306 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



stantly occupied among plants generally enjoy uninterrupted 

 health. 



To have suitable compost for plants, the different soils should 

 be mixed for some time before it is wanted for use ; after it is 

 mixed, it should be placed under cover until it is wanted. In 

 making compost the following soils should be obtained, first, soil 

 and turf from an old pasture ; second, decomposed horse or cow 

 manure ; third, peat soil or leaf mould from the woods; fourth, 

 white sand ; fifth, coarse sand or gravel ; sixth, charcoal and 

 broken pots, — the broken pots and charcoal are for drainage. A 

 suitable compost for fuchsias, roses and geraniums, consists of one 

 part of white sand, one of leaf mould, and one of decomposed 

 manure and turf mould. These should be well mixed together 

 and sifted before using. A compost for cactus : sand, leaf and 

 turf mould, with a good drainage of charcoal and broken pots. 



Of all the insects which infest house plants, the green fly, red 

 spider and mealy bug, are the most difBcult to get rid of. They 

 are easily destroyed in the greenhouse by tobacco smoke ; for 

 parlor plants, take a pail of soft water, cover the surface of the 

 pot with paper to prevent the soil from falling out, and with a 

 brush brush the leaves downward, dipping the plant in the water 

 several times. The mealy bug may be found in the axils of the 

 leaves of orange trees, camelias, passion flowers, and various 

 other plants ; they look like small specks of cotton, and are only 

 to be got rid of by picking them off. If plants should happen to 

 get frozen, they should be syringed with cold water, and screened 

 from the rays of the sun. It frequently saves plants that Avould 

 otherwise be destroyed. The culture of bulbous roots in the 

 house, during winter, is very easy. They require to be. kept near 

 the light, and the pots or glasses turned frequently to prevent 

 them growing out of shape. All bulbs, at a certain period of 

 the year, are in a dormant state ; the cultivator should lessen 

 the supply of water, when the flowers wither and the leaves 

 decay, and let the soil get perfectly dry, and remain so until the 

 bulb is wanted for the next season. 



Hyacinth bulbs intended to be grown in glasses should be 

 placed in them in November, the glass being filled with water so 

 that the bottom of the bulb barely touches the water ; then 

 place them in a dark closet for a few days, which promotes the 

 growth of the roots more quickly than if at once exposed to the 

 light. When the roots have commenced to grow, they may be 



