280 Mode of destroying Woodlice. 



insertion. The subject on which I now write is the red spider, 

 which is very common on certain stove, green-house, and, in 

 dry seasons, certain hardy plants. I have heard and read 

 many receipts for the destruction of this insect, but I never 

 found a more powerful remedy than clear water. I have 

 under my care a few stove plants, which are in general in a 

 very healthy state. I syringe them every morning with clear 

 water on both sides of the leaf, and the plants are not in the 

 least afPected by this destructive insect. I had, for instance, 

 a species of Plumbago that was much infested by the red 

 spider ; but after I had syringed it well for a few mornings, 

 there was not an insect to be found on the plant. I verily 

 believe that clear water, applied as before observed, will effec- 

 tually destroy the red spider ; and, if constantly used, it will 

 preserve any plant from this destructive insect. I think that 

 if stoves or green-houess devoted to the culture of exotics were 

 steamed well every night (water being applied in the form of 

 steam), the plants would never be attacked by the red spider. 



G. J. P. 

 November 4. 18S0. 



Art. V. On destroying Woodlice on Trees or in Frames ; tvith 

 a Notice of a Mixture for protecting the Stems of Trees Jr am the 

 Erosions of Hares and Rabbits. By Mr. James Waldron, late 

 Gardener to Sir William Call, Bart., Whitford, near Callington, 

 Cornwall. 



Take 1 lb. of dried cheese, and about 1 drachm of pow- 

 dered arsenic, perfectly dry; for it is a fact not generally 

 known, that arsenic when moist is not a poison (the best way 

 to keep it is, therefore, in the lump) : grate the cheese, and 

 mix it and the arsenic well together. Take then small pieces 

 of old board or wood, and bore in each a hole about 1 in. in 

 diameter, and as much in depth. Put about as much of the 

 above mixture as would lie on a shilling into each hole, and 

 beat it down hard to the bottom of the hole. This done, lay 

 down the bits of wood, the holes undermost, wherever the 

 insects are troublesome ; or, place the bits of wood against a 

 wall, with the holes out of view. The destruction of the in- 

 sects will be the speedy result. The mixture requires to be 

 renewed every day ; and very little of it should be made at 

 a time, as in two or three days the arsenic loses all its poison- 

 ous qualities. 



J. W. 

 London, November 15. 1830. 



