356 The Camellia^ Insects. 



care will be needed until the time for removing them to their 

 winter quarters, as we have directed under the head of winter 

 treatment. 



Insects. 



The principal insects which attack the camellia are the 

 red spider, {cicariis^) the kermes or scale, {coccus,) and the 

 mealy bug, {coccus.) 



The most troublesome of them, because the hardest to de- 

 stroy, is the brown scale : the red spider is much more destruc- 

 tive to the plants if allowed to increase, but, if taken in hand 

 in time, is readily destroyed. The mealy bug sometimes in- 

 fests the plants, but more rarely than the others : the green 

 fly or aphis is so common in all plant houses, and so readily 

 killed by fumigation with tobacco, that we can scarcely say 

 it is one peculiar, or very troublesome, to the camellia. 



The 7^ed spider, if numerous, may be killed without much 

 trouble in the house : one or two good fumigations with sul- 

 phur will destroy them all, and without the least damage to 

 the plants, if properly done. If, however, the red spider 

 attacks the plants while in the open air, they will not be got 

 rid of so easily : oil soap must be resorted to for this purpose, 

 giving them one or two syringings, or, if numerous, a third 

 one. By this means, they will all be destroyed. 



The brown scale which attaches itself to the leaves, on 

 the under or upper side near the midrib, or at the angles of 

 the shoots and leaves, can only be destroyed by washing 

 them off, or crushing them with a small stick. They are 

 unsightly insects, and, although they do not seem to injure 

 the vigor of the plants but little, they give them such a dirty 

 appearance that they are despoiled of all their beauty. 

 Clean soap suds and a sponge, with a sharp-pointed stick, will 

 be ample to check their ravages, and clear the plants. 



The mealy bug does not often trouble the plants, but when 

 numerous they must be got rid of in the same manner as the 

 scale. 



Earth worms often find their way into the soil, and by 

 their continual burrowing completely exhaust the compost 

 of all its cohesive properties, and often quite destroy the 



