INSECTS. 177 



The Red Spider is rather a more insidious enemy than 

 the green fly, and far more tenacious of life, and often 

 does much mischief before its presence has become known. 

 The experienced gardener, of course, should not only be 

 able to detect its presence, but also to discover the at- 

 mosphere favorable to its production. A dry and hot at- 

 mosphere, so dry that few plants can long continue in 

 health in it, is such an one as this pest delights to revel 

 in. Such an atmosphere in hot-house or green-house 

 is thus doubly hurtful to plant life, and therefore should 

 never be allowed. The remedies are simple ; if there is 

 not time for syringing, let water be thrown copiously on 

 the paths, under and on the benches, place pans filled 

 with water on the flue or pipes, or use any other means that 

 may suggest itself, to counteract the aridity of the air, 

 due to heavy firing in winter, or hot, dry days in spring 

 or summer. Therefore, as in the case of the green fly, if 

 proper preventives are used, the red spider need never be 

 seen in the green-house. 



The red spider is an exceedingly minute insect, so 

 small that it is a mere speck when seen by the naked eye, 

 but when closely examined, may be seen moving with 

 great rapidity. Though minute in themselves the presence 

 of these insects may be quickly detected, by the upper 

 side of the leaves becoming browned, though, as a general 

 thing, their ravages are confined to the under side of the 

 leaf. Parlor plants are often subject to this insect, as it 

 is not convenient to give the necessary moisture, and 

 the only remedy in such cases, if the collection is not too 

 numerous, is sponging the leaves. 



We often have woeful complaints from our lady friends, 

 that their plants all get brown and look sickly, and it re- 

 quires but little thinking to divine what enemy is making 

 the attack. 



The aphis, from its size, is quickly seen, and means 

 may be used at once to destroy it, but this minute red 

 8* 



