BISBASBS, INSECTS, AND ENEMIES. 273- 



XVIL— Earwigs. 



These are far more difficult to extirpate, and it is impossible tO' 

 bar»tliem out from the fruit. They will pass over or through 

 anything to get at a peach or nectarine, and make short work of 

 devouring it when there. Fortunately, after a feast they desire to rest,, 

 and they infinitely prefer to sleep near the feast. The skilful cultivator 

 takes advantage of this luxurious habit, and provides comfortable sleeping 

 accommodation in the form of Gin. lengths of bean stalks, reed, or cane,, 

 pushed under the branches. The earwigs slip into, these at dawn of day>. 

 and shortly afterwards the cultivator, with a deep jug about half full of 

 water, hot or cold, puUs out his traps, holds one end over the water, and) 

 applying the other to his mouth, consigns the earwigs to a watery 

 grave. Each trap is thus emptied and replaced day by day until the- 

 whole of the pests disappear. It is well also to begin this sure means- 

 of destroying the earwigs before the fruit is ripe, and thus many oii 

 the finest peaches are saved from destruction. 



XVIIL—Ants. 



These are most destructive where they abound. Some cultivators^ 

 encourage ants on their fruit trees. They cherish the belief that they 

 kill and eat the aphides. Not they. The ants are far too wise to- 

 kill the goose that lays for them such golden eggs. By the aphides- 

 the ants live. They milk them dry of sweet juice daily or oftener .^ 

 and, lest the advantage sbould be all on one side, the ants remove the 

 aphides to fresh feeding quarters and pastures- new and sweet as often as 

 necessary for the delectation of the aphides and the profit of the ant. All 

 this, however, is totally antagonistic to the interests of cultivators. The 

 mts are sheer gluttons among- rich fruit. Luscious peaches, nectarines, 

 apricots melt into nothingnees^ under their onslaughts as snow beneath 

 the glaring heat of summer suns. They will scoop out all the flesh and 

 sweet juices of the finest peach in a few hours. The best cure for ants 

 is arsenic and boiling water.. Honey or sugar and arsenic entice the 

 ants to their destruction. Sweet oil will also kill them, but it is hopeless 

 to set oil traps against the- attractions of ripe fruit. Boiling water in> 

 their nests is also a certain cure. They may be also watered out with 

 cold water. Sewage and manure water made with guano are distasteful'' 



