especially those who keep only a small number of plants in the living-room, is the better way, of 

 watching them so closely and syringing and washing them so frequently that the fly is kept under 

 and the plants maintained in the highest state of health. 



THRIPS. 



This is an exceedingly active little insect, and seems to leap rather than fly. The engraving 

 shows a thrip of natural size, fig. f, and the same insect magnified, fig. h. These insects are 

 extremely small, and have long, slender bodies, with very narrow wings which are fringed with 

 fine hair. They live on leaves, flowers, in buds, and even in the crevices of the bark of plants, 

 but are so small that they readily escape notice, the largest being not more than one-tenth of an 

 inch in length. The color of the insect varies from a whitish yellow to a dark brown. It 

 attacks the extremities of young shoots and tender leaves, which become 

 brown and shriveled, and will crumble to dust when rubbed between the 

 thumb and finger. 



The same means that have been recommended for the destruction of the 

 " green-fly" serve for this little pest also, but it does not succumb so readily 

 the fumigation must be more frequently and persistently practiced. As we 

 have said in reference to the "green-fly," so with this insect; it maybe prevented to a great 

 extent from multiplying, by syringing and frequently washing the leaves of the plants. 



If a vinery should be seriously attacked with thrips, wait until all tr,e foliage and fruit are 

 taken off the vines ; then remove all kinds of plants that have green leaves into other houses, 

 and shut up the vinery close and fill it with the fumes of sulphur. 



RED SPIDER. 



The RED SPIDER (Acarus tellarius), is a troublesome little insect, and one which, if allowed 

 to run unchecked, would speedily bring devastation and total ruin to the plants of the house or 

 conservatory ; but it is no doubt designed for some beneficial purpose. We can more clearly see 

 the compensating good from its attacks than in the case of most other plant-preyers. If it were 

 not for the wholesome fear which it continually inspires, gardeners and other plant-growers 

 would probably very frequently maintain an atmosphere so dry as materially to injure or destroy 

 their plants. If you catch a glimpse of a red spider you may be sure that the atmosphere of 

 your plant-room has been kept too dry if it is your living-room, it has also been too dry for 

 the health of the human occupants. It will be seen by the engraving that the insect is very 

 minute, as shown by the little dot a ; the same, highly magnified, appears at 

 b. The body is of a blood-red color, and the feet a light red. 



A plant upon which this insect has taken up his abode, in a short time 

 shows some leaves turning yellow, indicating premature decay when they are 

 numerous they work webs on the under side of the leaves, and sometimes all 

 over it, until the plant becomes a mass of half dead and decayed leaves. 



Water is fatal to the red spider, and as before remarked ; with an atmosphere 

 of proper humidity this insect would never get a foot-hold. When once firmly established upon 

 the plants, the speediest way to destroy them is by the fumes of sulphur. This remedy, however, 

 must be used with much caution, as the free use of it will cause most plants to shed their leaves. 



Fortunately, but little of it is required ; and in the green-houses it has been found sufficient 

 to mix a little flour of sulphur with water, or with milk, which is said to be better, and to paint 

 or smear with it a small surface of the heating pipes or the flue ; a very little of it in the atmos- 

 phere proves sufficient for the destruction of the insect. In the case of a few house-plants, we 

 think that sponging of the leaves on both sides, and syringing the plants so that the water is 

 thrown on the under as well as upper sides of the leaves, will be effectual without recourse to 

 sulphur. 



SCALE INSECT. 



The Coccus, or SCALP: INSECT, is a common pest on some kinds of plants the Orange, the 

 Myrtle, the Camellia, the Oleander, and many other hard-wooded plants are apt to be infested 

 by them. There are many species of Coccus, varying slightly from each other. One kind of 

 plants is the home of one variety, and another sort devotes its attention exclusively to some other 

 kind. The Grape, the Pear, the Elm, and almost every kind of our cultivated and forest trees 

 has its special representative of this class of insects. In the engraving the insect of natural size 



28 



RED SPIDER lACAf 

 US TELLARIUS. I 



