CHAPTER XXXII 



MISCELLANEOUS DECORATIVE PLANTS 



Araucarias 



The Araucaria (Norfolk Island Pine) is fast 

 becoming a favorite with all who grow it. It is so 

 unlike all other plants in general cultivation that it 

 forms a most desirable and important addition to all 

 collections. It does best in a cool room. In the 

 ordinary living room it is likely to become infested 

 with red spider and thrip. These, if not promptly 

 checked, so affect the plant that it loses its lower tiers 

 of foliage, thus greatly marring the beauty and sym- 

 metry of the plant. The foliage is thick and heavy, 

 like that of most evergreens, and the branches are so 

 densely covered with it that they form excellent quar- 

 ters for the thrip and spider to hide in. Quite often 

 their presence is not suspected until the foliage turns 

 yellow and begins to drop. As soon as either of these 

 pests is discovered, prepare an infusion of soap, as 

 directed in the chapter on insecticides, and dip the 

 plant in it. Shake it about well, while in the bath, to 

 dislodge as many of the insects as possible. It is 

 a good plan to give a semi-monthly or a weekly bath 

 of this kind when no insects are to be found on the 

 plant, as, by so doing, it is often possible to head 

 them off and prevent them from getting established. 



If this treatment does not prove entirely satis- 

 factory, use lemon oil, or fir-tree oil, prepared and 

 applied acording to directions on the can containing it. 



For cool, but frost-proof rooms, this plant cannot 

 be too highly recommended. Fine specimens are 

 stately ornaments for the greenhouse, and will be 



