is shown, a; when magnified, the upper side, b, represents a shield, and the legs are only seen 



when it is turned on its back, f. 



The remedy in this case is by washing the plant by hand and forcing the insect off with the 

 thumb or finjer-nail ; or take a small, stiff brush and soap-suds, and 

 brush the plant until it is thoroughly clean. The name of the 

 species that infests the Myrtle, Orange, Oleander, &c., is Coccus Hes- 

 peridum. A London friend writes that a little alcohol, applied with a 

 camel hair brash, such as is used in painting with water colors, will 

 kill any insect it touches. 



The MEALY BUG (Coccus Adoniduni), is similar to the previously 



mentioned insect, except that it is cov- , 



COCCI'S, OK SCALE INbELT. 



ered with a white, mealy or downy 

 substance. Both of them insert their 

 teaks into the l^ark or leaves, and draw 

 from the cellular sulwtance the sap that 

 nourishes them. A weak mixture of 

 whale-oil soap and water in the propor- 

 tion of one pound of soap to five gal- 

 lons of water, will be found destructive to them. With a few plants, only, we would recom- 

 mend the use of a soft brush and water, and in this way they can be readily removed. 



^ 



COLD PITS. 



OLEANDER LEAF WITH SCALE INSECT. 



There are some plants that are unable to bear a Northern winter, yet can endure a good deal 

 of what looks like hard treatment. For instance, they can be taken up from the garden in the 



autumn, and placed in a tolerably light and 

 dry cellar and in the spring are ready for 

 transplanting again to the garden. There 

 are, however, but few cellars fit to preserve 

 plants during the winter, and in these only 

 the most enduring and long-suffering are 

 safe. "\Yhat is known to gardeners as the 

 COLD PIT is only an out-door cellar, ex- 

 pressly made for the preservation of plants. 

 In such pits many of the more hardv 



FIG. I. , , , r 11 ' 



green-house plants may be successfully win- 

 tered. The following list, including, perhaps, those plants which amateurs would be most 

 likely to possess, may be wintered perfectly in a cold pit : Abutilon, Bouvardia, Camellia, 

 Carnation, Cestrum, Crape Myrtle, Erica, 

 Fuchsia, Geraniums, Hydrangea, Lantana, 

 Laurestinus, Laurus, Oleander, Pittosporum, 

 Pomegranate, Roses of all kinds, Tritoma 

 uvaria, Yucca, and many others of like nature. 

 Soft-wooded plants, like Verbenas and Helio- 

 tropes, are apt to mildew. 



A pit (fig. I ) for the purpose described 

 should be situated in as sheltered a position 

 as possible, and have thorough drainage. It 

 may be not more than four feet deep, and be 

 reached from the top or outside when the sash 

 is removed ; or it may be from six to eight 

 feet in depth, with several shelves, like fig. 2, 

 and of a size to suit the number of plants to 



be kept. If built on the side of the house it may adjoin the cellar, and have an entrance into 

 it through the cellar wall ; but as dampness is the great enemy of such a place, this trouble may 



' 



