76 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Scale of several kinds is often found on the stems and leaves of 

 parlor plants ; washing with strong soapsuds and persistent appli- 

 cation will remove it. A paragraph has been going the rounds of 

 the papers recommending kerosene oil for scale on ivy ; that it 

 will destroy scale there is no doubt, but it will also kill the foliage. 

 It might, however, be used cautiously if diluted with water, with 

 which it will mix if a little soap is added. 



A healthy plant is much less likely to be infested with insects, 

 and if plants are kept in stout, vigorous growth there will be little 

 trouble from any insect pest. A warm dry atmosphere is much 

 more conducive to their development than a low moist temperature. 

 Generally, however, house plants have no insects which very little 

 care when they first appear will not remove. 



Light is very important to plants, and for most plants direct 

 sunlight is necessary. A southerly window is the best exposure, 

 but a deep bow window fronting the south, where the morning 

 sun can come in on the east, and the light of the setting sun on 

 the west, is the best for the growth of plants. If the choice is 

 between an easterly or a westerly window, the easterly should 

 have the preference, as the morning sun is better than the after- 

 noon. The plants should be as close to the light as possible, as 

 thereby there is less danger of their becoming drawn ; they should 

 be frequently turned, that all sides may have equal exposure ; 

 this is especially necessary with quick growing, soft wooded 

 plants. Some of the revolving flower-stands are in this respect 

 very useful, as they enable the plants to be turned to the light 

 without the labor of lifting the pots. Light has also great influ 

 ence upon the colors of flowers, which if grown away irom the sun 

 are usually pale and weak. 



Water. — We have said that plants derive most of their food 

 from the soluble salts of the soil which are taken up by the roots 

 in a liquid form and assimilated to the uses of the i:»lant. Sufficient 

 and careful watering is most essential to successful culture, and it 

 is from neglect in this particular that so many failures arise. The 

 quantity of water needed varies with the nature of the plant ; a 

 very little suffices for some, others require a large supply. There 

 are, however, very few plants that will flourish with v/ator stand- 

 ing around the roots. Therefore, in potting, provision should be 

 made by ample drainage for the escape of all superfluous water, 

 and where saucers are used all water which drains off should be 



