OS THE AMATEUE S GEEEKHOCSE 



amateur is advised to practice small shifts until some experi- 

 ence has been acquired, for if a plant does not quickly fill its 

 pot with roots, it is apt to grow smaller instead of larger. 

 Eeasons could be given for all these directions, but we have 

 enough to do with work in this little volume, and if we be^in 

 to philosophise, we may not only waste time and space, but be 

 tempted to forget work and indulge in essay writing. 



The Insects and Diseases that injure and not unfre- 

 quently destroy plants may be kept at bay to a wonderful 

 extent by good cultivation. As a rule, the appearance of 

 green fly, red spider, scale, or mildew, is an evidence of debility 

 in the plant — it may be through too much or too little food ; 

 it may be through too much or too little heat ; it may be 

 through downright neglect of the most ordinary rules of culti- 

 vation. The best remedial agents are air, water, and light ; 

 but in aid of these we are compelled occasionally to employ 

 tobacco, soap, sulphur, lime, charcoal, soot, and patent prepa- 

 rations made of no one knows what. A slight dusting with 

 tobacco powder will generally make an end of green fly or 

 aphis without harm to the leaves dusted, but when all the 

 plants in a house are covered it will be well to fumigate, and 

 any machine will answer the purpose that will quickly diffuse 

 an impenetrable cloud of cool smoke, the fuel being the 

 strongest shag tobacco. The little mite called "red spider" 

 usually appears where the stock is kept too hot and too dry ; 

 hence atmospheric moisture and a good watering of the roots 

 of the plants will generally dispose of him to the satisfaction 

 and advantage of the amateur ; but if a medical agent is 

 wanted provide some means of slowly diffusing the fumes of 

 sulphur and you will settle him certainly. But beware, for if 

 you diffuse sulphur fumes rapidly, whether by the aid of burning 

 coals or otherwise, you will probably kill all the plants in the 

 house. The safe way, if the fire is going, is to paint the pipes 

 with a mixture of clay and sulphur, and if the fire is not going 

 it is best to fumigate. Before fumigating the plants should be 

 quite dry and the house closely shut. Make so much smoke 

 that you can see nothing and thus leave the matter until the 

 following morning, when the whole stock should be well 

 syringed vtdth soft water, and an hour afterwards air should be 

 given. Slight dustings of flowers of sulphur will usually 

 destroy the mildew. 



