Scale and other Parasitical Insects. 309 



moving about very rapidly, but so small as hardly 

 to be dete6led by the casual observer. Leaves attacked 

 by it assume a light pale or sickly colour. Once it gains 

 a footing, the utmost vigilance and care are required to 

 get rid of it. Several methods are resorted to for keep- 

 ing it down, such as frequent syringing with pure water, 

 or a solution of flour of sulphur and water forcibly 

 applied to the under sides of the leaves, where it is chiefly 

 found. The latter mixture, when the water has evaporated, 

 leaves a fine coating of sulphur on the affe6led surface 

 in which the creature cannot live. A syringing with 

 soap water, repeated for several days, is also an effe6live 

 remedy. In this case the plants shouldsubsequently receive 

 a syringing with clear water. These remedies should not 

 be applied during the day while the sun is bright. 



Thrip. — Thrips vulgatissima, is a minute elongated 

 black inseft, the ravages of which are somewhat of a 

 character with those of the preceding. Like Red Spider, 

 it can move rapidly about, and is very destru6live in its 

 attacks. It loves a dry rather than a wet atmosphere. 

 This may account for the general complaint that plants 

 used in drawing rooms soon become unsightly, particu- 

 larly crotons. One half of the unhealthy house plants 

 met with are affe6led by this inse6l. 



Mealy Bug. — Of this there are several species affefting 

 various plants, of which may be mentioned, as the most im. 

 portant, the Sugar Cane, under the clasping bases of the 

 leaves of which they secrete themselves in great numbers. 

 Many other plants, too numerous to mention here, receive 

 considerable damage from these pests. They are not, how- 

 ever, so difficult to destroy as the scale inse6ls. By astrong 

 syringing most of them will be dislodged, when a great 



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