210 MAKING OF A FLOWER GARDEN 



to bear upon them. I think they are some special 

 breed sent to keep me humble. 



Rose slug — small green caterpillars which feed on 

 the underside of the leaves or draw two leaves to- 

 gether as a shelter while they eat out the buds from 

 the tips of the shoots — are usually the next pest to 

 put in an appearance. These may be destroyed by 

 hand-picking or by spraying the underside of the 

 leaves with whale oil solution, or dusting with helle- 

 bore when the foliage is damp. 



Rose thrips are more troublesome than any other 

 insect, as they leave the plant at the least disturb- 

 ance, returning when all is quiet to complete their 

 work. Whale oil soap syringed on the underside of 

 the leaves is the best remedy. Readana sprayed on 

 and under the foliage at intervals of a few days for 

 two or three applications will usually remove them 

 for the season. 



Red spider, which affects all hard wooded plants at 

 times, can only be kept at bay by a moist atmosphere, 

 as this particular insect thrives in a dry, hot atmos- 

 phere, but once it has gotten a foothold, there is no 

 better remedy than the hot water bath. Spraying 

 with Fir Tree oil is also effectual. 



Aster beetles are quite sure to put in an appear- 

 ance as soon as the flowers show bloom. The prac- 

 tical remedy here and in the case of rose bugs, la 

 hand picking. These bugs are sluggish insects and if 



