AXD THEIR MANAGEMENT. i 



Insect and other Pests. 



insects ma\- be kept under b_\' means of fumii^ations of 

 XL All, which, except in one or two isolated cases 

 {MasTevallia tovairiisis is the only Orcliid whose flowers 

 we have noted seriously affected, and the foliage of 

 Disas and Ca'logrnf in'sfa/a\ does not affect the colours 

 of the flowers. For Scale and Mealy Bug, fumigations 

 are useless ; but the XL Wash is \-er_\' effective. Soft 

 soap solutions ■: loz. to the gallon of water) is also a 

 good insecticide to employ against Scale, and moreover 

 a safe one if the c|uantit)- suggested is first boiled in 

 about one-fourth the quantity of water given and the 

 remaining water afterwards added. Where the plants 

 are not numerous, both Scale and Mealy ]iug may be 

 destro\'ed b\- touching them with a brush that has been 

 dipped in methylated spirit. 



Cockroaches must either be trapped, or better still, 

 poisoned by means of phosphorus paste. This, however, 

 needs to be carefully employed, or domestic animals may 

 be accidentally poisoned. The poisoned " baits " should 

 be collecterl each morning, and burned, together with an\' 

 Cockroaches found. 



With regard to the Cattle}'a Fl}' a more e.xtended notice 

 is necessary, as this pest is not at all well known. The 

 insect deposits her eggs in the eye of the young growth 

 when the plant is in a dormant state. As a consequence, 

 the growth does not advance much above lin., swells in 

 the centre, and generally exhibits a stunted appearance. 

 If this growth is cut off at the base and split open, there 

 will be disclosed from three to seven yellowish maggot- 

 like creatures. After eating a large hole in the young 

 growth, they become pups;, and eventuall}' emerge as 

 perfect flies. They should be destroyed as soon as seen. 

 Fumigation with a vaporising insecticide will effectually 

 settle them before they have time to deposit their eggs. 

 The roots, too, not infrequently, are pierced by the insects, 

 and a warty growth results. The grubs should be picked 

 out with a stout needle. 



The Dendrobium Beetle is a destructive insect from the 

 tropics that flourishes in Orchid-houses, where it is 

 especially partial to Dendrobium Phalmiiopsis. Both Beetle 

 and grub are destructive. The perfect insect fFig. 2) is 

 rather more than -.-'-in. in length, and chestnut-brown 



