SUMMER MEETING. 83 



Some small birds also destroy plant lice, and a minute red mite is often found 

 preyiug upon them. All the natural foes make it difficult for the plant lice to 

 do much damage upon out-door vegetation in the latter part of the season. 

 But until the foes themselves get to work the plant lice are often very inju- 

 rious, as they come early in the season, and increase continually until their en- 

 emies appear. It is, therefore, necessary to resort to some artificial modes of 

 extermination when the lice become numerous and destructive early in the 

 season. In the greenhouse or plant window artificial methods must be em- 

 ployed almost exclusively. These methods are various and effectual, as the 

 delicate nature of the aphis readily yields to the destructive influence of insecti- 

 cides. Tobacco is the best of these, and this is perhaps the only real, practical, 

 cleansing value which the weed possesses. It may be applied either as smoke, 

 or as a decoction or tea, and in either case it has the desired effect. Smoke is 

 the most effectual, because it penetrates into every nook and crevice, and thus 

 the renovation is more complete. It should be applied in the evening, when 

 the plants are dry, and they should not be watered or sprinkled till the next 

 morning. If applied in the morning the bright sun-rays falling upon the 

 plants during the day greatly injures the tender leaves and branches. Some 

 device must be employed to retain the smoke. When the plants are in a 

 greenhouse or conservatory the whole room can be filled with smoke. But for 

 house-plants this is not advisable. A good plan for these is to set a number of 

 infested plants upon a table and invert an empty barrel or box over them, al- 

 lowing it to project over the table a little distance to form a small opening 

 below. Through this opening blow in the smoke by means of a smoker such 

 as is used by bee-keepers. This operation should be repeated every three or 

 four days, until all eggs have hatched, and all Aphides, young and old, have dis- 

 appeared. 



The tobacco used for this purpose may be obtained in the form of stems by 

 simply applying to some cigar manufactory. If preferred, the tabacco can be 

 applied by steeping the stems in water and syringing the plants with the water 

 or tea thus obtained. Such plants as Cineraria, which are especially subject 

 to the attack of the aphis, may be greatly benefited by strewing over the sur- 

 face soil finely pulverized tobacco stems. The steam arising from the stems 

 thus applied will tend to check the increase of the lice, and, at the same time, 

 the water passing through will carry the fertilizing elements of the tabacco into 

 the sod, and contribute to the health and vigor of the plant. 



Out-door roses troubled with Aphis may be benefited by mulching the ground 

 with the refuse of the cigar manufactory. 



After tobacco, the next best insecticide is Dalmation, or Persian insect 

 powder. This is a fine powder made from the dried flowers of a perennial 

 plant known as Pyrethrum. It is mostly put up in tin cans holding one pound 

 and these packages are retailed at less than $1.00 each, including a small 

 bellows with which to apply it. This powder is said to act upon the breathing 

 organs, or trachea of the insect. Bat whatever may be the method by wdiich 

 it acts, we know it is very destructive to every variety of insect life, although 

 not a poison, and not injurious to man. The ordinary amateur florist will find 

 this the most convenient and desirable insecticide, as it can always be promptly 

 and safely applied, is not in the least offensive, and costs but a trifle. 



Other insecticides are recommended for out- door application, as kerosene 

 emulsion, made by incorporating one part of kerosene to ten parts of water, 

 by the addition of soft soap sufficient to make a strong suds and hold the kero- 



