THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 137 



CROTON APPENDICULATUS. 



JROTON APPENDICULATUS is remarkable for the 

 peculiar formation of its leaves and elegance of outline, 

 and is desirable for its interesting appearance and the 

 contrast it affords when arranged with those of bold 

 habit, and having richly-coloured foliage. The form 

 is of neat growth, and the leaves, which are of the deepest green, 

 are narrow, and in the case of well-developed examples depend in 

 the most graceful manner possible. It is a charming plant for the 

 dinner-table and drawing-room, and will not fail to secure a fair share 

 of appreciation. It was introduced to this country by Messrs. 

 J. Veitch and Sons. 



WINDOW GARDENING. 



BY JOHN E. M0LL1S0N. 



(Continued from page 103.) 



INSECTS: THEIE PREVENTION AND CURE. ' 



j.HE insect which most generally attacks plants is a kind of 

 aphis, commonly called the greenfly. It becomes quite 

 a plague on plants if allowed to increase, which it does 

 at a most astonishing rate. If left to themselves they 

 would soon bring your plants to a most disreputable 

 condition, ultimately killing them outright. They are always worst 

 on soft-wooded plants, such as calceolarias, cinerarias, pelargoniums, 

 etc. A healthy robust growing plant is not so liable to be attacked 

 as a sickly one. A sickly plant is their great delight. They feed on 

 the underside of the leaves like a flock of miniature sheep, and cluster 

 around the tender shoots and flower-buds with the most persistent 

 greediness, causing the leaves to curl up and turn yellow, and the 

 tender shoots and flower-buds to grow deformed and crooked, arrest- 

 ing their growth and expansion. Thus you see greenfly is an enemy 

 you must give no quarter to. Hunt them down and destroy them 

 whenever they make their appearance. Do not kill them on the 

 leaf if you can help it. With a little brush or a feather you will be 

 able to sweep them off into your hand, or anywhere where you can 

 destroy them. 



Tobacco smoke ie the surest and best thing to kill them. If you 

 have a window greenhouse you can easily manage this by shutting it 

 close after sundown and filling it with tobacco smoke. All plants in 

 bloom that have no fly on them should first be removed, not to let the 

 smoke damage their bloom. For the operation you will need a tin 

 canister with several holes punched through the bottom, a handful of 

 tobacco paper, and a red hot tinder. You will always be able to get 

 an old canister. Tobacco paper you can purchase at one shilling and 

 sixpence per pound, from any nursery man or seedsman. Half a 



May. 



