218 VILLA GARDENING paet ii 



in a 4|-inch pot, well grown, wiU make a nice little table plant, 

 but they are very effective in large pans, 8 or 10 tubers in each. 

 They should be rested when the growth ripens, in the same way as 

 the Achimenes, to which family the Gesneria is nearly allied. 



Insects. — In the stove, if neglected, insects increase at an 

 alarming rate ; thrips, green-fly, scale, and, above all, mealy bug, 

 revel in its warmth, and suck the life-blood out of the j^lants, un- 

 less a war of extermination is waged. The mealy bug is the most 

 diificidt to deal with, and it has a greater liking for some plants 

 than others. The Stephanotis and Gardenias, for instance, are its 

 special favourites, and if the former of these is encouraged to spread 

 over the roof, and the bug gains admission to the house, a very 

 determined effort must be made to destroy it before it becomes 

 numerous. The only real remedy is to persevere with the sponge 

 and soft soap in winter, when it does not increase so fast. Various 

 things have been recommended for syringing plants infested with 

 bugs. Among other remedies paraffin oil has some value, but the 

 difficulty with all things applied in this way is, that enough of in- 

 sects will be left to fill up the ranks again rapidly. To get rid of 

 them altogether they must be followed up into their secret haunts, 

 where the water from tlie syringe cannot i)enetrate ; and when once 

 the enemy has been banished, great care should be exercised, when 

 bringing in new plants, to see that they are obtained from a clean 

 source — if it be possible. The green-fly and thrips can easily be 

 destroyed by fumigations of Tobacco on several successive evenings 

 during a damp time. The brown scale must be attacked in the 

 same way as the bug — by washing with insecticides. A strong solu- 

 tion of soft soap, applied warm, will be as effective as most things. 

 The scales cling close, and many require touching rather firmly 

 with the sponge, or occasionally with a sharp-pointed stick, to dis- 

 lodge them. 



Fine-leaved or Tropical Plants. — It is of course impos- 

 sible to do more within the limits I have laid down for myself 

 than just glance briefly at the many numeroits families which 

 are gi'ouped imder the above heading in plant catalogues. Of 

 late years the chief groups, such as the Crotons, Dracaenas, Cala- 

 diums, Marantas, etc., have grown into large dimensions from 

 the many introductions from abroad, as well as hybrids raised at 

 home. Whenever a demand arises for anything, busy miuds and 

 hands are soon at work to supply it ; hence the gi-owth in niunbers 

 of this class of plants, many of which are exceedingly beautiful. 

 Theu- chief requirements are heat and moisture. Many of the 

 most beautiful species are natives of the hot swamps of the Poly- 

 nesian Islands, and the nearer the approach to such conditions in 



