Notes and Gleanings. 41 



the leaf flat on the surface, and peg it down closely, so that its nervures may be 

 slightly embedded in the soil, and the whole under-surface lie flat. For gloxinias, 

 the pots should be prepared in the same manner ; only the leaves must be put in 

 around the sides of the pots like cuttings, and with their lower ends from three- 

 quarters of an inch to an inch in the soil. Give a gentle watering, and place in 

 a mild hot-bed of from 70° to 75°, and a proportionate top-heat. Maintain a 

 close and moist atmosphere, and shade from bright sun ; keeping the soil moist, 

 but not wet. The begonias will form little plants along the midribs of the 

 leaves ; and, when of sufficient size, the young plants may be taken with their 

 roots, cutting the midribs on both sides, potted singly, and retained in heat until 

 established. The gloxinias will form tubers beneath the soil, and be well rooted 

 in six weeks. They should then be treated as old plants, and dried off towards 

 autumn. In spring, they may be potted off" singly, and shoots will come from 

 the crown of the roots ; and, if grown on, flowers will follow in due season. 



Sulphur and Snuff for destroying Red Spider and Green Fly. — 

 Dust the leaves and young shoots with the sulphur and snuff" mixed : only the 

 foliage must be dry when the snuff" is dusted over the young shoots ; or, if wet, 

 the snuff" will be converted into tobacco-water ; and this, if too strong, will injure 

 the tender shoots. The sulphur will not injure the leaves or young shoots in the 

 least ; but it will not kill red spider by being brought into contact with the insect : 

 it is the fumes that are destructive to it. A weak solution of soft-soap is the 

 best of all remedies we have tried for red spider ; and for peaches, whilst the 

 shoots are young, it should not be stronger than an ounce to the gallon of water : 

 but, after the leaves have attained their full size, a good syringing of soft-soap 

 solution, at the rate of two ounces to the gallon of boihng water, allowed to stand 

 until cool before use, will mostly keep the leaves free, and clear them, if neces- 

 sary, of red spider. The safest and most certain means of preventing red spider 

 is to proceed against it with its natural enemy, — water, — syringing the plants 

 or trees subject to it freely. 



To destroy Green Fly on Rose-Trees. — Syringe the heads of the trees 

 forcibly with water in which soft-soap has been dissolved, at the rate of an ounce 

 to a gallon of water. Continue to do this every evening, wet or dry, for a week; 

 and, on the aphis disappearing, syringe with clear soft water until the blooms 

 open : but, if the aphides do not disappear, syringe the heads in the evening of 

 a dry day with tobacco-water, made by adding five gallons of soft water to every 

 gallon of the tobacco liquor sold by the tobacco manufacturers, wetting the leaves 

 and shoots thoroughly in every jDart. On the following morning, syringe the trees 

 with clear water. If this should not clear off" the aphis, repeat the application 

 next night but one. If tobacco liquor cannot be had from the manufacturer, 

 take the strongest shag tobacco, and over two ounces of it pour one gallon of 

 boihng water; cover with a cloth; let the whole stand until cool; then strain, and 

 apply the liquor to the trees by means of a fine-rosed watering-pot or syringe. 

 The same liquid will answer for the destruction of aphis on all kinds of trees, 

 as the peach, cherry, and plum. 



