The Garden Magazine 
JUNE, 1916 
UST as surely as the month of June comes round and the 
wealth of Rose blooms appears in our garden, so also may 
we expect our readers to bewail the advent of that pest 
of pests, the rose bug or rose chafer. It is, indeed, one 
of the most troublesome of all the insects of the garden, dis- 
figuring not only the Rose but equally the Peony and other 
ornamental plants as well as many vegetables and fruits, 
especially the flowers of the grape vine, a fact that many gar- 
den lovers do not realize, in their own indignation. So seri- 
ous is the pest from an economic point of view that it has 
attracted the attention of the Washington authorities and 
forms the subject of a recent Farmers’ Bulletin. Unfortun- 
ately, there is not much balm to our injured feelings in the 
Bulletin, however, for “a thoroughly effective remedy against 
this insect is yet to be discovered.” While this is poor satis- 
faction it will, at all events, tend to allay excitement. “Any 
application that may be made is unsuccessful unless applied 
almost continuously, for as often as the beetles on a plant 
are killed, others arise from the ground or from neighboring 
fields to take their place. Whatever practice of a remedial 
nature is undertaken, whether collecting or spraying, it 
should be begun at the first onset of the insects’ attack and 
continued until they disappear. Ornamental plants that are 
hardy may possibly be protected by a heavy application of 
arsenate of lead, using 4 or 5 pounds to 50 gallons of either 
water or bordeaux mixture.” 
The rose chafer is extremely sensitive to disturbance when 
it is in the pupal stage in the soil. Since both larvae and 
beetles are very tenacious of life, the pupal stage appears to 
furnish the most vulnerable period of attack and large num- 
bers may be destroyed by simply stirring the breeding 
grounds at the proper time to a depth of three or more inches. 
In northern Ohio the most favorable time for the application 
of this remedy is from May 25th to June 10th. In the South 
the operation should be commenced earlier. All ground 
which might serve as a breeding place should be plowed and 
harrowed at the proper time. The least possible light sandy 
soil should be left in sod, only the heavfest land being used 
for grass. eis 7 
Besides the damage done to vegetation, the beetles some- 
times cause the death of ¥ x ‘chickens which eat the in- 
sects; poisoning results 2 
24 hours. er 
The character of the soil bears an important relation to the 
appearance of the rose chafer. Light sandy regions are 
greatly preferred as a breeding ground, while clay lands, 
unless near sandy soil, are seldom troubled. 
In THE GARDEN MAGAZINE for May, 1915, was an account 
of the “Babcock-Lasher Formula,’ which was reported as 
quite efficacious against the rose bug—and was later en- 
dorsed by several readers who tried it in their gardens. This 
is 100 gallons water, 15 pounds fish oil soap, 1 pint crude car- 
bolic acid. Shred the soap and dissolve it by boiling in the 
water. Add carbolic acid while agitating. This spray kills 
by contact. Officers of the Geneva (New York) Station re- 
port favorably on the Babcock-Lasher formula, and it may 
prove to be quite practical for ornamental plants like Roses 
and Peonies. The mitigating factor, however, about the rose 
bug is that its invasion is soon over, and due care as sug- 
gested above, with protection by screen coverings of the most 
desired flowers, will help much. 
ie death of the chicken within 
THE matter of summer sprays is often overlooked; the 
efficiency and the convenience of the winter spray for all 
outdoor hardy trees and shrubs has served to focus atten- 
tion on the major troubles against which it is employed, and 
there is perhaps a danger of overlooking the later mid- 
summer opportunities or rather necessities. Among the 
troubles of the season are the many forms of plant louse (or 
aphis) which may infest almost anything, and always seem 
to come with certain ornamentals, Roses and Chrysanthe- 
mums in particular, also Cherries and Golden Glow, to name 
only a few conspicuous cases. 
Against these the preparations of tobacco offer a handy 
remedy, clean in the handling and easy in the application— 
merely mix with sufficient water and apply, as a spray of 
course. Kerosene emulsions are also available, but less 
handy and dirtier. And in addition, the up-to-date gardener 
will be using some copper solution (bordeaux) as a preven- 
tive against the fungus attacks to which the other garden 
crops are heir. Timely spraying is cheap insurance indeed. 
DPS CMe 
THE necessity of a decidedly exact statement of the 
4 controlling factors is constantly brought to the notice 
of those among us to whom others in trouble of one sort 
or another make appeal for help; help that is gladly given 
when the question is so clearly put that the actual needs are 
expressed. One thing that many inquirers seem to forget is 
that we have before us only the facts that are written down 
in the question, whereas the inquirer’s mental picture is 
enframed by many other things. He knows the history of his 
own case—we don’t; he knows his soil—we don’t; he knows 
to a large degree what he has done or not done—we don’t. 
Particularly trying it is to have a leaf of a tree or shrub 
enclosed with a request that the exact cause of death be diag- 
nosed; or again (which is far more usual) some bald state- 
ment of trouble only is written down and we are asked to 
build up a complete catalogue of errors and omissions. It 
must be remembered that the plant is a living organism and 
reacts to a multitude of environmental factors. All of which 
foregoing is by way of asking our readers to take us into their 
confidence when asking for help. 
RIN CG 
MR. E. H. WILSON’S series of articles begun this time 
last year concludes with this issue. In many respects the 
present article on Rhododendrons is of more general 
importance to American gardens than any of the preceding 
because it draws back the curtain upon a distant scene dimly 
outlined, but surely existent. A path of progress is opened 
up. Who will lead? 
These contributions have been by far the most important 
writings of recent American gardening literature. They have 
been stimulating, instructive, inspiring and prophetic. In the 
name of American horticulture, THE GARDEN MAGAZINE takes 
this occasion to express to this author some token of appre- 
ciation of the work done and the enthusiasm that inspired it. 
The ultimate fruits of these labors cannot now be measured; 
but that our horticulture has progressed on to a higher place 
is abundantly evident. Mr. Wilson’s pressing other duties 
will likely fully engage his time and energies for the imme- 
diate future, but he will doubtless be heard from again. 
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