THE FRUIT GARDEN. 



S93 



The bug or coccus genus. — Of this genus there are several 

 species, chiefly named from the plants on whicli they feed, 

 such as the pine-bug, vine-bug, orange-bug, and peach-bug ; 

 the tln-ee first are generally found in hot-houses, and will be 

 noticed in the Forcing-garden. The bug found upon the 

 peach should be brushed or rubbed off, and if that practice 

 be persevered in, it will soon clear the trees of them. All 

 washes and powders are to be considered merely as palliatives ; 

 nothing will eradicate these insects equally to picking them off. ^ 



The Thrips genus consists of very small insects, which are 

 sometimes very troublesome in melon and cucumber frames. 

 Water dashed upon the leaves will di'ive them off, and fumiga- 

 tions of tobacco may also be used. The shoots and leaves, 

 which they attack, become shrivelled, brov/n, and pulverize 

 between the fingers, as if they were burnt. They are curious 

 insects when viewed through the microscope. They have four 

 wings, and walk with the lower part of their body turned up- 

 ward. 



The Chermes, is a genus very generally confounded with the 

 aphis. It also inhabits the leaves and stems of plants, and 

 by its punctures produces excrescences of various sizes and 

 shapes, which generally contain the egg or immature insect in 

 the larva state. Its destruction is similar to that of the aphis. 



The genus of PJialcencs, or moths. — Of these, the cabbage, 

 gooseberry, currant, and codling-moths, are most destructive 

 to garden productions ; and, in their caterpillar state, are found 

 on the leaves of the plants, on which they feed, and from 

 which they derive their name. In the latter part of summer 

 they are to be picked off by the hand, or where the leaves are 

 much eaten with them, may be gathered off and carried away. 

 Young ducks, and otlier domesticated birds, will help to keep 

 them down. 



Catching the winged insect is found to be the most effectual 

 method of keeping under these insects. This is done by using 

 a gauze net, which should not be above three or four feet in 

 circumference, eighteen inches or more deep, and attached to 

 a whalebone rim or hoop ; the handle should be six feet long ; 

 with this net, a boy should be kept going round the garden, 

 and when the insects, in their butterfly or moth state, are fly- 



3e 



