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138 ANNUAL REPORT. 
the leaves, which causes them to prematurely décay. When very numerous 
they work a thick web on the under side of the leaf and frequently all over 
it, causing the plant to present an unsightly and half-dead appearance. The 
bridal rose, the monthly rose, fuchsias, jassamines, violets, and callas are 
among the plants that suffer most quickly from their ravages, but when they 
once get a lodgement scarcely anything will remain exempt from their 
. attacks. An experienced gardener will usually detect their presence before 
much damage is done. When the foliage of the plants begins to get brown 
and look sickly it requires but little sagacity to divine the cause. 
Remedy.—The delight of this insect is a warm, dry atmosphere, and the 
only safe and effectual remedy is water. Water persistenly applied to the 
under sides of the leaves by syringing or sponging or dipping as recom- 
mended for Aphis, will eventually subdue or destroy them. Fumes of sul- 
phur is instant death to them, but amateurs and the inexperienced had better 
not try it, as it is a dangerous remedy that must be used with caution, or it 
will be death to the plants. 
Woolly Aphis or Mealy Bug (Coccus hesperidus,) 
is found infesting many collections of plants, and if not instantly destroyed 
soon becomes a serious enemy. It is of a white, dusty color, usually coy- 
ered with down, and resembles little bunches of cotton sticking in the forks 
of the branches and axils of the leaves. When broken itis of a brownish 
red. It is generally of a dormant nature, but in warm weather it may be 
seen moving up and down the stems of plants. If a single plant infested 
with it is placed in a collection of clean plants, the whole collection will in 
-a few weeks be covered with them. Iam having my first experience with 
them, they having got into my collection on some gardenias purchased in 
the east, (New York,) and I find them upon whatever comes in their way, 
but indulge most freely on the Crassulas, Echiveras, Prickly Cactus, Bouvar- 
dias and Oleanders, greatly marring their beauty, and I think if left alone 
would kill them outright. 
Remedy.—I find it is quickly destroyed by dipping the plant in a solution. 
of one pound whale oil soap to five gallons of rain water; but as this some- 
times injures tender plants I hardly like to recommend it. I think it best, 
when they are discovered, to watch for them and brush them off with a small 
tooth or nail brush, or crush them with a pointed soft wood stick. Itis also 
said that alcohol applied to them with a fine brush or feather is instant death 
to them, but not having tried this remedy, I should not like to recommend 
it only for very hardy plants. 
Brown and White Scale (Coccus.) 
This item I write under protest, as it is some time since I have had an 
opportunity to make microscopic examinations, and I am inclined to think 
that both brown and white are one species. 
