DISEASES INSECTS. 89 



in the solid bulbs of the Tulip and the Crocus, and it is equally 

 fatal in all: there is no remedy for it. If the leaves stop 

 growing the disease has begun. Pull up the plants attacked 

 with it and expel them from the premises. I do not know 

 that it is contagious, but I would rather be without such 

 dangerous subjects. 



INSECTS. The most noxious are the red spider, grubs, slugs, 

 and worms. The first thrives best in hot dry weather : there- 

 fore the opposite is preventive. If they are found on the leaves 

 of the plants and such are in pots, lay the pots on one side 

 and give the leaves a very severe syringing, which will wash 

 off the insects, webs, eggs and all, and effectually relieve the plants. 

 To prevent their return dust the leaves with flowers of sulphur. 



Grubs in new soils are often rather numerous, and they feed 

 on the young stems just beneath the surface of the soil. There 

 they must be sought for, and, when found, destroyed. 



Slugs may be traced by the slime they leave to their retreats, 

 and extracted from thence and put to death. Lime water is 

 certain death to them if their concealment cannot be found. 



Worms do not feed upon the plants, but they disarrange the 

 soil, and render it unfit for food for the plants. Lime water^ 

 again, is the agent that will destroy these intruders. The best 

 time to apply it is in mild dewy evenings, so congenial to the 

 migrations of slugs and worms. All these insects must be con- 

 stantly warred with to prevent them injuring the leaves of the 

 plants ; for if the leaves are not kept healthy, and thus able to 

 perform their proper functions, the plants will soon fade away 

 and perish. 



It now only remains to me to complete my essay on Hardy 

 Orchids to give a list of them ; and I shall group them under the 

 different soils that each group requires to grow them in. 



CHALKY SOIL. 



Aceras anthropophora (man bearing) 

 Herminium monorchls (one-bulbed) 

 Orchis fusca (brown) 



