Insect Enemies. 101 



tobacco sprinkled over the bench will kill those it 

 reaches. 



I remember once filling a solid bed for roses, in the 

 soil of which the germs must have been present in quan- 

 tity, as, early in the spring multitudes appeared on the 

 surface. These were most of them killed by covering 

 the surface two inches thick with tobacco stems, leav- 

 ing them there a week before being removed. 



Experiments were also made at that time with a so- 

 lution of potash in water, with good results. 



Perhaps one of the most destructive enemies' of the 

 rose is the White Grub. We occasionally hear of whole 

 benches being destroyed by these pests, often after the 

 plants are one-third grown. If suitable care is taken 

 in the preparation of the soil this should not occur. 

 A season rarely passes in which some are not found, 

 and it is well to have a few plants grown in pots to a 

 good size, with which to replace such as may be de- 

 stroyed. Keep these shifted and in good growing con- 

 dition so that as little time may be lost as possible if it 

 is necessary to use them. If some morning you notice 

 a plant wilting while all around it are doing well, you 

 may be pretty sure the roots have been severed by this 

 grub. Remove the plant and search every inch of soil 

 around it until the grub is found, or in a few days an- 

 other will succumb to its ravages. When present in a 

 bench there is no other way of stopping their work, but 

 tlie better way is not to let them enter the house. As 



