12 HOTHOUSE DESTRUCTION OF INSECTS. [JANUARY. 



of the place. Water, when applied either to the roots 

 or foliage of the plants, should be about the medium 

 temperature of the house. The cistern, built on the 

 plan herein recommended, will always give this, and 

 sometimes more, which can easily be reduced by add- 

 ing cold water. Where there are no cisterns, a tank 

 or barrel might be in the house, in which the water 

 could stand for one night or more, as is most suitable. 

 When water is given without being thus aired, it chills 

 the roots, prevents a luxuriant growth, injures the fresh 

 and healthful appearance of the foliage, and too fre- 

 quently gives to all the plants a sickly hue. 



OF INSECTS, THEIR DESTRUCTION, &c. 



In this department, insects begin to increase by 

 hundreds, and too frequently their ravages are very 

 obvious before their progress is arrested. We will 

 treat of those which are most common, under their re- 

 spective heads, with their nature and cure, as far as 

 has come under our observation. 



Aphis rosa>, of the natural order of Hemiptera, or 

 what is commonly known by Green Fly, Green Lice. 

 &c. infect plants in general, and are particularly de- 

 structive in the Hot-house to Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Jls- 

 clepias, Crdssula coccinea, ,/Hstrcemeria, and many other 

 plants of a free growing nature. They attack the 

 young and tender shoots at the point, leaving a dark 

 filthy appearance on the foliage. Many remedies for 

 their destruction have been offered to the public by 

 various writers, each equally secure in his own opinion. 



