42 orchids: novr fo ghow them successfully. 



it over the insect by means of a small brush of stiffer fibre than 

 camel's hair, thoroughly soaking the scale, and lotting it remain 

 until the insect is completely killed — it need not be washed off. 

 The person who introduced this electric insecticide recommends the 

 solution for syringing over the plants for the destruction of red 

 spider, aphis, &c., but I think it best for amateurs to use rather 

 less than is mentioned in the directions, as the young tender 

 foliage of Orchids, as well as other plants, is very easily injured 

 and growth consequently retarded. This applies equally to other 

 insecticides. 



Tobacco Powder is a valuable agent for the prevention of 

 thrip and aphis, and should always be at hand. The disagreeable 

 odours arising from fumigating or the use of insecticides are always 

 more or less objectionable, and this annoyance may be avoided 

 by using tobacco powder, which can be purchased from any 

 seedsman, in 1/- or larger tins, and if a Kttle of this is sprinkled 

 into the young growths of the plant no thrips will go near them, 

 v/hilst those that are there will be speedily destroyed. 



Cockroaches are terrible night depredators, and the best 

 remedy I know for their destruction is the well known " Chase's 

 Beetle Poison," which should be used at regular intervals in 

 places where they are most Hkely to congregate or on any plants 

 on which they have been feeding, taking special precautions to 

 prevent their ravages on the young flower spikes and the tender 

 tips of the roots. 



WooDLiCE also eat the roots, and should be trapped and killed. 

 Various traps are employed for catching these pests, but the best 

 of all, I find, is a potato cut in halves, with a portion of each half 

 scooped out of the centre and then placed with the outside of the 

 potato upwards, examining it every morning. 



Slugs. — These are also a great nuisance in the Orchid house, 

 and have a special liking for the young and tender flower spikes. 

 Lettuce leaves can be kept about the plants, and a little fresh bran 

 in small saucers has a great attraction for them, and they should 

 also be diligently searched for at night, using a lamp, for their 

 detection. 



Cattleya Fly {losoma orckidiarum). — This is a much dreaded 

 insect, and its larvae is deposited in the centre of the young 

 growth. Its existence there may be detected, when the young 

 break or growth is about an inch high, as it becomes abnormally 



