106 



Nitrate of soda has been recommended as offensive 

 to the wireworms, and it may be so, but we can de- 

 cidedly recommend, both as offensive and destructive 

 to this marauder, the gas lime. This, which is an 

 impure sulphuret of lime, and mixed also with sul- 

 phureted hydrogen, is most destructive of insect life. 

 Earl Talbot has tried it extensively on his farms, and 

 reported it to the Royal Agricultural Society as highly 

 efficacious. 



The Earwig (Forficula auricularia) is an insect too 

 well known to need particular description ; yet, com- 

 mon as it is, few persons are aware that it is a winged 

 insect, and that all such remedies as tying wool, &c. 

 round the stems of dahlias to prevent its ascent are 

 consequently nugatory. The wings are transparent, 

 of large size, and, when expanded, are shaded like a 

 fan. When not in use, they are folded up beneath 

 two small horny wing-cases, and being quite concealed, 

 to common observers the insect appears wingless. It 

 delights in shady, damp places, and advantage is 

 taken of this to entrap it near the flowers on which it 

 feeds. 



The petals of the dahlia are its favourite food ; and 

 Mr. Marnock, in remarking upon this, justly observes, 

 that blooms for ornament and for exhibition are two 

 very different things : the former should be looked for 

 in varieties of small growth, which throw their blos- 

 soms well out from the foliage, and are of a decided 



