358 PLAIN AND PLEASANT TALK 



4. CLEANLINESS. This is an important element of health 

 as well as of beauty. Animal-undeanliness is first to be 

 removed. If ground-worms have been incorporated with 

 the dirt, give a dose or two of lime-water to the soil. Next 

 aphides or green-lice will appear upon the leaves and stems. 

 Tobacco smoke will soon stupefy them and cause them to 

 tumble upon the shelves or surface of the soil, whence they 

 are to be carefully brushed, or crushed. If one has but a 

 few plants, put them in a group on the floor; put four 

 chairs around them and cover with an old blanket, forming 

 a sort of tent. Set a dish of coals within, and throw on a 

 handful of tobacco leaves. Fifteen minutes smoking will 

 destroy any decent aphis. 



If a larger collection is on hand, let the dish or dishes be 

 placed under the stands. When the destruction is completed, 

 let the parlor be well ventilated, unless, fair lady, you have 

 an inveterate smoker for a husband ; in which case you may 

 have become used to the nuisance. 



The insects which infest large collections of green-houses, 

 are fully treated of in horticultural books of directions. 



Dust will settle every day upon the leaves, and choke up 

 the perspiring pores. The leaves should be kept free by 

 gentle wiping, or by Avashing. 



WHITE CLOVEK is an important grass on flourishing old 

 meadows. It grows very thick at the bottom of the other 

 grass, although in a good season it will grow to the height 

 of from twelve to sixteen inches. I have seen it in low 

 spots completely covered for weeks together. Therefore 

 hind which produces abundant crops of grass, would require 

 extensive draining for grain, and seeing that plowing such 

 land destroys its life, it is far better to keep it in grass con. 

 tmually. 



