230 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



enemies which infest them, and render their health and ex- 

 istence precarious, are matters of much concern to floricul- 

 turists. The diseases are numerous, and the remedies very 

 uncertain. The insect enemies which usually attack house 

 plants at least, are, fortunately, not so numerous, and 

 although destructive, may be successfully coped with. But 

 they must have prompt attention. To parley with them is 

 only giving them an opportunity to become masters of the 

 situation, and, that accomplished, they will never call a 

 halt until the plants are totally destroyed or worthless. 

 Here is where the old maxim, " prevention is better than 

 cure," is paricularly applicable. Many remedies are recom- 

 mended, each one said to be better than another ; but any 

 one of them is good enough, if only applied promptly and 

 perseveringly. 



It seems to be the general opinion that only a few kinds 

 of plants are well adapted for house culture; for we seldom 

 find any but the most common thus employed. That is not 

 to be wondered at, seeing there are so many plants which 

 certainly do not succeed well in the house, and few people 

 care to experiment extensively; so they generally use such 

 plants as, from experience or observation, they are assured 

 will do well in their living rooms. As the house culture 

 of plants, is comparatively speaking, in its infancy, in this 

 western country at least, and as one cultivator after another 

 begins, by growing only such plants as he finds his neigh- 

 bors growing, and those the most common, such as gerani- 

 ums, fuchsias begonias, etc., it takes some time before a 

 knowledge of the adaptability of the less common kinds be- 

 comes general. The number of kinds well adapted for 

 house culture is by no means so very limited. Many choice 

 plants which, until recently, were considered unfitted for 

 the purpose, have been found, after making careful experi- 

 ments, quite well suited, many of them bearing the rather 

 trying treatment with impunity. Even amongst ferns, 

 which are plants specially fona of a moist atmosphere, there 

 are several genera which succeed admirably, even in hot, 

 verj'- dry rooms. They are, of course, very grateful for a 

 daily showering of water. My practice is to remove them. 



