vere and the plant is seriously weakened, it may be advisable to destroy 

 the plant entirely and start with a clean one. If plants are valued highly, 

 it is possible, although sometimes very tedious, to wash off the scale by- 

 using warm soapsuds and rubbing the insects loose with a soft cloth. If 

 the plant is not too large, it may be possible to set it in the sink and give 

 it a syringing with water under pressure. If this syringing is done at 

 regular weekly intervals, it may be possible eventually to rid the plant 

 of scale insects or to lessen the population to a considerable degree. 



Fig. 7a (left) — Tiny scale insects (magnified) are usually orange, gray 

 brown, or black. Fig. 7b (right) — Some scale insects are most trouble on 

 ferns and foliage plants. Here they are shown infesting maidenhair fern 



Volck, a miscible oil spray, may be used effectively as a dip in con- 

 trolling most scale insects. This material should be available from local 

 plant supply stores or from reputable seedsmen. DDT has proved an 

 excellent material for killing scale, and is safe on most plants. In using 

 Volck, or any other control measures, the treatment should be repeated 

 several times to give a satisfactory control. 



Aphid or Greenfly 



Although aphids are the commonest of all house-plant insects, they 

 are by far the easiest to control. Aphids are small, usually green in col- 

 or, and capable of multiplying rapidly. If left alone they will do much 

 damage. Usually they are wingless, but under adverse conditions, such 

 as in late fall, they produce winged stages. Aphids may come into the 

 home on cut flowers or potted plants. 



Fig. 8a (left) — Aphids usually infect plants of the rapidly growing types. 



Fig. 8b (right) — They cause a deformity of flower buds, 



especially on gardenia 



Twelve 



