PLANTS IX THE PARLOR. 77 



do this, a piece of pasteboard should be made to cover 

 the top of the pot, cutting a side slit for the stem ; then, 

 holding the hand over the pasteboard, the pot may be in- 

 verted without disturbing the mould, and, by the immer- 

 sion, the foliage will be effectually freed from the insect. 



The red spider may be detected by examining the 

 leaves, which look yellow and sickly ; but they are so small 

 it will require good eyes to see them. This minute, ugly 

 customer is not so easily got rid of as the green fly. Plants 

 from neglected green-houses are often infested with it. 

 The most effectual way of destroying this insect is to give 

 the plants repeated syringing with sulphur and water, or a 

 solution of whale-oil soap water. The plants can be taken 

 out of doors in a mild day, and the operation performed 

 upon them, remembering that it is important to syringe 

 the under side of the leaf as well as the uj^per side, as 

 the red spider will be found in greater abundance there. 



There is another insect more difficult to get rid of than 

 either of those named. It is the mealy bug, which may 

 be found in the axils of the leaves, and on the stems of 

 Oranges, Camellias, Heaths, etc. It looks like little 

 specks of cotton ; but, upon picking it off, a disagreeable, 

 ugly-looking insect will be found imbedded in this glu- 

 tinous, cottony substance. It is sometimes very trouble- 

 some in graperies, and requires much care to get rid of it. 

 It is only to be destroyed by industriously picking it off. 



PLANTS SUITABLE FOR PARLOR CULTURE. 



THE parlor can be made very gay, during the month 

 of November and part of December, by a choice collec- 

 tion of Chrysanthemums. If they are kept out of the mid- 

 day sun, their beauty will be greatly prolonged. 



Some of the new varieties of Pompone, or Button 

 Chrysanthemums, are very beautiful, and add much in- 

 terest to a collection. One dozen each of the best large 



