144 



THE BOOK OF THE HOSE 



CHAP. 



be seen among them they should be hunted and 

 destroyed. 



Earliest in appearance among the moth larvae is what 

 is generally known as the black grub. This is " the 

 worm i 5 the bud," the Rose grub par excellence, being the 

 larva of a pretty and delicate-looking moth (Tortrix). 

 It may be found in April or even earlier, the first strong 

 pushing shoots of maiden plants being often infested. 

 It is more like a fat brown maggot than a caterpillar, 

 but has the power of spinning a thread with which 

 it fastens the leaves together to form its concealment ; 

 and it can let itself down to the ground when disturbed 

 by a line which serves for a ladder on its return. 

 A little experience of the proper appearance of healthy 

 Rose foliage and of the twisted and folded leaves which 

 betray the presence of this pest will suffice for its 

 discovery on a developed shoot, but it is not always 

 so easy to detect it on the precious first pushing bud 

 of a maiden plant. If any such bud should make 

 a little start and then stop, showing no signs of growth 

 since the last visit, it should be carefully examined and 

 probed ; in most cases the stoppage will be found to be 

 the work of the black grub, which should be promptly 

 destroyed. 



Next in point of time, and continuing much later, 

 is another moth larva, of the same group (Tortricina), 

 and with the same sort of manners and customs. This 

 is a dark green grub with a black head, and not so 

 plump in body. It folds the leaves together in the 

 same way, and generally acts in the same obnoxious 

 manner ; but it is more active, and has the power of 

 running backwards as quickly as forwards, so that it 

 will often escape and fall to the ground, where it lies 

 quite still and is not easily found. 



