FERN FOES, AND HOW TO FIGHT THEM. 
65 
Unfortunately, it is not merely a nuisance in its flying 
state— wliicli it assumes about July — but, during tbe earlier 
months of the year, the eggs laid in the preceding autumn 
hatch, and produce a great number of small, brownish insects, 
of sluggish habit, which feed upon the fronds in the same 
way as their parent. At this period, therefore, it is well to 
examine all the evergreen Ferns, and carefully sponge off the 
future flitters. If any are left to attain the flying stage, a 
second generation may confidently be looked for in the autumn. 
The deciduous Ferns remain untouched until the insects fly 
about, the eggs, if any are laid, perishing on the dead fronds. 
Fumigation with tobacco smoke, if very judiciously done, 
will do much to reduce the ranks of these flying and creep- 
ing foes, but in unskilful hands is very apt to damage the 
young and tender growth of the Ferns themselves, especially 
the Maidenhairs ; frequent slight fumigation is therefore 
advisable, rather than a sudden drastic application in full 
force. 
The Fern foes so far described are all comparatively small, 
and only formidable by their numbers. Individually, the 
intrepid Fern-lover, armed with a finger and thumb, and the 
boot-heel already indicated, has a very fair chance of coming 
off the victor in a scrimmage at close quarters. There are, 
however, some which grow to as much as 5ft. or 6ft. high, 
and are even worse than the caterpillar in the ravages 
they commit, several British species having, indeed, been all 
but annihilated by them. These assume various forms ; 
sometimes they look like an ordinary rustic, armed with a 
sack and a trowel, who leaves a lovely Fern-clad lane a verit- 
able wreck before his appetite is satiated ; sometimes they 
look like tourists, who, having the audacity to dub them- 
selves Fern-lovers, make similar raids with even less excuse, 
their prey in most cases being destined to a slow death by 
neglect or careless treatment ; or probably, when later on 
in their tours the freshness of the plants has gone, they are 
abandoned as useless impedimenta, and replaced by the pro- 
ceeds of another piece of vandalism. 
These, in one or other of their varied forms, are mainly 
F 
