GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 395 



in an inhabited room will not usually require a fire, if in a 

 room which has had fire in the day ; but in sharp frost it 

 will be well, instead of stirring out the fire, to leave a little, 

 on retiring to rest, and place a guard before it for security. 



INSECTS. 



If any plants are infested with insects, which is often 

 the case with Rose-trees, Heart's-ease, &c., they should be 

 watered with tobacco-water, which quickly destroys them. 

 Some say that, independently of the removal of the insects, 

 it improves the verdure of the plant. 



One pound of roll-tobacco will suffice for three pints of 

 water, which should be poured on it nearly boiling, and 

 stand a few hours before it is used. 



BULBS. 



The leaves of bulbous flowers should never be plucked 

 before they decay, or the bulb will thereby be deprived of a 

 large portion of its natural nourishment. When the flowers 

 and leaves have decayed, the bulbs should be taken up, dried 

 in the shade, all loose earth, fibres, &c. should be cleaned 

 off them, and they should be put away in a dry place, and 

 safe from mice, &c., until wanted. They should not touch 

 each other, but either lie all on a flat surface, or be kept 

 apart by some dry sand. Bulbs should have no fresh 

 water after their leaves have began to decay. 



Any person having too many bulbs of one kind, and too 

 few of another, will find no difficulty in obtaining an ex- 

 change at the shops where they are sold. 



Some persons put a piece of nitre, of the size of a pea, 

 into the water in which bulbs are raised, renewing it when- 

 ever the water is changed, in order to make the colours 



