PLANT ENEMIES 287 



Again, we cannot spray flowering plants, for we destroy the 

 blossoms ; and we do not like to discolor their leaves. For 

 insects on flowering plants, such as asters, we should there- 

 fore pick by hand, or protect by fine netting. 



It may prove, when a plant shows weakness, that insects 

 have entered it at some point or other, and are eating the 

 pulp. This happens to the squashes, and to some few other 

 plants. The remedy is to cut out the insects by slitting 

 with a knife, or to kill them by thrusting a wire into the hole. 

 Cover the slit squash-vine with earth. 



Squash bugs lay their eggs, little shining brown beads, 

 on the under surface of squash leaves, or on leaves that over- 

 hang the plants. Occasionally they lay the eggs on the upper 

 surface. Keep a watch for them after summer begins, and 

 as soon as you find them, go carefully all over the plants, and 

 tear off the leaves, or the parts of leaves, that hold the eggs. 

 Then crush, or burn them, or soak with kerosene. You will 

 save yourself much trouble, and greatly help the vines. 



And one thing is to be remembered of all plants, or parts 

 of plants, that have been pulled on account of the insects 

 or diseases that they may harbor : they are not to go on the 

 compost heap. For there the eggs may hatch, or the bugs 

 live over winter, or the disease live on, so that next year 

 the compost heap will bring trouble to the whole garden. 

 Burning is the best thing for all such plants. 



Below ground the chief pests are grubs, aphis, maggots, 

 and cutworms, all soft-bodied; and wire-worms, hard- 

 bodied. The tiny aphis and maggots, which are numerous 

 and very hard to find (they work on cabbages, the apple, 

 and other plants), can be got at by pouring quantities of 

 kerosene emulsion about the roots. It should be plentiful, 

 but not strong. The fat white grubs and the thin wire-worms 

 may be found by digging at the roots of weakened plants, 



