62 Insects : their Prevention and Cure, 



CHAPTER X. 



INSECTS : THEIR PREVENTION AND CUBE. 



I HE insect which, most generally attacks plants is 

 a kind of aphis, commonly called the greenfly. 

 It becomes quite a plague on plants if allowed 

 to increase, which it does at a most astonishing rate. 

 If left to themselves they would soon bring your plants 

 to a most disreputable condition, ultimately killing 

 them outright. They are always worst on soft-wooded 

 plants, such as Calceolarias, Cinerarias, Pelargoniums, 

 &c. A healthy robust growing plant is not so liable to 

 be attacked as a sickly one. A sickly plant is their great 

 delight. They feed on the underside of the leaves like 

 a flock of miniature sheep, and cluster around the 

 tender shoots and flower buds with the most persistent 

 greediness, causing the leaves to curl up and turn 

 yellow, and the tender shoots and flower buds to grow 

 deformed and crooked, arresting their growth and 

 expansion. Thus you see greenfly is an enemy you 

 must give no quarter to. Hunt them down and destroy 

 them whenever they make their appearance. Do not 

 kill them on the leaf if you can help it. With a little 

 brush or a feather you will be able to sweep them off 



