NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 183 



generations, may be the progenitor of nearly six millions of 

 descendants. It will therefore be seen that unless constant 

 war is waged against these tiny foes, they would soon destroy 

 every plant they attack. Fortunately they are easily destroyed. 

 Plants growing in houses if attacked, as they frequently are, 

 by green fly may be cleared of them by an application of 

 Gishurst's compound, i ounce to each gallon of water. The 

 liquid should be applied with a syringe. Fumigation with 

 tobacco leaf or tobacco paper is also a certain remedy. The 

 plants should be well syringed the following morning. 



Mode of Application, Get an old oil or nail can, punch 

 holes in it for the purpose of ventilation ; then make a fire 

 of sticks inside the can. Do this outside the house. When 

 the sticks have been reduced to a red mass in the bottom of 

 the can lift it inside the house. Take about ^lb. teased 

 out tobacco leaf, slightly damped with water, place it on the 

 red embers and leave the house, closing it up for the night. 

 Syringe the plants next morning, and ventilate fully. Repeat 

 the operation in a few days, syringing afterwards. ^lb. 

 tobacco will fumigate a house 2oft. x i2ft. 



Some of our small birds are of service in destroying 

 Aphides, especially the native white-eye. The Ladybird 

 beetles (so common in England) and their larvae feed on them 

 voraciously. Black Fly (or aphis). This pest is well-known 

 in England, and is very troublesome on cherry trees. The 

 following is also a good wash for destroying green, blue, or 

 black Aphis : To fifty-six gallons of soft water add six 

 pints of sulphurous acid, mixing thoroughly. Syringe the 

 trees in the evening. 



Tetranychus Telarius, or Red Mite, commonly 

 called Red Spider. This pest has become almost universal 

 of late years in the garden and hothouse. It attacks vines, 

 apples, pears, plums, cucumbers, and melons. It frequently 

 destroys whole hop gardens. Fruit trees badly infested 

 the foliage and branches appear as though they were covered 

 with iron rust. These signs denote the presence of myriads 

 of these pests. The red colour is said to be caused by the 

 myriads of ova covering the surface of the bark. The 

 creature attacks the under surface of the leaves of all plants, 

 and can only be plainly seen by the aid of a glass. 



