==Ants.==—­These extremely interesting insects are frequently troublesome in gardens, and in the spring of the year the small red species mars the appearance of lawns by throwing up numerous heaps of fine soil.  It is easy to destroy them by dropping a mixture of Paris Green and sugar near their runs.  But as Paris Green is a poison, animal life must be considered.  We recommend a simple remedy which entails no danger, but it must be followed up persistently.  Purchase a few common sponges, as large as a man’s fist.  Dissolve one pound of Demerara sugar in two quarts of warm water.  Immerse the sponges, wring out nearly all the liquid, and place them near the ant runs.  Twice daily throw the sponges into hot water, and repeat the process until the ants are cleared.  Nests located under walls can be destroyed by boiling water.

==Caterpillars== cannot often be treated in a wholesale way without injury to the plant.  Hence it is usual to rely on hand-picking, and, tedious as this may be, a little perseverance will accomplish wonders.  We have seen a fruit garden, literally hideous with clusters of Caterpillars in spring, completely cleared by a few days’ steady work, costing but a trifle, and only needing to be conducted so that in removing the vermin there should be no harm done to the crops.  In the same way the Gooseberry grub should be disposed of.  Precautions cannot be taken against Caterpillars, but the careful cultivator will in good time look for patches of eggs and clusters of young Caterpillars on the under sides of leaves, and will carefully nip off the leaves on which the colonies are feeding, and make an end of them.  This enemy cannot be raked in rank and file, but must be taken in detail, as in guerilla warfare.

==Earwigs== are the dread of the florist, for they spoil his best Dahlias and Hollyhocks, and are too partial to Chrysanthemums.  They are readily trapped, as they like to go up to a high, dry, dark retreat; hence a bit of dry moss in a small flower-pot, inverted on a stake, will entice them into your hands; and if you are determined to keep down Earwigs, this way is sure, though, perhaps, not easy, because it must be followed up morning and evening from the beginning of June onwards.  The hollow stems of the Bean make good traps, as indeed do hollow stems of any kind, for Earwigs love to creep into close, dark shelters after their nocturnal meal; and the cultivator who has resolved that he will not be eaten up by them needs only to persevere, and he may depend on trapping every Earwig within the boundaries.  Unfortunately, they use their wings freely, and so travel from the sluggard’s garden to find ’fresh woods and pastures new.’

[Illustration:  Earwig (with wings spread, magnified)]