I090 THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



altogether, and without apparent reason, if the plants are not 

 lifted and examined ; or, again, there may be wart-like excrescences 

 on the roots ; bulbs (like Onions) may show signs of decay ; 

 Vines sometimes have a " cankerous " growth just beneath the 

 soil, and the bark just at the roots may be removed ; while 

 the roots and foliage of other plants may be distorted, stunted, 

 and unhealthy-looking. When once a plant is badly attacked cure 

 is practically out of the question. The soil should be removed 

 and deeply buried, and a fresh compost should be employed, 

 first charring it, or rendering it free from the pest by pouring 

 over it boiling water. These remedies are only applicable when 

 the disease is restricted, as for instance in the case of flowers, 

 fruit, or vegetables under glass. Outside the pests are more 

 difficult to control. Wherever kainit can be employed this is 

 most beneficial. It should be used in conjunction with basic slag 

 — two parts of the latter to one of the former. 2|lb. of the 

 combination to the square yard, if well forked in, will not be any 

 too much. By way of preventive measures, turfy loam, when used 

 comparatively fresh from the land for pot-plants, should be baked 

 or scalded, while all affected plants should be destroyed by fire. 

 Turf stacked for future use should be treated between each layer 

 to a dressing of mustard refuse as for Wireworms, using it 

 plentifully. An alternation of crops should, wherever possible, 

 be resorted to. Onions, for instance, should not follow Onions. 

 Trenching Eelworm-infested soil would also help to get rid of 

 the pests outdoors. 



Fruit-Tree Bark Beetle [Scofytus rugulosus). — As the generic 

 name suggests this pest is a relative of the Elm Bark Beetle. 

 It infests many fruit-trees, but chiefly Apples, Pears, Plums, 

 and Cherries. Though it has been so far most destructive to 

 young and weak trees, yet its attacks are not confined to 

 such. Probably the first signs that something is amiss with the 

 trees that the gardener notices are the dying away of twigs. A 

 more careful examination should reveal the holes in the bark, and 

 if this be removed for a little way the holes in the wood will be 

 found. The Beetles enter the tree in spring, and then form a 

 short, narrow channel, in which they deposit their eggs. The 

 grubs when hatched commence to tunnel away from the galleries 

 made by the parent Beetle. 



The Fruit-Tree Bark Beetle is scarcely ^in. long, furrowed, 

 and of a dull black colour, relieved only by the reddish antenna 

 and legs. The grub, like that of all wood-feeding insects, is 

 white. Insecticides are not of any use. All that the fruit- 

 grower can do is to burn infested shoots and twigs; while in 

 very bad cases, in which the tree has been considerably weak- 

 ened, it will be better to uproot it altogether and burn it. 



Lackey Moth {Bombyx neustria).—k common and destructive 

 pest in gardens and pleasure-grounds. The caterpillars are very 



