2p2 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



for cut flowers and for plants for window-gardening had increased consid- 

 erably during the past season, and people are displaying more taste in 

 home adornments and a better class of flowers and plants are called for; 

 the demand for bedding plants was greater last spring than for several 

 years previous. There were two serious evils which he encountered, viz.: 

 the black rust upon the verbena and the mealy-bug, for neither of which 

 had he found a remedy. 



The President. — I have been troubled with the mealy-bugs upon 

 my plants; I had a box in which fine plants were growing which became 

 infested ; I inclosed them in glass, carried them out of doors and shut in 

 numbers of lady-bugs, which soon destroyed them. 



Prof. Thomas, — The Lady-bug will not endure much heat; -you 

 cannot keep them among your plants in a warm room. 



Secretary Galusha. — Mrs. Jones, of Indiana, stated in the recent 

 meeting at Normal, 111., that dilute liquid ammonia sprinkled over the 

 mealy-bugs will destroy them. 



Mr. O'Neil.' — I destroy this insect by syringing with cold water — 

 almost at the freezing-point; I kill oleander scales with a decoction of 

 quassia. 



Mr. Williams. — Cold water won't wet them; it will slip from them 

 like water from a duck's back, and if you put on enough to chill them to 

 death you will hurt your plants. Alcohol, forty-five per cent, strength, 

 will kill them, but this, too, is injurious to plants. 



Mr. O'Neil. — I destroy the green fly by syringing with a strong 

 decoction of tobacco, which is better and cheaper than fumigating the 

 plants. 



Mr. Crow. — I brush off the insects about once a week and kill them ; 

 very cold water is injurious to greenhouse plants. 



Mr. Williams. — I wish Dr. Thomas would investigate the habits of 

 the Mealy-bug ; the old ones go into winter quarters and seem to come 

 out a million for each mother bug; I don't understand how it is. 



The meeting was adjourned to two o'clock. 



