64 GARDEN AND FARM TOPICS. 



INSECTS. 



There are only three insects that are really trouble- 

 some to parlor plants, the aphis, or green fly, the red 

 spider, and the mealy bug. The first is easily destroyed 

 by tobacco in any form, either as liquid, dust, or by 

 smoke. The most convenient way to use it for house 

 plants, is to first wet the leaves, then dust snuff or tobacco 

 dust over them. The red spider insect is not quite so 

 easy to manage. It never appears unless the air is hot 

 and dry, when it attacks the lower side of the leaves. 

 The best remedy is to wash the leaves off with a sponge ; 

 or, if the plants are very large, lay the plants on their 

 side, and strike the leaves forcibly with water from a 

 syringe or hose. The mealy bug insect looks like little 

 bits of white cotton, and is usually found at the axils of 

 the leaves. It is best removed by a strong hair pencil, 

 after which syringe or sponge the plant. 



All these instructions refer to plants that are grown in 

 rooms from October until May. After that date, if cir- 

 cumstances permit, the plants should be shifted into 

 good sized pots, and placed in the open garden, sinking 

 the pots in the earth to the rim, care being taken to pinch 

 out the leading shoots of the plants, so as to make them 

 grow into good shape. If the pots are sunk in the ground 

 in this way, care must be taken to have them turned 

 around every two or three weeks, else the roots will get 

 through the hole in the bottom of the pot, which would 

 have to be broken off, and this would seriously injure 

 them. Perhaps the best way is to stop up the hole 

 entirely, so that the roots cannot get through. A cork 

 is best for this purpose, as it must be taken out if the 

 plants are again used as house plants. 



