31 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



Clearing Acacias of Scale. — An Old Subscriber, Woking. — The branch of 

 Acacia arm at a enclosed is literally smothered with the small white scale, Coccus 

 BromelicB, one of the worst pests we have to deal with. You did quite right to cut 

 it down ; for it is an impossibility to get entirely clear from them without cutting 

 down, and not always possible even then. Undoubtedly the plant was badly 

 infested with the scale long before it went out of doors, brought on probably by 

 being kept in a dry and warm atmosphere. At all events, a dry, hot atmosphere 

 is the most favourable for their generation and development. We should advise you 

 to thoroughly wash the old stool with soft-soap and warm water, and then keep the 

 young growth frequently syringed with clear water. Moisture and cold are the 

 two greatest enemies this insect has. " Fowler's Insecticide," prepared according to 

 the directions, and the plants either dipped or syringed with it, is the best insect 

 destroyer you can have. If you find the scale getting ahead again in spite of your 

 efforts, throw the plant away. Out of consideration to the well-being of the other 

 inmates of your house, that is the safest and wisest plan to adopt with all plants in 

 the condition of the enclosed leaf. This scale is very partial to azaleas and 

 camellias ; therefore you must keep a sharp look-out to prevent it getting on 

 them. It will not make much progi-ess out of doors, unless in hot summer, and 

 where the plants are allowed to suffer for the want of water at the roots. 



Lomatia heteropkylla. — A Reader. — As your plant is so infested with scale, 

 you did quite right in removing it from amongst the others. It will not do any 

 good out of doors. 



Peach and Nectarine Trees in Orchard-House. — F. W. S., Surrey. — 

 The trees growing in your orchard-house ought to be pruned at once, for the flower- 

 buds will soon begin to swell, and there will then be a danger of knocking them off. 

 In the first place, prune the trees, and in doing that leave plenty of young wood in 

 the centre of the trees, so that the entire surface is well filled with bearing wood 

 throughout. The bush trees must be pruned, so that the middle of the tree is suffi- 

 ciently open to admit plenty of light and air to the fruit. After the pruning is 

 finished, wash the trees thoroughly with a rather soft brush, warm water, and soft- 

 soap, and then dress them with a mixture of Gishurst compound, at the rate of 

 eight ounces to the gallon of water. This process is necessary to destroy the eggs 

 and larva? of the various enemies which prey upon the foliage during the season of 

 growth. It requires a certain amount of care in washing the young wood, to do it 

 effectually, and without rubbing off or damaging the flower-buds. Those trained to 

 trellis should be tied out directly the washing is finished off, and then there will be 

 nothing to do, as the trees come into flower. See that the borders do not get dust 

 dry at this stage, or directly the sap begins to move the buds will fall like showers 

 of rain. Though you do not force your trees, a syringing overhead now and then 

 will be of great service in assisting the expansion of the flower-buds. 



Management op Greenhouse. — A Lady Amateur. — The temperature of this 

 structure for the next two months should average 45'. For the next two months all 

 soft-wooded plants should be kept in the warmest end, and fully exposed to the light. 

 Hard-wooded plants, like heaths and azaleas, should have the airiest position ; for it ■ 

 ruins them to be coddled up in a confined atmosphere. Water only when the 

 plants really require it, and then give sufficient to wet the ball quite through, and 

 let them get dry again. At this season do all the watering before ten o'clock, to 

 give the moisture time to dry up before evening. In very dull weather light a little 

 fire in the morning, and open the ventilators, to dry up the dampness and sweeten 

 the atmosphere at once. The yines trained over the roof ought to be pruned 

 without delay, to prevent the wounds bleeding by and by. 



Ferns for Sunny Positions. — At the foot of page 330 of the Floral World 

 for this year (1868) the writer on "Exotic Ferns" says that "scarcely a dozen 

 ferns out of the whole family will stand the light and air necessary to the well-being 

 of hard- wooded plants without suffering." Would you or the writer of the article 

 kindly inform me what are the doz :u ferns spoken of ? Having a greenhouse with 

 hipped stage, I can give north and south shade from the direct rajs of the sun, but 

 cannot afford to build a separate house for ferns, though, no doubt, to grow them 



