Ferns and Fern Culture. 125 
numerous ina house, two or three gentle fumigations 
will usually destroy them. Another plan is to put a 
little soft soap in warm water, and beat it into a lather. 
This may then be put on the Ferns where the fly is 
located, and it will killthem. This should not be done to 
Adiantums, but most other kinds liable to these insects 
may be so treated without injury. 
White-fly is rather more troublesome to deal with, as 
the moment the plant is touched many fly off. Any plant 
infested should be carefully carried outside and shaken. 
All that do not fly off may be easily killed, as in the cold 
air they appear to become stupefied. After all the flies 
are killed, if the plant be examined there will be seen 
numbers of tiny white eggs fastened to the fronds. 
These if not removed will soon hatch and another gener- 
ation will have to be dealt with. The plant should be 
sponged as recommended in the case of Thrips, and 
examined again in two or three days for any that have 
escaped. When plants infested are planted out and can- 
not be removed, then either the soft soap lather must be 
applied or fumigation be resorted to. 
Mealy-bug is a peculiar-looking insect, covered with a 
cotton-wool like substance, very difficult to eradicate 
when once it gets a firm footing, but fortunately not 
nearly so common in ferneries as the other pests men- 
tioned. Plants much affected are difficult to clear of it, 
as again and again it makes its appearance. It is often 
the wisest course to throw all such into the furnace, 
fronds and roots as well. Nothing but persistent spong- 
ing, picking, and cleaning will be effectual for its 
destruction. Ferns will not bear the syringing and dip- 
ping that hard-wooded stove plants will, hence gentler 
methods as suggested must be employed. 
Cockroaches and Crickets commence their depredations 
when night comes on, and do most mischief when there 
is no one there to see them. Traps should be set for 
these—Birkenhead’s Cockroach and Cricket Trap being 
one of the best. Poison may be laid for them also, and 
there need be no difficulty in getting rid of them, or at 
least reducing their numbers, so that those left will be of 
little consequence. They, must not, however, be left 
