264j the amateur's gkeenhofse 



of unhealthy plants is one of the chief sources of the vexa- 

 tious mischief done in the greenhouse ; and if the amateur 

 would have the moral courage to utterly destroy all plants as 

 soon as they are out of condition there would not be one half 

 the trouble in keeping the occupants of the greenhouse clean. 

 Therefore, if a plant has from any cause become unhealthy, 

 throw it away to make room for others, and thus prevent its 

 being the means of spreading destruction on all sides. 



Fumigating with tobacco-paper or tobacco itself is the 

 grand remedy for green and black fly and thrips, but, as it 

 may not always be desirable to fumigate the house, dipping 

 must in some cases be resorted to. Tobacco-paper is cheaper 

 than tobacco, and the cheapest and most powerful tobacco is 

 common shag. A quarter of a pound will suffice to fumigate a 

 medium-sized structure. In using tobacco-paper, it must be 

 made moderately moist ; when quite dry, it will burst into a 

 flame and scorch the foliage, but if made too moist it will 

 generate steam, and not be so efiective as it otherwise would 

 be. In the preparation of the paper, pull it into small pieces, 

 and separate all that is pressed together singly, and then 

 sprinkle it with water if it requiries moistening. There are 

 several forms of fumigators, but the best is Dresehler's, for by 

 its means the houses can be filled with smoke from the outside. 

 Appleby's is a simple contrivance, but it does not appear to 

 present any material advantages over the common flower pot, 

 excepting that it is more easily moved about, and not liable to 

 be split with the heat. When a flower pot is used, knock a 

 hole in the side, about an inch from the bottom, and place a 

 few glowing cinders in the bottom ; upon these sprinkle a 

 handful of dry brown paper, then a handful of dry tobacco- 

 paper, and when it bursts into a flame commence to fill the 

 pot with the moistened papers, and take it into the house, and 

 blow it steadily to get it fairly lighted. The grand point is to 

 make a good start, for it will then burn freely without much 

 further attention, and render it quite unnecessary to remain 

 in the house the whole of the time. A sharp look-out must 

 be maintained from the outside, and if it shows signs of 

 bursting into a flame stir up the unconsumed materials and 

 damp it slightly ; add fresh if the house is only partly filled 

 with smoke. In practice it will be found more desirable to 

 keep the paper burning briskly until the house is filled, and 



