388 THE HOUSEHOLD. 



U130U the vegetable, aud arc easily destroyed. The wliite worm which 

 iufests, occasionally, all soils where plants arc kept in pots, may be removed 

 as follows: Sprinkle lime water over the soil, or sprinkle a little slacked 

 lime on the earth, and in the saucer of the pot. Lime water may be easily 

 made by slacking a large piece of lime iu a pail of cold water, letting this 

 settle, and then bottle the clear water for use. Give each pot a tablespoon- 

 ful twice a week. 



To destroy the little bugs on the oleander, take a piece of lime the size of 

 a hen's egg, aud dissolve it in about two quarts of water. Wash the stock 

 and branches with this water. 



To destroy plant lice, take three and a half ounces of quassia chips, add 

 five drachms Stavesacre seed in powder, place in seven pints of water, and 

 boil down to five ])ints. When cold, the strained liquid is ready for use, 

 either by means of a watering-pot or a syringe 



Hot alum water will destroy red and black ants, cockroaches, spiders and 

 chintzbugs. Take two pounds of alum and dissolve it in three or four 

 quarts of boiling water. Let it stand on the lire until the alum is all melted, 

 then apply it with a brush (while nearly boiUng hot) to the places fre- 

 quented by these insects, ' 



Any choice plants may be preserved from the ravages of slugs by placing 

 a few pieces of garlic near them. No slugs will approach the smell of garlic. 



Greenliouse slugs often become a nuisance in the greenhouse. A certain 

 remedy is to sprinkle salt freely along the edges of the bench or table, the 

 crossing of which is sure deatli to the slug. 



Another way of dcstrcyhig insects on Howers is to water the plants with 

 a decoction of tobacco, which quickly destroys. Independently of the re- 

 moval of the iu.sectB, tobacco-water is considered by many persons to improve 

 the verdure of the plant. Prepare it as follows: Take one pound of roll 

 tobacco and pour over it three pints of water, nearly boding. Let it stand 

 lor some hours before it is used. 



Kerosene oil may be vised for destroying insects on plants by taking a 

 tablespoonful of oil and mixing it with half a cup of milk, and then diluting 

 the mixture with two gallons of water. Apply the liquid with a syi-uigc, and 

 afterward rinse with clear water. This substance is death to plant insects, 

 and we have never heard of its injuring the most delicate plants when used 

 as here directed. 



The following is recommended as a means of destrojing the rose slug: 

 Add a teaspoonful of powdered white liellebore to two gallons of boiluig 

 water. Apply wluu cold, in a fine spray, bending the tops over so as to 

 reach the under surface of the leaves. One application is usually suflicient. 

 This is a good way to treat the currant worm. 



The red spider may be banislied from plants l)y the simple process of 

 cutting off the infected leaf. A leaf once attacked soon decays aud falls oil"; 

 but then the animals remove to another. By carefully pursuing this ampu- 

 tation plants will become remarkal>ly healthy. 



A new method for the getting rid of worms which desti-oy the house 

 plants is a number of sulphur matches placed in the flower pots with their 

 heads doAvn. The experiment has been tried with success. 



Ammonia for Plants — If the house plants become pale and sicKly, a 

 dose of ammonia, a few drops in the water you water them with, will revive 

 them like magic. It is the concentrated essence of fertilizers, aud acta upon 

 plant lift; as tonics and eca air upon human invftUdg, 



