202 DISEASES OF THE ROSE. 



depredation. His remarks also show the utility of gathering them. 

 ' Eighty-six of these spoilers,' says he, ' were known to infest a single 

 rose-bud, and were crushed with one grasp .of the hand.' Suppose, as 

 was probably the case, that one-half of them were females ; by this 

 destruction, eight hundred eggs, at least, were prevented from becom- 

 ing matured. During the time of their prevalence, rose-bugs are 

 sometimes found in immense numbers on the flowers of the common 

 white-weed, or ox-eye daisy. ( Chrysanthemum leucanlhemum.) a worth- 

 less plant, which has come to us from Europe, and has been suffered 

 to overrun our pastures, and encroach on our mowing lands. In cer- 

 tain cases it may become expedient rapidly to mow down the infested 

 white-weed in dry pastures, and consume it with the sluggish rose- 

 bugs on the spot. 



" Our insect-eating birds undoubtedly devour many of these insects, 

 and deserve to be cherished and protected for their services. Rose- 

 bugs are also eaten greedily by domesticated fowls ; and when they 

 become exhausted and fall to the ground, or when they are about to 

 lay their eggs, they are destroyed by moles, insects, and other animals, 

 which lie in wait to seize them. Dr. Green informs us, that a species 

 of dragon-fly, or devil's needle devours them. He also says that an 

 insect which he calls the enemy of the cut-worm, probably the larva 

 of a Carabus or predaceous ground-beetle, preys on the grubs of the 

 common dor-bug. Iu France the golden ground-beetle ( Oarabus au- 

 ratus) devours the female dor or chafer at the moment when she is 

 about to deposit her eggs. I have taken one specimen of this fine 

 ground-beetle in Massachusetts, and we have several other kinds, 

 equally predaceous, which probably contribute to check the increase 

 of our native Melolonthians." Harris. 



A. J. Downing recommends the use of open-mouthed bottles, half 

 filled (and occasionally renewed) with a mixture of sweetened water 

 and vinegar, and placed about the plant. He also recommends pour- 

 ing boiling water on the ground under the bushes, at the first ap- 

 pearance of the insects and before their wings are formed. They 

 nearly all rise to the surface of the ground, and emerge about the 

 same time, when the Damask Rose first begins to open. A little ob- 

 servation will enable the cultivator to seize the right time for the 

 scalding operation. Illustrating this difficulty of destroying the rose- 

 bug, a correspondent of the Horticulturist tells the following story of 

 one of his neighbors : 



" One of my very good neighbors, and one of the best-informed men of my ac- 

 quaintance, this summer undertook to ' fight the rose-bugs,' a hopeless task you'll 

 say, but nevertheless rendered important by their extraordinary ravages ; they 



