100 THE CULTURE OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



and is a substance on which the ant feeds. Have you ever 

 seen an ant trying to get an aphide from the jaws of a 

 lady-bird? It is very (amusing to watch it; but Mrs. Lady- 

 bird is always the conqueror, although Mr. Ant uses every 

 artifice to try to induce her to drop her prey. To kill 

 aphides nothing is better than perseverance with tobacco- 

 powder and puff" while the plants are outdoors, or fumigat- 

 ing while they are indoors. 



Thrips. 



Thrips are sometimes troublesome to the young growths 

 in dry seasons, but soot-water syringed or sprinkled over 

 the plants will! check them. This and an occasional dusting 

 with tobacco- powder, or a good fumigating if .the plants 

 are indoors will effectually destroy the tiresome insects. 



The Earwig. 



One of the insects with which everybody is familiar is the 

 earwig (Forficula auricularia), for there are few years in 

 which they do not abound. They are a source of great 

 trouble and loss to gardeners by feeding on the flowers 

 and, young shoots of many plants, their favourites being 

 chrysanthemums and carnations. They are very voracious, 

 but feed only at night, creeping into some sheltered place 

 during the day. The best way to destroy them is to trap 

 them by placing in their haunts something into which they 

 can creep and hide. Small garden pots, half-filled with 

 dry moss or crumpled paper ; and short lengths of rods 

 or reeds make useful traps. The stem of sunflowers and 

 beans cut into lengths of 9 in. or i ft., are admirably suited 

 for this purpose, particularly those of the former, as the 

 pithy lining is somewhat sweet. The traps placed among 

 the shoots of the plants which are attacked should be ex- 

 amined every morning, and the insects shaken or blown 

 into a vessel of water with enough paraffin-oil floating on 

 the top to completely cover the surface with a good film. 

 This will effectually destroy them. 



