January.] HOT-HOUSE OF CLEANSING, ETC. 143 



when, by easing itself from its bed, the fluid passes under it, 

 and causes immediate death. If it is not thus irritated, it 

 adheres so closely to the foliage that it will keep you at de- 

 fiance. The under or dark side of the leaves is its residence ; 

 and we have observed a plant in a house where there was only 

 light on one side, with the dark side literally covered, while 

 the light side was clean. So much for having houses with 

 plenty of light. The eflects of this insect are of a corroding 

 nature, extracting all the juice from the leaf; and where they 

 have got to the extremity, the foliage is completely yellow, 

 and of a decayed appearance. 



Cocus , or turtle insect. We have never ob- 

 served this insect arrive to any extent. It is the largest of 

 any known among us, and very like a turtle in miniature. 

 On lifting it from the wood, to which it generally adheres, 

 there appear to be hundreds of eggs under it, but fumigating 

 completely destroys the larva). In our opinion, this turtle in- 

 sect 'is no other than the old female of the brown scaly insect, 

 which swells to a large size before depositing its eggs. We 

 have frequently observed the insect dead in this enlarged 

 state, and question if this be not the last stage of its transmi- 

 gration. The male insect is winged, and very active in its 

 movements. 



Where bulbous roots, such as Hyacinths, Jonquils, Ixias, 

 Lachenallas, &c., are required to be early in flower, they may, 

 during this month, be put in the front of the hot-house and 

 watered freely till they bloom, when they may be taken to the 

 green-house or parlour. 



Azaleas, Rhododendron Roses, and some other plants, do 

 admirably to force ; and where there is a large stock, a few 

 should be > sought into early bloom with the heat of this de- 

 partment. 



Or CLEANSING PLANTS, HOUSE, ETC. 



This subject ought to be kept constantly in view. How- 

 ever correctly everything else may be executed, without 

 that adorning beauty, cleanliness, all will appear only half 

 done. Therefore let all the dead leaves be picked off every 

 day, the dust and other litter swept out of the house, and, 

 when necessary, the house washed, whk-,h will be at least 





