INSECTS AND DISEASES AFFECTING PLANTS. 273 



heavy firing in winter, or hot, dry days in spring or sum- 

 mer. Therefore, as in the case of the Green Fly, if proper 

 preventives are used, the Red Spider need never be Been 

 in the greet) house. 



The red spider is an exceedingly minute insect, sc 

 small that it is a mere speck when seen by the naked eye ; , 

 but when closely examined, may be seen moving with 

 great rapidity. Though minute in themselves the pres- 

 ence of these insects may be quickly detected, by the 

 upper side of the leaves becoming browned, though the 

 ravages are confined to the under side of the leaf. Par. 

 lor plants are often subject to this insect, as it is not 

 convenient to give the necessary moisture, and the only 

 remedy in such cases, ?.f the collection is not too numer- 

 ous, is sponging the leaves. Florists who have a suf- 

 ficient force of water ; have but little trouble with the 

 Red Spider, as forcibly applied daily it quickly destroys 

 them. In the absence of city water, the force pump or 

 hand syringe must be used. 



We often have woeful complaints from inexperienced 

 cultivators, that their plants all get brown and look 

 sickly, and it requires but little thinking to divine what 

 enemy is making the attack. 



The aphis, from its size, is quickly seen, and means 

 may be used at once to destroy it, but this minute red 

 pest may be sapping the life of a plant for weeks before 

 it is discovered. Amateur cultivators generally expect 

 to see something more tangible in a spider, if they have 

 heard of the red dragon at all, and are often hard to 

 convince, that this minute insect is the cause of so much 

 disaster. 



1 will relate a rather ludicrous incident, to show that 

 some even of larger experience may become possessed of 

 that notion. 



Many years ago I had in my employment an active 

 young Irishman, who, by showing more than ordinary 



