THREE KINGDOMS. 



the work of years in ruins. Corrosive sublimate ap- 

 plied with a soft brush is the best remedy known. It 

 should be dissolved almost to saturation in strong 

 alcohol, arid the bottle plainly marked as poisonous. 

 Keep the solution out of the way of small children 

 and irresponsible persons. Small plants may be di- 

 rectly immersed in the fluid, contained for the time in 

 a shallow pan. 



Prevention is better than cure. Keep the bugs out 

 in the first place. Cases cannot be too tight. Mr. 

 Sereno Watson tells us that he would rather rely on a 

 tight case than on the poison itself. Inquire always 

 whether plants received in exchange have been prop- 

 erly poisoned. Quarantine them until you are sure. 

 If, despite all precautions, the cases become infested, 

 fumigate them with bisulphide of carbon. Here, again, 

 bear in mind that this liquid is dangerously inflam- 

 mable. Put a little of it in each case. In a few hours 

 it will evaporate. Then open windows and ventilate 

 the room before bringing lights, or fire of any kind, 

 near. 



Plants are mounted in various ways according to 

 individual taste and judgment. Sometimes they are 

 stuck down by slips of adhesive paper ; oftener by 

 glue. We ourselves employ Le Page's carriage-glue, 

 and thus escape the nuisance of a glue-pot. The 

 medium is always ready. Apply the glue lightly on 

 one side of the plant, laid for the time on a sheet of 

 waste paper. Then lay the plant, sticky side down, 

 on the sheet to which it is to be fixed. Place over 

 it some drying paper, and apply light pressure. We 

 often mount a hundred plants in a day. Put only one 

 species on a sheet. In order to make your heap lie 

 smooth in the case, and without bulging in the middle, 

 place some plants on one margin of the page ; others 

 on the opposite margin ; some at the top, others at 



