IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH 79 



yellow colour. It is easily found by dig- 

 ging down near the base of the stem, and 

 is attacked by watering with the tobacco 

 water already described. If this does not 

 kill the aphides the plant must be removed 

 from the soil, the roots washed with whale- 

 oil soap (one quarter pound to two gal- 

 lons of water). Then rinse and repot in 

 fresh, clean soil. 



RED SPIDER 



Next to the aphides in destructiveness is 

 the red spider, a very small red mite which 

 can scarcely be seen by the naked eye. It 

 lives on the under side of the leaves, but its 

 presence can be readily told by numerous 

 minute yellow spots on the upper side. Like 

 the aphis the red spider subsists on the 

 plant's juices. It thrives in a hot, dry atmos- 

 phere, and its presence is a sure sign of 

 insufficient moisture. The conditions ordi- 

 narily found in living rooms are very favour- 

 able for this pest. The remedy is obvious: 

 syringe the plants with water, applying it 

 on the under side of the leaves, and with 

 considerable force because the spider is 

 protected behind a web. 



