124 Ferns and Fern Culture. 
Whenever a plant is infested by these it should be care- 
fully cleared of them. They should be rubbed off with 
the fingers, a pointed stick, or small piece of sponge 
fastened on the end of a stick. As the foliage is easily 
injured, the operation must be performed with care. 
After all that can be seen are removed, the plant should 
be sponged with warm water, in which a little soft soap 
has been dissolved. When the plant has plenty of foliage, 
fronds with a large number of scale on them may be cut 
off instead of being cleaned, but this must be done judici- 
ously, or unnecessary injury will be done to the plant. 
Thrips are exceedingly small insects, white when young, 
gradually becoming black as they arrive at maturity 
They are about in. in length, with thin bodies, but 
notwithstanding their smallness they are very des- 
tructive. They usually harbour on the under surface of 
the fronds, but not always. They pierce the cuticle of 
the frond, and cause great disfigurement to the plant, as 
wellas injury. They attack Hardy Ferns when growing 
in a house with artificial heat, and plants that are weak 
and sickly from any cause come in for their special 
attention. 
The most effectual and the easiest mode of destroying 
these pests is by fumigation several times on alternate 
nights. This, if strong enough, will destroy most of 
them for a time, but unfortunately there are many 
Ferns, particularly Adiantums, which cannot do with 
fumigation with tobacco paper; therefore, any time this 
is resorted to, the greatest care will be necessary. One 
of the safest modes of fumigation is undoubtedly by 
‘ Lethorion cones,” which are both safe and effectual. 
A good plan is to sponge the plants infested, using 
warm water with a little soft soap dissolved in it, and 
half as much water added in which quassia chips have 
been boiled. If the; plants are in pots they should be 
carried out of the fernery while being cleaned, otherwise 
the thrips will jump off the plant and soon get on others. 
To eradicate these troublesome creatures considerable 
patience and perseverance are necessary. 
Green-fly harbours on young fronds often, and may be 
removed by the fingers or a small brush. If very 
