ITS THE HOT-HOUSE. [FEB. 



yellow and sickly, and generally a great number of yellow trapspa- 

 rent spots may be seen all over them. 



On the least neglect in destroying them, they will increase innu- 

 merably, and so beset the lower parts of the leaves next the stem of the 

 plant (where they are most numerous) with scales, as nearly to touch 

 each other. And as they pierce that part of the leaf immediately 

 under the scale with their proboscis, they thereby not only draw out 

 the nutricious juices themselves, but also destroy the tubes through 

 which they flow. The upper parts of the leaves being thus deprived 

 of their nourishment, consequently die. But these insects do not 

 attack the roots, as has been frequently asserted. 



3. THE WHITE MEALY CRIMSON- TINGED INSECT. This insect, as 

 well as the former, I have not found to be noticed by naturalists. 



This species also has all the characters of a coccus, but in all pro- 

 bability belongs to another genus. For whereas the two former spe- 

 cies are undoubtedly oviparous, this seems to be viviparous. It is 

 most probable that the young ones remain some time in the mealy 

 down of the mother till they have acquired strength, and are arrived 

 at such a degree of perfection, as to enable them to support them- 

 selves when they forsake the parent insect and disperse to different 

 parts of the plant. 



When this species is first perceived on the leaves of the pine, it 

 appears to be nothing more than small particles of meal or powder 

 collected together ; but in a few days it assumes the form of a louse 

 or bug, thickly covered with a fine meal or down of an oval form on 

 its upper, and very fiat on its under side, from whence proceed its 

 legs, which are six in number. These, as well as many other par- 

 ticulars in the above, and preceding descriptions, are not to be dis- 

 tinguished without the help of glasses. 



The last described species is of a more pernicious nature than the 

 former ; it attacks every part of the plant, from the top of its fruit 

 even to the most extreme parts of its roots. These animals wedge 

 themselves in between the protuberances of the fruit in a most sur- 

 prising manner, so as not to be got out without difficulty, which not 

 only makes the fruit appear very unsightly when it becomes ripe, but 

 by robbing it of its nutricious juices is the cause also of its wanting 

 flavor and being ill-tasted. 



But the bad effects of this species on the roots of the plants are 

 yet of a far worse consequence ; for there, even at the bottom of the 

 pots, they increase with an uncommon degree of rapidity, so as to 

 become very numerous, and in the end to destroy the principal roots 

 of the plants. 



There have been various methods used for the extirpation of these 

 insects, such as shifting the plants and washing their roots : decoc- 

 tions from tobacco, wormwood, walnut leaves, henbane, and other 

 herbs of a bitter or poisonous quality. Some have added to the 

 above snuff, sulphur and pepper. These and many other remedies 

 have been tried to very little purpose ; at length, Mr. William 

 Speedily, then gardener to the Duke of Portland, England, disco- 

 vered and recommended in his excellent Treatise on the Culture 

 of the Pine-apple, the following receipt, which, he asserts, " for the 



