96 



GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



is very satisfactoiy, as it is repulsive to most insects, and 

 hastens the growth of the plants. 



The following are some of the most troublesome of these 

 pests : 



Aphides, or plant lice, some species of which peculiar to 

 itself are found on almost every plant. They multiply with 

 astonishing rapidity. They are best destroyed by tobacco 

 juice. Steep the leaves until the solution is of a dark 

 brown color, and mix with an equal quantity of strong 

 soapsuds; dip the affected branch in the liquid, or sprin- 

 kle it liberally over the affected parts. Repeat as often as 

 one makes its appearance. The green aphis, which is 

 very injurious to rose bushes and other plants, may be 

 thus destroyed. 



The Woolly Aphis is found mostly upon the apple tree. 

 It is a small dark-colored insect, covered with a white 

 woolly substance that conceals its body. Destroy the first 

 one that makes it appearance. Scrape the bark smooth 

 if rough, wash the tree, and fill every crevice with Har- 

 ris's Composition : Two parts soft-soap and eight of 

 water, thickened with lime to the consistency of thick 

 whitewash, or wash with a solution of two pounds potash 

 to seven quarts of water. If the roots are affected, they 

 must also be washed, and fresh earth put about them. The 

 best application to the roots is strong tobacco-water poured 

 about them after removing the surface soil. 



The Scaly Aphis, a bark louse, infests the bark of the 

 apple tree. They are of a dark brown color like the bark. 

 Tobacco-water and soapsuds applied to them the last of 

 May, while they are young, will destroy them. 



Ants may be killed by pouring boiling water into their 

 hillocks ; or may be caught in the wide-mouthed bottles 

 containing sweetened water, which are general extermina- 

 tors of moths, insects, and beetles of all kinds. 



