INSECTS, DISEASES AND SPRAYING 49 



Aphis, or green fly, is the most common 

 pest that the the rose grower has to contend 

 with. Vigilance is the best remedy. The 

 fly should be attacked just as soon as it 

 appears, as the increase is on a scale of mar- 

 vellous rapidity. The finger and thumb are 

 excellent for the early attack. At that time 

 a plant may be cleansed in a few minutes, 

 but it should be at once sprinkled with 

 tobacco water in which a small portion of 

 whale-oil soap has been dissolved. 



Leaf hopper. Beginning early in June 

 and continuing throughout the season, the 

 leaf hoppers appear. These pests are a con- 

 stant menace. When the upper surfaces of 

 the green leaves show minute yellow blotches, 

 a glance on the under sides will reveal the 

 culprits, and when the bush is jarred, they 

 jump or fly off in large numbers. They are 

 minute, active, light-yellow leaf hoppers, or 

 the misnamed "thrips" of the rose grower. 

 Most of their life is spent on the under sides 

 of the rose leaves. They suck their food 

 from the inside of the leaves, often seriously 

 weakening the plant. 



The plant lice and leaf hoppers are sucking 

 insects and must be suffocated with insect 



