STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 103 



There are but few insects that are ver}' troublesome to plants 

 grown in the house, and the most common among these is the tureen 

 fly, or aphis. While in the greenhouse fumigating with tobacco is 

 resorted to, it would be objectionable to appl)- it in a dwelling, but 

 it can be steeped in water to the color of strong tea, which would 

 require about one pound of tobacco stems to four or five gallons of 

 water, or in that proportion ; it ma}' also be applied in the form of 

 snuff, by dusting the leaves on both sides. It is always better to 

 use it as a preventive, for when once they get a good foothold it 

 takes longer to dislodge them. Either of these methods applied 

 once in two weeks will generally be sufficient. 



The "mealy bug" is another troublesome insect. It has a white 

 cotton-like appearance, and infests many of our greenhouse plants. 

 A mixture called Cole's Insect Destroj-er put on with an atomizer is 

 a sure cure. The oil of fir will also kill them, but must be diluted 

 so much for tender plants that it is hardly a safe remedy to use, 

 About the easiest, and perhaps the safest way is to brush them off 

 with a fine brush. Brown and white scale insects are often trouble- 

 some to the oleanders and some other hard wooded plants, but like 

 the mealy bug, brushing off is the best way to get rid of them. 



The red spider is one of the smallest insects we have to deal with, 

 both in the dwelling and greenhouse, but we have a simple and sure 

 remedy for destroying them. As they never appear in a moist 

 atmosphere, it is necessary to shower the plants occasionally, and 

 as they always attack the leaves from the under side, they are not 

 apt to be discovered so readily as other pests, and if left long spin 

 a fine web, and water, unless applied with force, will hardly dislodge 

 them. Their presence can always be detected by the dried porous 

 appearance of the leaves. Therefore if the plants are syringed or 

 dipped in water occasionally they will be of little trouble. These 

 are the principal insects that trouble plants when grown in pots, and 

 while the remedies I have named are what are in general use among 

 the florists, it does not follow that there are no others that may 

 answer fully as well; but an}' and all remedies should be used, as 

 far as possible, as preventives rather than cures. 



There are many plants such as callas, geraniums, and other soft 

 wooded kinds, that grow to foliage with scarcely ever a flower ; but 

 it is often the case where the plants do not get the sun only a short 

 time during the day that this occurs. To get the best results from 

 plants that are grown for their flowers, they should be placed as 



