General Notices. 71 



mendations, I can recommend notliing better for clearing the plants of this 

 nuisance than the old tedious practice of removing it by means of a brush 

 and soft soap and water. This method requires time and patience, but an 

 active person will get over more surface in a given time than a stranger to 

 the work would suppose. I invariably clean my plants in this way every 

 winter ; at lea'St, such of them as I grow in heat. Those which are kept 

 in the conservatory seldom require any further attention, in this respect, 

 than an occasional syringing with hot water ; but this must not be applied 

 in any case, except the trees are in a state of rest ; for, if water is thrown 

 upon the young and tender foliage at a temperature above 120 degrees, it 

 will cause instant death to it. 



In January I commence forcing my first house of vines, and I place my 

 plants of the Mandarin Orange, which are intended to produce fruit, in the 

 most suitable situation as respects light, &-c, which this house aifords; 

 they remain there until the grapes begin to color, when they are removed 

 to the best places which can be found for them under the vines in the 

 latest house ; here they remain until the cause just mentioned requires 

 them to be removed, and this occurs about the middle of October, by which 

 time their fruit will have attained its full size. I now place a portion of 

 the plants in some spare corner of the stove, or any warm pit, where they 

 may ripen their fruit, and the remainder are accommodated in any cool 

 house, until within a fortnight of their fruit being wanted ; they are then 

 removed to the stations which were occupied by those which were placed 

 in heat in order to afford the first supply of ripe fruit, and from which they 

 are taken away immediately their fruit is ripe. Whether the latter be 

 gathered or not, tlie plants should not be allowed to remain in heat after it 

 is ripe, or they will be excited into premature growth, and will commence 

 flowering, &c., and will be altogether worthless for the following season. 

 The fruit should be all ripened by the end of December, and if not wanted 

 for use, may be allowed to remain upon the trees, in a cool house, until 

 about the end of January, when the trees nmst be cleared of insects, 

 potted &.C., and placed under similar circumstances to those recommended 

 for last season's campaign. Such of the fruit as may remain upon the 

 trees, when it becomes necessary to clean them, &c., may be gathered and 

 wrapped in clean soft paper, and placed in a drawer in the fruit-room, or in 

 any cool place, where it will keep for six weeks without more injury than 

 the loss of its rich aromatic flavor. 



There are several peculiarities noticeable in the culture of this tree 

 which I have not referred to ; but, if the above instructions be followed, 

 none of them will be met with ; hence it is unnecessary to occupy space 

 with any reference to them. I must not, however, forget to put the be- 

 ginner on his guard against the attacks of red spider, which will be sure 

 to make its appearance unless the syringe is liberally used ; but, except 

 where the plants are in flower, this may be employed so as to entire- 

 ly prevent any injury from this source ; and, if through neglect or any 

 other cause, the plants get infested with these atoms of destruction, they 

 are easily removed by means of a good washing with a powerful garden 

 engine. 



