INSECTS. 119 



doubt it is a native of some tropical country, and can 

 only exist in such a temperature as is required by plants 

 of that kind. There are various remedies used by floristc, 

 but the use of nearly all of them might do more harm 

 than good in inexperienced hands, and I therefore advise 

 that they should only be destroyed by being washed off 

 such plants as Gardenias, or rubbed off of more tender 

 leaved plants with a soft brush ; or where there are but 

 few, they may be readily picked off by the use of a quill 

 sharpened like a toothpick. 



Brown and WJiite Scale Insects. These appear life- 

 less, and adhere closely to the stems of such plants as 

 Oleanders, Ivies, etc. , and like the Mealy Bug are best 

 destroyed by being washed or rubbed off. 



Tlirips. This is an insect varying in color from light 

 yellow to dark brown, and much more active in its move- 

 ments than the Green-Ply, and more difficult to destroy ; 

 when it once gets a foothold it is very destructive. It 

 succumbs to tobacco, in any of the forms recommended 

 for the destruction of Green-Ply, but not so readily. It 

 luxuriates in shaded situations, and generally abounds 

 where plants are standing too thickly together, or where 

 ventilation or light is deficient. It may be safely as- 

 serted that in any well regulated place where plants 

 are kept, no injury from insects will ever become serious 

 if due attention has been given to keeping the atmos- 

 phere of the place moist, and using tobacco freely in any 

 of the forms we have recommended. 



The Angle Worm. This is the common worm seen 

 in every soil in pots and in the open ground. It is 

 harmless so far as feeding goes, for it seems never to 

 touch plants as food, but it bores and crawls around in 

 a way by no means beneficial to pot-grown plants ; it is, 

 however, easily dislodged ; by slaking a quart of lime 

 and adding water to make up ten gallons of the liquid, 

 and watering the plants with it after it has become 



