FLORICULTURE. 349 
RED SPIDER AND GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 
(A talk.) 
F. G. GOULD, EXCELSIOR. 
I am no apologist for the red spider. I think I can safely say that 
Iam not lost in admirationof him. I find that the spider is too small 
to be seen with the naked eye, but he is there just the same; and his work 
is generally done before hecan be found. Many different things have been 
tried and have utterly failed in dislodging him; but there is one thing 
that I can recommend, that I have found successful; and that is, wash 
him. A good washing will generally dispose of him. There are some 
plants on which he cannot live,and the geranium is one. In this connec- 
tion, I will couple what I would have said on the subject of greenhouse 
plants, with my remarks on the red spider. When you attempt to grow 
plants for ornament, you like to have as many nice plants as your sur- 
roundings will admit of. A few practical people are satisfied with a few 
practical things that, are the best. So far as my knowledge goes, half a 
dozen plants or so comprise enough to make a grand collection for any 
place. Among the kinds of plants for ornamental purposes that I know 
of, at the head of the whole list I shall place the geranium—the entire 
family of geraniums. They have striking colors and make a good display 
in-doors as well as out of doors, and they are less subject to the attacks of 
insects. They will stand the greatest variation of temperature, and all 
kinds of atmospheric conditions. They donot require any particular kind 
of soil, except that they are shy of a moist locality, and they will live and 
thrive where most plants would die of neglect. I will name a few other 
plants as coming next to the geranium for general use. I speak from ex- 
perience; that is, my own experience. The heliotrope is reliable, and while 
it is somewhat modest in its appearance, it is useful. Now the sweet 
aiyssum is a plant that does not make any great show itself, but it has a 
_ very wonderful effect when placed with some of the other flowers, the 
rose for instance. I will not take up any more of your time, but will thank 
you for your attention. 
