30 GARDENING FOR YOUNG AND OLD. 



White Hellebore is a far less dangerous poison, espec- 

 ially when applied in water, but it is generally suffi- 

 ciently powerful to kill all kinds of young worms and 

 caterpillars. Worms and caterpillars are much more 

 easily poisoned than their parent bugs or moths. In 

 other words, a weaker mixture of Paris Green will kill 

 the larvaB or worms of the Potato-bug than is required to 

 kill the bugs or beetles themselves. The worms and cat- 

 erpillars which feed on the succulent leaves, are little 

 more than sacks of sap, and it ought not to require much 

 poison to wither them up. The Striped-bug, the Squash- 

 bug and the Potato-bug or Beetle, when full grown, are 

 not easily poisoned, and a little hand-picking before they 

 lay their eggs on the leaves can be practised with great 

 advantage, not by any means, however, neglecting to use 

 the poison for the destruction of the larvae, and young 

 bugs. 



CAEE OF POISONS. 



I need hardly say that too much care can not be exer- 

 cised in the use of poison. It is dangerous business, and 

 I hope and believe that some article will be discovered 

 which will kill insects and worms, but which will not in- 

 jure man or beast. In the meantime, I would, so far as 

 possible, limit myself to the use of only one or two poi- 

 sons, say Hellebore and Paris Green, and they should at 

 all times be kept under lock and key, and the pail or 

 other vessels employed in their use, should be locked 

 up and kept for the special purpose only. This is a mat- 

 ter of much importance, not only for our own safety and 

 that of our animals, but for the accomplishment of the 

 object for which we keep the poison. A prompt applica- 

 tion is often absolutely essential to its efficacy. We 

 should therefore, at all times, have every thing connected 

 with the use of the poison, not only in readiness, but 

 where we can easily lay our hands upon it. 



