weeks. 



The flower-buds and flowers of roses and geraniums are 

 often eaten by small caterpillars, the larvae of small moths. 

 Infested buds and flowers should be picked and the larvae 

 destroyed. Spraying with an infusion of pyrethrum as the 

 buds are forming would protect them from attack to some 

 extent. 



Many varieties of lilies are at certain seasons to be seen 

 with their leaves badly eaten. This is done by the lily 

 worm, the larva of a moth, Euthisanotia amaryllidis. An 

 application of Paris green and lime at the beginning of the 

 attack will protect these plants from this injury. 



Ipomnea florxfalliae, a climbing vine grown for its 

 beautiful clusters of bright-red flowers, is often attacked by 

 the larvae of a small moth, Syntomeida xyntomoides. This 

 caterpillar eats the developing buds, a severe attack often 

 resulting in the destruction of all the buds and the conse- 



Fig. 134. Leaf-cutting 1 bee. 

 About 1^ times natural size, (Original ) 



