92 A LITTLE GARDEN THE YEAR ROUND 



plants as the Cineraria and the Marguerite, 

 greatly disfiguring them. Cut off and burn 

 badly infested leaves, and destroy each remain- 

 ing maggot to be found. This process re- 

 quires much patience, but houseplants at- 

 tacked by this pest can stiU be saved. Thrips, 

 like the red spider, are apt to appear on plants 

 that suffer from insufiicient watering. As 

 water is one of the best discouragers of attacks 

 on houseplants from their enemies, you are ad- 

 vised that frequent leaf washing is one of the 

 best preventives for the insect pest, thrips. 

 When once thrips appear, treat your plants 

 as you would when infested with red spiders, 

 as suggested above, and you should have no 

 further trouble. 



Differing from insect foes are fungoid 

 pests; mildew is the only one that is likely to 

 attack plants ordinarily to be met with in in- 

 door gardens, excepting the greenhouse or con- 

 servatory. 



The Rose is the principal houseplant that 

 suffers from the ravages of mildew. Sudden, 

 decided changes of temperature, or cold drafts 

 in the room, will bring out upon the leaves 

 small, white fungoid patches. To check the 



