AUTUMN AND WINTER NOTES FOR THE 



AMATEUR. 



HE beautiful autumn tints 

 that so recently appear- 

 ed on tiee and shrub, 

 shedding a glowing 

 radiance of crimson and 

 gold over the surrounding landscape 

 but which now have almost disappeared 

 leaving little but blackened foliage or 

 bare leafless stems to remind us of their 

 past beauty, were only the last brilliant 

 tokens of summer sent to warn us of 

 the approach of the keen nipping frosts 

 and winds of winter ; compelling lovers 

 of floriculture to ascertain if they have 

 made due preparation for brightening 

 up their windows with plants and flowers 

 during the dreary days that intervene 

 before the approach of spring, as well as 

 making provision for beautifying the 

 lawn and flower garden for coming sum- 

 mer. Possibly a few remarks relative to 

 these matters may be acceptable, and I 

 trust instructive, to the readers of The 

 Horticulturist. 



It is expected that ere now (Novem- 

 ber) all tender plants are in their winter 

 quarters, and will require careful atten- 

 tion as to watering, keeping safe from 

 frost, and free from the various insect 

 pests that infest and injure them ; such 

 as scale, aphis or green fly, thrip, mealy 

 bug, and last, and possibly least so far 

 as size is concerned, but by no means 

 the least destructive, the pernicious 

 little insect generally known as red 

 spider, but which entomologists tell us 

 is not really a spider. It suffices, how- 

 ever, to know that it causes sad havoc 

 amongst our plants, very few being 

 entirely free from its voracious and 

 subtle attacks, the dry warm atmosphere, 

 generally prevailing in our dwelling 

 houses, being a perfect atmospheric 



paradise for these tiny little pests. Its 

 presence is soon made apparent by the 

 brown or rusty appearance of the under 

 side of the leaves ; lantanas, fuchsias, 

 roses, and carnations being special fav- 

 orities for its attacks. The last named 

 plant when attacked presents a sickly 

 looking whitened appearance and the 

 three others mentioned commence drop- 

 ping their leaves and if not attended to 

 quickly will soon be devoid of foliage 

 altogether. The tiny pests can not be 

 seen at their work of destruction with the 

 naked eye, but with the aid of a small 

 microscope they are easily seen by ex- 

 amining the under side of the leaves of 

 the plants attacked. 



The best preventive of their attacks 

 is to induce as moist an atmosphere as 

 possible around the plants by syringing, 

 especially on the under side of the 

 leaves, with tepid water. Small rubber 

 sprinklers can be purchased at most 

 florists or seed stores which answer the 

 purpose splendidly for house plants. 

 In greenhouses the hot water or steam 

 pipes may be sprinkled, the vapor so 

 raised making their stay on the plants 

 uncomfortable and less harmful ; sprink- 

 ling the floor of the greenhouse frequent- 

 ly will help to keep them down. Several 

 other good remedies have been pub- 

 lished from time to time in The Hor- 

 ticulturist which it is needless for me 

 to repeat. 



Scale can be kept down by sponging 

 the plant with a wash made from whale- 

 oil soap, one ounce of the soap dissolved 

 in a gallon of hot water, allowed to cool, 

 and applied as often as required. This 

 will generally be effective. I prefer 

 moderate applications frequently ap- 

 plied, rather than severe applications, 

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