BOW TO DESTROY IKSBCTS. 



43 



Tlirips and Small JPots. 



" If you would get rid of tlirips yoii must rise early. 

 Perhaps you do not know the creatures personally„ 

 Allow me to introduce thein to y(;u, lest you encounter 

 them unawares. I will tell you what I know about 

 them, though they will hardly keep still long enough for 

 me to give them a critical examination. 



The thrip is a small^ white fly; pure white it looks 

 on the leaf, on the under side of which it is usually 

 found. The moment you touch the leaf it is ready to 

 fly into your face, nose, eyes, and all over you. 



" The only cure for them is tol;)acco-smoke. As I 

 cannot apply that remedy I have to take tliem early in 

 the morning, before they get wanned up enough to 

 make them lively. I took a salvia one morning and 

 plunged it. head foremost, into a tub of water. Tbe 

 vexatious creatures would not drown or be drowned. 

 They rose in myriads out of the water, like a flock of 

 doves. I stirred the water round and round, and came 

 to the conclusion that they vrere more difficult to kill 

 than a cat, wiiich is said to have nine lives. The method 

 I am now taking to dispose of them is to lift the leaves 

 very gently ^ in order not to disturb their nap^ and to 

 wipe them off with a wet sponge, taking care to kill 

 every one. I hope, by care and perseverance, to rid 

 myself of this pest. They are very troublesome on sal- 

 vias, lantanas, bouvardias, and roses. If you should be 

 so unfortunate as to be troubled with them, you will 



