80 HORTICULTURE LEOT. v 



ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 



The following recapitulation, with additions, given in the 

 form of replies, has been prepared by the special request of 

 audiences : 



1. APHIDES. The green or black flies which cluster on cur- 

 rants, plums, cherries, beans, roses, and many plants in pots. 

 The remedy is tobacco water, made by pouring a gallon of soft 

 boiling water on 2 ozs. of strong shag tobacco ; add to this 2 ozs. 

 of soft soap, strain, and use when cold. In very bad cases, 

 place 1^ oz. of quassia chips in a gallon of cold soft water at 

 night, boil gently for 15 minutes next morning, then mix 

 with the above solution. Quassia chips can be obtained from 

 chemists. 



2. RED SPIDER. A small, but destructive mite which at- 

 tacks the under-sides of the leaves of fruit trees and bushes in 

 hot weather ; also various other plants, extracting the juices and 

 causing the leaves to assume a sickly hue. Remedies : (1) Soft 

 soap, 6 ozs. , dissolved in 3 gallons of hot water with a handful 

 of flowers of sulphur well stirred in. (2) Dissolve ^ Ib. of soft 

 soap in 2 gallons of boiling water, then boil 1J oz. of caustic 

 soda and 4 ozs. of flowers of sulphur in a gallon of water, keep 

 stirred, mix all well, boil gently for half an hour, add 2 or 3 

 gallons of water, and the preparation will be ready for use. 

 (3) Strong soapsuds, not containing bleaching powder. All are 

 best applied in the evening. Water and liquid manure given to 

 the roots increase the substance of the leaves, and enable them 

 the better to resist the attacks of insects and mildew. 



3. MILDEW. Plants, trees, and crops infested appear as if 

 covered with meal. This "meal" consists of living fungoid 

 growths which feed on plants and destroy them. Remedies : 

 The No. 1 advised for Red Spider ; also (2) Sulphide of potas- 

 sium (from chemists), ^ an ounce dissolved in a gallon of water. 

 (3) Take 1 Ib. each of flowers of sulphur and quicklime, slake 

 the lime in a pan, add the sulphur and a gallon of water, mix 

 well and boil gently for 20 minutes, keeping constantly stirred ; 

 allow to settle, and when cool pour off the clear liquid and 

 closely cork it in a stone bottle. For use, mix I pint in 

 3 gallons of water and apply in the evening. (4) The potato 

 disease antidotes (pp. 83, 84). 



