The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-05-19
HOW TO PROTECT ROSE
 BUSHES FROM THE APHIS

Washington, May 1s-When new growth starts on the rose bushes in the spring and throughout theN sum- mer and fall, the young growth and the flower buds and stems of rose bushes are often covered with a small green or pinkish plant-louse.s known as the rose aphis which sucks the sap from the tender portion of the plant and causes an unhealthy curled condition of tie foliage and disap- pointment in the number and quality of the flowers produced.
 The rose aphis passes the winter in the egg stage on the stems and dormant buds ofAthe rose bushes, ac- cording to A D. Hopkins, Forest En- tonrologist, U. S. Department of SAsriculture- The insects haichlng from these eggs reach maturity in about 15 to 20 days. all being wing less They are pear-shaped and either bright green or pinkish in color At this stage they begin to produce living. young, each individual in course Of about 20 days producing 50 to 100 young which, on maturity are either winged or wingIess and in turn either green. or pinkisI1- Thus the tender growth soon becomes crowded with Fariouse sizes, colors and shapes Of Aphfdes, and, to insure their progeny with an adequate food supply the wingless mothers nigrat4 to less
  fly to other rose bushes, each start ing a solony for herself In favora- bIe weather conditions. especially in humid atmosphere, many genera tions may thus follow one another COW ering every bit of green vegetation on the bush with their bodies, their cast skins, honeydew, and the result ing sooty fungus It can easily be eeen that, had every aphis produced in the course of season lived it's full life. the progeny of single over winterings sgg would run into mil lions. s
 The presence Of ants on the rose bushes is an indication that the aphis is present. because the ants collect the honey dew from the apzaides and, to a certain extent, protect the aphides Z from their insect enemies.
 Natural Control.
 As above indicated, the rose aphis t1lr4vea best in cloudy, humEd, warm atxnosphere, hence Eith-the appear a.nce Of a hot and dry spell they of. ten disappear as suddenly as they appeared
 Aside from a variety of ca11ses, like driving rains, winds, etc, which deci- mate it's numbers considerably, the rose aptis is, attacked by other i'm ve1op from eggs deposited in their bodies. 1Ladybirds. 1acewing flies, and the larvae of two-winged flies caIl- ed syraphus h1esNare among the for lnerz and a number of species of tiny kasp-lfke insects represent the internal parasites. Sometimes these natural agencies of control are sufficient to keep the aphfdes SO reduced in num-. bers that they do little or no -harm-' Notwithstanding the effectiveness of natural checks, however. their in termfttent character unfortunately render their help often too late to save the flower crop. It is always ad- yisabIe. therefore, to watch rose bushes for. aphides and to apply reme- dies as soon as they are discov- cred.
 Remedies.
 Fortunately the rose aphis readily auccunbs to artificial methods of control and, with the different styles of spray pumps on the market, there is no excuse for allowing roses to suf- fer from these insects.
 The simplest, most comm only used, and often quite effective remedy is to turn a fine but forceful stream of water on them by means of the gar den hose. Applied often enough this gives satisfactory results.
 Solutions of fish-oiI or cheaper grades of soap are often useful as a prompt remedy The soap is used at the rate of I pound to 4 gallons of
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