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injury to the root systems by burrowing in the soil and, when abundant, they 
may cause actual injury by feeding on the roots and root crowns. Plants in 
infested pots appear unhealthy, and root rots often follow the attacks of 
these insects. 
Earth worirs often find their way into soil used in potting plants and 
breed very rapidly under favorable conditions. While they do not injure 
the plants through direct attack, the worms in the soil may injure the 
delicate root system by their continuous tunnelling. 
Lea f-eating insects, such as caterpillars and other wormlike forms, 
beetles, and grasshoppers, which feed by biting or tearing and swallowing 
portions of the foliage and flowers of plants, may at times invade flower 
boxes and defoliate the plants. They rarely occur on plants in the home. 
As only a few specimens are likely to be found, these may be collected and 
destroyed. In case of a heavy infestation, the infested plants should be 
treated with a spray made by adding 3 tablespoonfuls of lead arsenate powder 
to a gallon of water. 
Control Recommendations 
Prevention.— "The householder must be constantly on guard to see 
that plants brought into the house are not infested with insects. It is 
much easier to keep an insect from being introduced than to eradicate an 
infestation after it has become established. When plants are to be brought 
into the house or placed in a window box, a thorough inspection of the plants 
and pots should be made to see that they are not infested with any pests. 
Whenever repotting is necessary, be sure that insect-free soil and pots are 
used. Bouquets that are brought into the house should be examined to see 
that they do not harbor any pest which may be readily transferred to other 
plants. 
Treatm ent.' — The control of these pests, once they have become estab- 
lished on the plant, is dependent upon a timely, careful, and thorough 
application of the proper remedy, In some cases applications at weekly 
intervals may be required. Since scales, mealybugs, aphids, whiteflies, and 
red spiders obtain their food by sucking the plant juices, they cannot be 
reached with a stomach poison, such as lead arsenate, paris green, or calcium 
arsenate. It is necessary to apply a material to the body of the insect so 
as to kill by actual contact. There are many such materials on the market, 
the most common of v/hich are nicotine sulfate, pyrethrum dusts and extracts, 
derris powder and extracts, tobacco dust, white oil emulsions, and thio- 
cyanate sprays. 
Manufacturers who sell their products interstate are required by law 
to label plainly all packages containing insecticides and to show the 
quantity of the active ingredients so the buyer can readily satisfy himself 
that he is obtaining the proper material. Directions for the use of commer- 
cial preparations are usually given on the containers in which they are sold. 
