46 Answers to Correspondents. 



ter apples. From George C. Jenks, apples for a name, (fine.) From E. 

 S. Rand, apples for a name. From Robert T. Paine, Spitzenburg apples. 

 December 18/A. — Exhibited. — Fruit : From Otis Johnson, of Lynn, very 

 fine specimens (flavor delicious) of the Easter Beurre pear. From George 

 Johnson, of Lynn, specimens of the Lewis pear. These specimens were 

 excellent, and sustain the quality of this fine native pear. From E. New- 

 bury, Coggswell Pearmain apples, which lack flavor. From John Owen, 

 apple for a name, handsome, but second rate : also baking pears. From 

 S. W. Cole, apples from western New York. 



Art. IV. Answers to Correspondents. 



Destruction OF THE Red Spider and Mealy-bug. — Rusiicus. — If you 

 can inform me how to get rid of two pests of the greenhouse, you will be 

 entitled to my everlasting gratitude. These are the red spider, and the 

 tohite mealy-bug. They almost make me weary of my life ; but, so far from 

 being weary of theirs, they cling to it with a tenacity which tobacco, sul- 

 phur, and hot water, all fail to overcome. I kill my plants with these rem- 

 edies, but the bugs live on. 



I would like to ask also whether all greenhouse plants should be cut 

 down after flowering: and, if not, what classes of them require it. By 

 answering these questions, you will oblige. 



It would require more space than we have room to spare to answer the 

 last question which Rusticus has proposed. In regard to the Red Spider, 

 no insect is more easily destroyed, in the greenhouse or hothouse, than this : 

 fumigating with sulphur will as effectually rid the plants of these pests, as 

 fumigating with tobacco will the Green Fly. Care should be taken, how- 

 ever, that the sulphur does not burn, as the leaves of the plants would then 

 be likely to suffer. If it is carefully strewed on the flue, not too near the 

 furnace, for three nights in succession, so that the atmosphere may be some- 

 what disagreeable, every spider will be destroyed. This may be known by 

 examining the leaves, when, if the insects are dead, they will be quite 

 black. 



The Mealy-bug is very difficult to extirpate ; indeed, we do not know a 

 complete remedy : one of our practical gardeners has assured us, that if the 

 house is heated to the temperature of 130 degrees, and then syringed freely, 

 to create a moist atmosphere, all the bugs will be destroyed. We have 

 not tried this plan, but intend to do so. Our mode now is, to wash the 

 plants, very carefully, using a small brush, with whale oil soap, and water, 

 at the temperature of 150 degrees. We have found that this answers very 

 well, and prevents their increase. 



All greenhouse plants do not require to be cut down after flowering : as 

 a general rule, however, all the soft-wooded plants, such as pelargoniums, 

 euphorbias, mahernias, verbenas, petunias, heliotropes, salvias, Erylhrina, 

 &c., should be headed in after they have done blooming : but heaths, cor- 

 raeas, azaleas, rhododendrons, acacias, camellias, and similar hard-wooded 



