48 GEEEtf-HOUSE TEXTILATIOX. 



FUMIGATION WITH TOBACCO AND CAYENNE. 



During the last few years fumigation by cayenne has been occasionally referred to in our Gardening 

 periodicals ; but we do not remember to have seen any practical instructions for its use, or any 

 authenticated successful results. The following extract from the Garden Companion will, 

 therefore, probably prove useful to many of our readers. 



' Provide a strong aqueous solution of nitre, in which soak sheets of stout brown paper, and, after 

 diving it slowly, cut it into lengths of convenient size, the largest 18 inches by 12. Next procure 

 some strong tobacco, strew it thinly over the paper, and then with a coarse pepper-box dredge a coat 

 of good common cayenne pepper over the tobacco ; wrap up all rather loosely, exactly as in making 

 a cigarette, paste the end over, and when dry, it is fit for use. Two or three of these suspended in a 

 green house, or cold frame, and lighted at each end, will very quickly settle the account of green fly 

 and thrip. Instead of a green house, a small room, with the apertures closely stopped, may be 

 used to hold the plants. By using cayenne much less tobacco is required, the expense being reduced 

 nearly three-fourths, and the effect of the two combined is most deadly ; for it is impossible for 

 insects to live in an atmosphere so thoroughly impregnated with the elements of suffocation.' We 

 presume that by common cayenne ground capsicum pods arc intended ; much of the fine cayenne of 

 the shops is adulterated with salt, red lead, etc., most abominably; but the coarse capsicum powder 

 is too cheap to make it worth while to sophisticate, and is, therefore, to be got in a genuine condition. 



In fumigating, care should be taken that the foliage of the plants is dry, or the smoke will have 

 but little effect on the insects. "Where there is neither a green house nor cold frame in which to 

 conduct the process, and it is inconvenient to employ a room, a closet, or even a large tub, well 

 covered, may be used for the purpose ; but in these cases the cigarette should be kept at as great a 

 distance from the plants as possible, to prevent the scorching of the leaves, and a small one, 

 containing at most a quarter of an ounce of tobacco, will he quite Sufficient. The amateur should 

 remember, that in this case, as in all others, prevention is better than cure, and on no account should 

 the fumigation of a plant be deferred until the fly has thoroughly taken possession of a plant; the 

 moment a few arc discovered, the plant should be taken out of doors, and a soft brush applied gently, 

 by this means they may often be easily kept down ; if this proves ineffectual, smoking should be at 

 once adopted. After fumigation, the plant should be allowed to remain covered and undisturbed 

 until the following day, by which time any aphides remaining may be readily shaken or brushed 

 away, or removed by a slight syringing with clean water. 



SEED SOWING. 



As the season for sowing the hardy annuals is close at hand, a hint or two on the subject may 

 prevent some failures. We believe that many seeds are sown at too great a depth, and in heavy 

 soils this alone would be sufficient to prevent their germination. Small seeds only require to be 

 pressed into the surface, but it must be admitted that in this ease they arc liable to be washed up by 

 heavy rains ; to prevent this the patches should be covered with a layer of moss, or, as this would 

 require to be covered with a pot to prevent it from being scattered, perhaps a compact furze bush, 

 cut to suitable form, will be preferable ; it should be secured to the ground by a peg. This will not 

 only ward off the dashing rains, but also afford a material protection against frost, at the same time, 

 that it allows air to enter. The hardiest annuals arc unable to resist the effects of a sharp frost in 

 their earliest stage, and it is no wonder, therefore, that many of them disappear soon after emerging 

 from the ground. It is important, however, to observe that the furze bush should lie removed early 

 to prevent the seedlings from being drawn. The slugs and snails often commit sad havock among 

 seedlings ; they may easily be trapped with slices of the common white tiu-nip, which should be laid 

 along the borders, and examined every morning ; hundreds may thus be destroyed in a few days. 



