70 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
breathing pores of the leaves, and prevent the latter carrying 
on their natural functions. Moreover, the honeydew attracts 
atmospheric deposits, and promotes the growth of injurious 
fungi. Directly aphides are detected on plants the latter should 
be promptly syringed with an insecticide. Many excellent 
insecticides are advertised in “ Amateur Gardening,” but a good 
home-made preparation may be made as follows : Boil for a 
quarter of an hour one pound of soft soap in a gallon of water 
— rain water if possible — then add a pint of paraffin oil and 
well stir the solution. Put the solution in a large jar, and keep 
corked till required for use. When to be used add a pint to 
seven gallons of water. Use a fine syringe or a sprayer, and 
well moisten the whole of the foliage. Evening is the best 
time to do it. 
Another species of Aphis must not be overlooked, namely, 
the Root Aphis (Trama Troglodytes). This is a woolly species 
which infests the roots and stems of the Auricula. In case of 
infestation lift the plants, wash the roots well in soap suds, and 
replant in a fresh site. Some soapy water containing a little 
paraffin should also be forced into the hole vacated by the 
plants to destroy any left behind. 
Birds. — These on the whole do more good than harm in 
the flower garden. The only one that may be said to do any 
injury is the House Sparrow. He is certainly very partial to 
opening flowers of the Crocus and to the young shoots of 
Pinks and Carnations. He tears the petals of the former to 
pieces in a wanton way, and nips off the points of the shoots 
of the latter, preventing them forming strong flowering stems. 
His mischievous antics can, however, be easily circumvented by 
placing a few short sticks in the ground, and winding strands 
of black cotton backwards to these a few inches above the 
surface. The sparrow does not ooserve ttie cotton till it comes 
in contact with his wings, and then he becomes frightened and 
speedily beats a retrear. 
Carnation Maggot (Hylemyia nigrescens). — The 
yellowish, wrinkled and legless maggot often found in the 
shoots and stems of carnations is the larva of a small fly. 
The fly lays its eggs in the points of the young shoots, and 
when the larva hatches it tunnels the leaves and then the 
shoots. The larva can only be extracted by slitting open the 
