158 Select Carnations, Picotees, and Pinks. 
cloudy, weather he washes the plants thoroughly 
with clean water. The foliage should be firm before 
this is done. 
Sparrows. 
During winter and spring, especially if dry, many 
gardens are terridly infested with sparrows, which 
eat or destroy the leaves of Carnations, amongst 
other things, until nothing but the stems are left. 
REMEDIES.—Most cultivators and | have found 
black thread effective in keeping the marauders 
away. Some inconspicuous pegs should be pushed 
into the ground to hold the thread just clear of the 
foliage. The thread should be run crosswise all over 
the plants. 
Soot is sometimes used for dusting the foliage, but 
even if effective, it cannot otherwise but be detri- 
mental to the welfare of the leaves. 
Vaporite should serve to drive the sparrows away 
by its offensive odour. This insecticide consists of 
naphthalin combined with a waste product of alkali 
manufacture, which also gives off a vapour of its own, 
and the two combined give off a vapour for some 
months. 
Thrips. 
During hot and dry weather thrips multiply ex- 
ceedingly and do great damage to the flowers of Car- 
nations, extracting the colour of red, carmine, and 
other dark flowers, forming white streaks and spots 
on the petals. They even penetrate the expanding 
buds and commit their depredations under cover. 
Hundreds of them may sometimes be found in 
newly-expanded flowers. They also suck the juices 
of the leaves and young shoots, causing them to be 
distorted. They are very small ,black ,lively crea- 
tures in the winged state, and follow the flowers even 
to the exhibition table. There are numerous species, 
but Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis is one of the most 
persistent in this country. 
REMEDIES.—Under glass the plants may be 
repeatedly fumigated with tobacco in some of its 
many forms. ‘The first application may be given 
while the flowers are yet in the bud state. 
Fumigation once a fortnight with “XL All”, a 
preparation of nicotine, has also proved very effec- 
tive in holding the enemy in check. 
Daily syringings with clean water have been given 
with fairly good results upon Carnations in the open 
