PESTS AND DISEASES. 
87 
sponge contains a lot of these pests, dip it in boiling water. 
In the event of the roots of outdoor plants being infested 
sprinkle guano thinly on the soil around each plant. 
Aphides. — The forms of aphides known as Greenfly 
(Rhophalosiphon Dianthi) and the Black Fly (Aphis Rumicis) 
infest the points of the shoots and also the leaves, damaging 
the cell structure by piercing the epidermis and sucking out 
the sap. These repeated punctures cripple the growth of the 
shoot and leaves, as well as prevent the stomata or leaf pores 
from carrying out their proper functions, owing to the surface 
being coated with the honeydew secretion left by the insects. 
As the flies multiply very rapidly it naturally follows that a 
great deal of mischief will be done in a short time if the pests 
are not destroyed. 
Remedies. — In the case of the shoots being infested dust 
them with tobacco powder, leave it for a day, then syringe 
it off with water. Syringing with one of the many excellent 
insecticides advertised in “ Amateur Gardening," or with 
the following home-made solution, will also be effectual. 
Boil two ounces of soft soap in a gallon of water for ten 
minutes, then add an egg-cupful of parafiSn oil. Pour this 
into a two-gallon bucket, fill up with water, stir thor- 
oughly, and apply in a fine spray to the foliage during 
the evening. Other good and simple remedies are an ounce 
of carbonate of ammonia dissolved in a gallon of soft water; 
or 2lb. of soda and loz. of aloes, dissolved in a gallon of 
hot water. All insecticides are best applied in the evening 
of a warm day. Fumigation with one of the many prepara- 
tions sold for the purpose in the manner advised in 
Chapter II. may also be practised under glass. 
Black Fly. — See Aphides. 
Bugs. — Several kinds of these are hurtful to the buds 
of the chrysanthemum. The one we shall specially mention 
here is Anthocoris memorum. The perfect insect measures 
one-eighth of an inch in length ; head and fore-part of body 
shiny black ; feelers yellow, with black tips ; legs yellow, 
with a black band round the hindermost thigh ; feet black ; 
wings brownish-yellow. It punctures the buds and prevents 
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