INSECTS. 53 



the parts on which the insects had established themselves 

 should be washed with tobacco water. 



The green fly, which makes its appearance in spring, on the 

 young flower buds, may also be destroyed by tobacco smoke, 

 and of late we have a yellow fly introduced, which is a great 

 pest if not kept under, and requires more looking after than 

 the green fly ; smoke will kill this nuisance, and wherever it 

 is seen wash it off with a sponge to prevent its increase. 



The brown, and white scale, and mealy-bug may be kept 

 under by frequently sponging the leaves and bulbs with water ; 

 the white scale is very troublesome if not looked after. A 

 little soft soap mixed with water, and rubbed over the leaves 

 and bulbs, is a good thing to destroy this kind of scale ; it 

 should remain on for a day, and if then washed off, all will 

 be destroyed ; care should, however, be taken not to use it too 

 strong. Cattleyas are very subject to this pest. The following 

 is another recipe for destroying it : — To one gallon of rain 

 water add eight ounces of soft soap, one ounce of tobacco, and 

 three table-spoonfuls of spirits of turpentine ; stir well together 

 and leave the mixture for forty-eight hours ; then strain it 

 through a cloth, when it will be ready for use. It is necessary 

 to rub the plants over two or three times, if they are much 

 infested, but once will be sufficient in most cases. Any 

 portion of the mixture remaining after the plants are washed, 

 should be put into a bottle, and reserved for future use. 



This recipe is also a cure for thrips on azaleas or any other 

 plants. The ingredients as above noted should be mixed in 

 a large tub and the plants dipped in it; this will speedUy 

 clear them of the pest. It will be seen, therefore, that it is 

 useful to others as well as Orchid growers, and will prove a 

 great saving of labour for those who grow large plants for 

 exhibition, or for those who have a quantity of small plants to 

 clear of such pests. The mealy-bug must be kept away by 



