1 70 NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 



grown in a warm, dry atmosphere soon fall victims to thrip- 

 and scale. Collectors of ferns should carefully note the 

 conditions surrounding ferns found growing in their native 

 haunts, and endeavour, as nearly as possible, to imitate 

 nature, as to aspect, soil, shade, or otherwise. Those who 

 do so will be the most successful growers. 



Insects injurious to Ferns. Ferns are subject to 

 the attacks of thrip, green fly, and brown scale, slugs and 

 woodlice. In warm, dry atmospheres the thrip will be found 

 the most troublesome, and if not destroyed they soon make 

 havoc with the young fronds. (For description see chapter 

 on injurious insects.) 



Fumigation. The easiest and most certain method 

 of destroying thrip is by fumigation with tobacco ; tobacco 

 paper, if strong, will answer as well. Fumigation will also- 

 rid the house of green fly. Scale is not so easily got rid 

 of. It attacks the back of the fronds and in the midribs. 

 The only certain method of getting rid of this pest is by 

 carefully washing them off with a sponge or soft brush. 

 Great care must be used in this operation to avoid injuring the 

 fronds. Some of the infested fronds may be cut away ; but 

 only a few of the fronds can be removed with safety at one 

 time, however infested they may be. The best time to 

 fumigate will be in the evening. It is safer to smoke the 

 house a little at a time and to repeat it often say, twice 

 a week, when necessary. Thrip and green fly will only be 

 troublesome where ferns are grown under glass, and where 

 watering and syringing is not regularly attended to during 

 the hot weather. An occasional syringing with Gishurst's 

 compound, i oz. to two gallons of water, will also be of 

 service. They must be syringed next morning with clean 

 water. 



Woodlice and Slugs. Where woodlice abound, they 

 may be kept under by trapping them in the following manner : 

 Place a few small flower pots about the house inverted, 

 stuffed half full of dry moss. Large quantities may be 

 caught in this way, as they resort to these hiding places 

 during the day time. They may also be caught by candle 

 light, by seeking for them quietly the least noise causes 

 them to drop off the fronds where they have just been* 



