18 



CHAPTER IV. 



INSECTS. 



General Jackson Is the author of the phrase that ** Eternal 

 vigilance is the price of Liberty," the truth of which is 

 doubted by none in the sense in which he meant it. I wish to 

 repeat it in relation to the freedom of plants from insects. 



I scarcely know what words to use in order to impress 

 upon the mind of the reader in the most forcible manner the 

 importance of keeping the plants free from insects. These 

 parasites will attack plants that are in perfect health, though 

 they are less liable to attack than plants that are diseased, and 

 unless they are annihilated right speedily, the plant, being 

 robbed of its life-blood, will become diseased, and death will 

 inevitably follow. Some of these vampires are so small as to 

 be scarcely visible to the naked eye, but under a powerful 

 microscope they appear to be monsters. Since microscopes 

 can be procured now by a trifling outlay, we Avould advise the 

 reader to obtain one; the study of the life and habits of many 

 insects will prove Interesting, and by examining your flowers 

 when highly magnifled, a world of beauty will be unfolded to 

 your gaze of which you never dreamed j^ou were the delighted 

 possessor ; but to return to the insects. The ancient adage that 

 "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure'' is so very 

 appropriate and truthful in this connection that we cannot 

 refrain from quoting it; in fact we want to quote it because It 

 is the doctrine we desire to teach. Perhaps the best preventa- 

 tive that can be used is to keep the plants 'perfectly clean and 

 well syringed, and see that all their other needs, such as moist- 

 ure, heat, air, soil, etc., are supplied ; in fact keep your plants 

 in good health, and you will not be troubled so much with 

 insects. The benefits to be derived from having the plants in 

 good health is that they will be better prepared to repel the 

 enemy or support it until its ravages become visible. I'ou 

 may ask, " How can I best keep my plants clean?" All plants 

 that have smooth, glossy leaves may be cleansed by the free 

 use of warm water and a sponge ; cold water will do equally as 

 well if the leaves are not greasy or glutinous, still we belive 

 that with water heated to about blood heat the blemish can be 

 more speedily removed. The leaves, both the upper and 



