174 



THE BOOK OF THE ROSE 



CHAP. 



perhaps, that out of doors, in the spring months at 

 least, the air, earth, and foliage are almost always 

 very damp at night from dew, which much refreshes 

 the foliage. 



Insect pests of all kinds, and especially aphides, will 

 come whether the house be damp or dry. Prevention 

 is better than cure, and sharp eyes constantly looking 

 for the first aphis, assisted by ready fingers to catch and 

 destroy it at once, form the best protection. I remember, 

 on going through a large range of glass houses, where 

 different flowers, not Roses, were grown, hearing a boy 

 who was evidently employed there addressed as "Mealy." 

 On enquiring whether that was really his name or only 

 a sobriquet, I was informed that it was his sole business 

 to go over all the houses from end to end and look for 

 " mealy bug." There had been a great visitation of this 

 pest, which is very difficult to exterminate, and con- 

 stantly reappears ; but the boy's eye became by training 

 and sole use so sharp at its detection, that the houses 

 were quite clear of it before long, and " Mealy " got a 

 change of occupation, and I hope of name. 



A determination that no aphis shall be seen is a 

 saving of trouble in the end, but there are now safe and 

 effectual insecticides which may be used in spraying and 

 syringing without the disagreeable and dangerous fumi- 

 gation with tobacco. But in such cases it should be 

 remembered that one or two of the enemy are sure to 

 have escaped : a close examination the next day is neces- 

 sary, and often a second application may be desirable. 



When the blooms are just ready to open we may take 

 a hint from Nature, and, remembering that Roses in the 

 open, especially H.P.s, are far better when a dull cooler 

 day follows after some hot weather, endeavour to shade 

 the plants from the full sun, and keep them, if possible, 



