Insects : their Prevention and Cure. 65 



I hope you will understand how to manage your 

 plants now if infested with insects. But remember, 

 plants, when kept clean and in good health, are scarcely 

 ever troubled with insect pests. 



It is when plants are neglected that insects make 

 their appearance, therefore cleanliness, plenty of fresh 

 air, and sufficient moisture, are your plants' best safe- 

 guards from their enemies. 



Plants in closed cases are seldom troubled with in- 

 sects, owing to the close moist atmosphere in which 

 they grow. The one you will be most likely to find in 

 your plant-case will be the mealy-bug, and that yovi 

 can soon exterminate by washing; in fact, you will 

 find washing with soap and water and syringing after- 

 wards to be the best plan for cleaning all your plants, 

 raising no bad smell and attended with no danger. 



There are a great many preparations sold for washing 

 and cleaning plants. I think you will find Fowler's or 

 Clarke's to be the best and safest. They can be had 

 from any seedsman, with directions for use. 



And here I may refer you to 'Jones's Gardeners' 

 Receipt Book' (Groombridge and Sons) for further 

 information on this subject. You will find it a most 

 useful companion, containing a mass of valuable re- 

 ceipts for the prevention and cure of insects and diseases 

 of all kinds that plants are subject to. 



