IX PESTS 169 



ing of pests there is nothing like the industrious 

 finger and thumb, used in the earlier stages. When 

 a zealous amateur discovers a few aphides and sends 

 off at once to get and boil his quassia chips, according 

 to the approved recipe, for elaborate operations on 

 the morrow, while finger and thumb might have 

 destroyed them all in a short time, I am always 

 reminded of the story of the man who was vending 

 some nostrum for the destruction of certain 

 nameless parasites. When the " directions for use " 

 of his specific were disclosed, it appeared that each 

 creature had to be caught and a little of the powder 

 inserted into its mouth, death following infallibly. 

 The obvious objection to this invention was that 

 when once the finger and thumb held the victim no 

 more aid was required. 



The aphis brush, deftly used, may take the place 

 of actual fingers where the pest has attained some 

 dimensions : and when, through neglect, or such a 

 sudden and wholesale attack as sometimes occurs, 

 wholesale means must be appHed, a syringe and the 

 quassia and soft soap mixture will probably prove 

 the best resort. 



The late Mr. B. E. Cant's directions for the use 

 of this remedy are : " Take 4 oz. of quassia chips and 

 boil them ten minutes in a gallon of soft water ; 

 then strain it, and while cooling dissolve in it 4 oz. 

 of soft soap : to this may be added another gallon or 

 two of water." The plants should be syringed with 

 this in the morning or evening, not in the sunshine, 

 or badly infested shoots may be dipped in it. Pure 

 water should follow the next day to cleanse the 

 leaves and shoots. There are many insecticides 

 advertised, which ought all to be good enough to 



