INSECT AND OTHER PESTS 



Vigorously growing plants are far less liable than are 

 feeble ones to the attacks of the various living enemies 

 which the gardener is called upon to combat. Therefore 

 the most important item in the suppression of insect or 

 fungoid pests is careful and correct culture. But, even 

 in the best kept gardens, green-fly and earwig, slugs, 

 snails and wireworms will appear, and must be dealt 

 with by repressive as well as by preventive measures. 



The green-fly, which is sometimes such a trouble to 

 our roses and fruits, should be treated with vigorous 

 and repeated syringing or hosing with water. If this is 

 found to be inadequate, the affected plants may be 

 washed with tobacco water (made by pouring half a 

 gallon of boiling water on an ounce each of soft soap and 

 shag tobacco, and allowing the strained infusion to cool), 

 or with an emulsion made by stirring well together half a 

 pint of petroleum oil, two ounces of hard soap, and a quart 

 of nearly boiling water, afterwards adding half a gallon 

 of cold water, and thoroughly mixing. This last appli- 

 cation should always be applied in the evening. 



Wireworms, which are such a foe of the carnation 

 grower, may usually be destroyed by spreading gas-lime 

 at the rate of two pounds per square yard over the un- 

 occupied soil in the fall, ploughing or digging it into the 

 ground a month or two later. If this is impracticable, 

 the wireworms may often be trapped by burying pieces 

 of potato at intervals, removing them every few days. 



For destroying the fungus of mildew nothing is more 

 effective than sulphur mixed with soft soap and water 



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