154 PRACTICAL FLOIUCULTURE. 



of the soil of the pot or bench indicates that it is dry by 

 becoming lighter in color ; then water may be given 

 freely, provided that there is sufficient drainage to allow 

 it to pass off readily. Avoid manure water and all stimu- 

 lants to plants in winter, until the days begin to lengthen 

 and the sun gets to be brighter in February. 



The insects that attack plants used for winter dec- 

 oration are, principally, the aphis, or Green -fly, the 

 Red-spider, and the Mealy-bug. The first is easily 

 killed or warded off by the use of tobacco, either as 

 smoke, dust, or steeped so as to form a liquid of the 

 color of strong tea. The Eed-spider is not so easily dis- 

 lodged, and can only be kept under by continued spong- 

 ing of the leaves, mainly on the under side, or by heavy 

 syringing. The Mealy-bug is the most difficult of all 

 insects to get rid of, but the use of Fir tree oil, diluted 

 in the proportion of one pint of the oil to five gallons of 

 water, if syringed on the plants once a week, will entirely 

 suppress the Mealy-bug ; for small lots, dipping the plants 

 into the mixture is the best way. We have found the 

 use of Fir tree oil, dilated as above, an excellent means 

 of keeping down the ravages of all insect life by steadily 

 syringing with it at least once each week. For further 

 instructions, see chapter on Insects. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 



CULTURE OF WINTER FLOWERING PLANTS FOR GUI 

 FLOWERS. 



Since the first edition of "Practical Floriculture" was 

 written, in 1868, the varieties of plants used for cut 

 flowers in winter, as well as the methods of culture, have 

 so changed that the instructions then given would be of 

 but little use now. Camellia flowers that were then the 

 most valued, are now almost entirely discarded. Tube- 



