CHAPTER XVIII 

 Insect Pests and Diseases 



Incessant watchfulness must be the rule in order 

 to, as far as possible, keep the plants from suffering 

 injury through attacks of insects or diseases. It is 

 almost impossible to avoid some of these visitations, 

 but others, and these mostly of the worst type, are often 

 resultant from neglect to maintain proper atmospheric 

 conditions. 



INSECTS 



Aphis, or Fly, both green and black, is with us 

 always, more or less, from the time the cutting is 

 struck until the flower expands. At whatever time 

 aphis appears proceed at once to take measures of 

 extermination. Upon young plants it can easily be 

 killed by sprinkling them with tobacco dust, but after 

 they are planted and growing in permanent quarters 

 fumigation must be resorted to, using whatever fancy 

 may dictate, with the choice between tobacco stems or 

 dust, or sundry preparations which have nicotine for 

 their chief component. It is generally in spring and 

 fall when aphis is most prevalent. If the pest be thor- 

 oughly eradicated at planting time and the plants start 

 quickly into healthy growth they will be comparatively 

 immune for many weeks, but the coming of autumn 

 days generally brings fly again. Every effort should be 

 made to eradicate it completely before any buds show 

 color, as from that time all fumigation must cease. 

 Should fly appear upon the buds or opening blooms, 

 however, it must be cleaned out, or ruination of the 



