CARE OF THE LITTLE GARDEN 89 



— all these may be necessary, too; but buying as slowly as pos- 

 sible, and only what is needed, is wise advice as to tools and 

 smaller implements. 



In the care of the garden the matter of sprajdng is an all-impor- 

 tant one. Every part of our country now has its special enemies 

 in the way of insects seeking what they may destroy. The green 

 fly, the red spider, the aphis, the currant worm, the woolly aphis, 

 the aster-beetle, these are some of the inmates of my garden. 

 The great remedy for the first three of these is an insecticide 

 known as "X L AU" — at least, this is my favorite. This will 

 keep roses of all kinds in perfect condition, if applied when the 

 first sign of trouble appears — except for black spot and mildew, 

 for which other things must be tried. For black spot, leaves af- 

 fected must be picked and burned; for mildew a powdering with 

 dry sulphiu" is, I believe, advised. But for keeping early foliage 

 of the rose, whether climbing or low-growing, in full beauty, a 

 fine spraying, with a hand-appliance, of X L All will be f oimd ex- 

 cellent. Hand picking for the aster-beetle; Paris green in solution 

 for the currant-worm when he first appears in such amazing 

 numbers, and so early, on the young leaves; washing with Ivory 

 soap and water will take the woolly aphis from the trunks of 

 white pine; and when evergreens, such as arbor-vitses, are seen to 

 be growing brown in dry weather, and red spider is the reason, an 

 authority at the Agricultural College of Michigan advises light 

 spraying with water, morning and evening, for several days run- 

 ning. This we have practised too, with success. 



Bordeaux mixture applied once a week to hardy phloxes, when 

 they are not more than four inches from the ground, in spring, 

 will help to keep away red spider and other troubles later; and the 

 invaluable rule, evolved by Miss McGregor of Springfield, Ohio, 

 for guarding delphiniums against blight follows. Take four 

 pounds of unslaked lime; put in a gallon of boiling water; add 



