108 How TO Grow Cut Flowers. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

 INSECT EXTERMINATORS. 



Tobacco smoke has been the most common agent used 

 in the destruction of insect life, but to fumigate houses 

 of cut flowers so injures some varieties, other means of 

 applying it have been sought that would accomplish 

 the same result without damage to delicate blooms. 



Scattering dry stems through the walks or under the 

 benches will do it, but to this there are two objections. 

 The untidy appearance the houses present, and the cost, 

 if stems have to be purchased, for to do it effectually 

 in this way, requires large quantities. Others advocate 

 the use of tobacco dust sprinkled on the foliage, but for 

 roses this is impracticable on account of the frequent 

 syringing required. 



Some who heat by steam have tried evaporating 

 liquid tobacco in galvanized iron troughs, and strongly 

 recommend this method. Npt heating with steam my- 

 self, I have not tried and cannot speak of it from ex- 

 perience. I have tried the same plan on hot water 

 pipes, but found they were not hot enough to evaporate 

 the liquid. When steam is used, this objection does 

 not prevail, but in the early fall and late spring, those 

 who have used it, tell me other means must be adopted, 

 as it raises the temperature of the houses too high, un- 

 less special pipes are arranged for this purpose and 

 radiation from thein prevented. At all seasons of the 

 year, when this objection does not exist, it is doubtless 



