168 PRACTICAL FLORICULTURE. 



make the sulphur stick better to the pipes). We also 

 use this mixture of sulphur on our steam pipes, but only 

 on about one-sixth of the diameter ; if the whole pipe 

 was covered as in the hot water pipe, the fumes would 

 hurt the plants. The fumes of sulphur, as diffused by 

 the heated pipes, is a never-failing means of destroying 

 the germs of Mildew or any other fungoid growth, and 

 also holds in check, to some extent, the Red-spider, an 

 insect often so troublesome to the Rose. In the summer, 

 or at such seasons of the year when no fire is used, it is 

 well to dust the foliage lightly with sulphur once a week 

 as a preventive of Mildew. 



THE ROSE-BUG OF THE GREENHOUSE. 



For the Rose-bug (Aramigus Fuller ii), so detrimental to 

 success in Rose growing under glass, there seems no sure 

 remedy except the slow one of catching and killing the 

 insect as soon as it is seen on the leaves. It is not easily 

 observed, as it gets under the leaves and close to the 

 shoots of the plants. Its presence is known by the bitten 

 leaves showing where it is feeding. It will be understood 

 that it is not the Rose-bug in its perfect state that does the 

 injury. The bug deposits its eggs close to the root of the 

 plant ; these quickly hatch into larvae or maggots, which 

 at once begin to feed on the roots of the Rose, destroying 

 it completely. Many years ago we adopted the plan of 

 paying our boys one cent apiece for the bugs which they 

 caught at their dinner-hour, and by this method have 

 completely kept them under, so that to see one now is a 

 rarity. 



The only safety, when the Rose-bug is known to be 

 present in sufficient numbers to injure, is to throw out 

 the plants and start with young ones. I know, of course, 

 that there are many rose houses that are even nine to 

 ten years old, that never fail to produce abundant crops, 

 particularly such as Mareschal Niel and other climbers ; 



