OCTOBER. 



706 



OCTOBER. 



is the only effective remedy. Gishurst's 

 Compound, Neal's Soap, &c. , may destroy 

 thrip, as well as, perhaps a little better 

 than, a strong decoction of clear soot water i 

 in soapsuds. But as for scale and mealy 

 Dug, the experience of many tends to show 

 that it is not possible to kill them by dip- 

 ping or washing in any nostrum whatever. 

 vVhere plants have become infested very 

 much with either of these pests, the most 

 satisfactory way, unless they are very 

 valuable, is to destroy them. But they 

 ought never to be allowed to become very 

 tad. It is in thus attacking insects in time, 

 as soon as one is seen, that the true secret 

 of cleanliness and health lies. Better 

 examine a whole collection and not find 

 one, than allow one to become a million 

 through a month's oversight. 



Cleansing Plants, Benefit of. If prac- , 

 ticable, no plant should be taken into the 

 house without being carefully examined 

 and thoroughly cleaned. The necessary 

 washings involved in this operation, while 

 essential to cleanliness, have, moreover, a 

 powerful indirect influence in preserving 

 the plants in health. So great is this 

 secondary benefit, that some cultivators 

 have maintained that no collection of stove 

 plants or greenhouse plants can be preserved 

 in luxuriant health without the existence of 

 these aids to successful culture. DoubUess 

 the ablution that their extermination in- 

 volves enables plants to perform their 

 respiratory functions and work of elabora- 

 ting the sap with more ease and greater 

 energy. 



Pelargoniums. Maintain a temperature 

 of 45 by fire heat, allowing a rise of 10 

 by the influence of the sun. No syringing 

 or sprinkling must be permitted here, and 

 care must be exercised in watering, to keep 

 the leaves dry. Give air with great caution, 

 avoiding biting winds and cold draughts. 

 This is specially necessary with fancy 

 pelargoniums, which are more tender than 



either the French or show kinds, as they 

 are termed. Great injury may be done 

 even by keeping the door open a few 

 minutes when the wind is blowing into 

 the house, and the plants should never be 

 moved out to the potting shed for shifting 

 after this period. Sudden changes are a 

 fruitful source of that most provoking and 

 troublesome of all diseases to which these 

 plants are subject spot (see Spot). This 

 disease is practically incurable ; if it un- 

 fortunately appears, either separate the 

 plant from all the others, or destroy it at 

 once. Green fly is often troublesome, but 

 it is easily got rid of by fumigation, and 

 with good culture no other insect ever 

 attacks pelargoniums. 



October. Hotbeds, Frames, 

 &c., Work in. 



i . FLOWERS. Cuttings in Frames. All 

 cuttings, such as those of ageratums, pe- 

 tunias, verbenas, &c. , must be kept cool and 

 dry. Calceolarias and cinerarias already 

 rooted must be .placed near the glass, but 

 protected from frost by mats, &c. Cuttings 

 of hollyhocks may still be put in, as they will 

 root slowly during the winter, and make nice 

 plants in spring. The great point with all 

 flowers in frames is to keep them from injury 

 by frost, by covering them up when frost 

 threatens. This applies to roses, strawberry 

 plants in pots, and all the plants that have 

 been mentioned. Protection, and not stimu- 

 lation, except for pelargoniums and plants 

 that require to be started into growth, is all 

 that is required. 



flowers in Cold Pits and Frames. Give 

 all the air possible to plants housed in 

 these structures, unless it actually freezes ; 

 guard against damp and overcrowding ; 

 carefully examine mignonette, stocks, &c., 

 and remove every bit of mould the moment 

 it appears. Provide mats or reed covers 

 in readiness against frost, and keep the 

 glass clean. On mild days remove the 



