t62 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



Rust, a pest which, if not dealt with as soon as noticed, will 

 ■cause serious trouble to the grower. Insects and several 

 molluscs w^ill attack the blossoms, and in the case of exhibition 

 plants, timely remedies must be employed, or after months of 

 careful attention, the grower's fondest hopes will be rudely 

 shattered. In this chapter it is only necessary to briefly note 

 the chief offenders, and to call attention to the best means 

 of dealing with, or preventing, such attacks in the future. 



Aphides.— 'T\\^^Q are amongst the most destructive insects 

 infesting Chrysanthemums ; they multiply very rapidly, and 

 quickly sap the very life from the plants. Frequently they are 

 present in incredible numbers, though the "greenflies" at any 

 l*ate approximate so closely to their surroundings, that they are 

 not so readily seen as the " black fly " [Aphis ru7?iicis), which is 

 also troublesome. Under glass, the new vaporising insecticides 

 are the best remedies to employ : they are easily applied, and 

 very effective and cheap. Before using any insecticide it will be 

 well to remove any of the Ladybirds and their larvae, the leech- 

 like larv^ of the Hawk-fly {Sy?phus lucorum), or even the gaily- 

 apparelled if gauzy-looking Lacewing Flies. All these insects are 

 working in man's best interests, and should be preserved. They 

 are the natural enemies of Aphides, and they will consume vast 

 numbers in a short time. Outdoors, a weak solution of carbolic 

 soft soap will be sufficient to cleanse the plants of the " green- 

 fly " and "black fly," both of which species, as already stated, 

 are at times troublesome. This will be rendered more effective 

 if applied luke-warm. 



Earwigs are most destructive at times to Chrysanthemum 

 blossoms, and in a single night will disfigure the best of flowers, 

 rendering them quite unfit for show. They should always be 

 trapped with loosely-rolled tissue-paper, old dusters laid in the 

 vicinity of the plants, or by means of an inverted flower-pot 

 half-filled with hay and stood upon the stakes. It may here be 

 stated that Earwigs, though as a rule vegetarians and destructive 

 to many plants, occasionally forsake such a diet for one of 

 flesh, and then they even render the gardener service by 

 devouring aphides, thrips, and other injurious pests. 



Leaf-Mining Fly. — Occasionally the leaves of Chrysanthemums 

 and closely-allied plants sufler from the attacks of that plague of 

 the Marguerite-grower, Phytomyza nigricoi^nis. This fly deposits its 

 eggs upon the foliage ; the larvae are in due time hatched out, 

 and feed between the two surfaces. Their presence is revealed by 

 a blister-like swelling and by white or light-coloured zigzag tracks 

 over the leaves. Feeding as they do, the pests are difficult to 

 eradicate by means of insecticides; but, by way of prevention, the 

 leaves of the plants may be sprayed with a weak emulsion of 

 paraffin or with a quassia-chip solution ; or fumigation will make 



