Pests and Remedies 139 



This kills the hoppers and prevents further 

 depredations. The treatment of the disease 

 itself will be found later in this chapter. 



A red spider and a green spider will sometimes 

 attack dahlias in hot, dry weather, but they are 

 easily done away with by a forcible spray from 

 the hose. This should be thoroughly done a 

 few days in succession to kill any eggs which 

 might hatch out in the interim. 



Red ants are sometimes a nuisance also, though 

 they only do any material damage in some lo- 

 calities. They are always to be found where 

 the soil is exceptionally rich. Where the nests 

 are not too near a dahlia plant, they can be 

 destroyed by pouring a bit of boiling water into 

 the entrance. This will kill the queen and most 

 of the colony. Should ants persist, they may 

 be poisoned. 



Late some afternoon scatter about among 

 the nests a small quantity of very finely ground 

 meat. The ants will devour it greedily and by 

 next morning it will be gone. The following 

 afternoon, spread about the same quantity of 

 finely ground meat, but this time well mixed 

 with Paris green. Next day there will not be 

 an ant in the vicinity. 



Now we come to the Buffalo Tree-hopper 

 with his horns and hump back. He both sucks 



