OF PLANTS 



Whenever the surface of the soil in a pot looks 

 wet and heavy, and continues to look so, 

 examine its drainage system and make sure 

 that there is nothing wrong there. Do this 

 before your plant settles into a state of chronic 

 ill-health. 



^ Sometimes one's plants will take on a 

 sickly look, but examination will show that 

 the drainage is not responsible for the trouble. 

 It may take some time to ascertain that worms 

 are at work in the soil. You will probably 

 find your first proof of this in the little flies 

 that will be found emerging in great numbers 

 from the surface soil. Further examination 

 will show larvae there from which these flies 

 are hatched, and it will also doubtless show 

 you worms feeding on the tenderest roots of 

 the plant — small white worms that do not 

 look dangerous, but are capable of doing a 

 great deal of mischief, if let alone, because 

 their attack on the roots robs the plant of vital 

 force by sapping what is really its life-blood. 



The most satisfactory remedy that I have 

 any knowledge of for this condition of things 

 is lime water. 



To prepare the remedy, put a piece of fresh 

 lime as large as an ordinary coffee-cup in a 



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