I see that a correspondent of Qardening Illustrated (I
wish that it would cut its learned pages) actually advo-
cates the preservation of wasps because they kill aphis
fly, and states that he never allows a nest to be destroyed,
with excellent results to his garden. Truly, opinions
differ in matters horticultural ! For my part, I prefer
to deal with aphis by means of a quassia solution, and
consider the wasp one of the most pestilent enemies
that the gardener has to face. The damage that it does
to all fruit is simply incalculable, as anybody can find
out who troubles to walk round his Apples and Pears —
if he has any — when they are ripening. The sparrow or
tomtit begins by pecking at them, and the wasp goes on
till that fruit is only fit for the rubbish heap.
With Plums or Grapes, if they can get at them, they
are even worse ; indeed, however many may be destroyed
in bottles half filled with beer and sugar, the only eflBcient
protection is to inclose the fruits or bunches in muslin
bags — a laborious and expensive process. The one
thing that wasps will not eat, so far as my experience
goes, is Tomatoes ; indeed, I always like to set a few of
these plants in the Peach house, as I believe that their
odour keeps wasps away. I consider that noxious
insect's sole recommendation is that nothing can beat
it as a scavenger.
