The Culture of Greenhouse Orchids 



cucumbers and pelargoniums for the market. He 

 can keep his small house clean with no serious 

 trouble or expense ; if it be a large one, he has 

 wealth proportionate. But a reference is not out 

 of place here, for orchidists, though few compara- 

 tively, form a powerful body, who can make them- 

 selves heard if they will, whilst those others belong 

 to the dumb millions. 



Putting tobacco aside, we have " XL," a pre- 

 paration comparatively new which fulfils the boast 

 of its name ; it is " XL-ent." As has been said, 

 we ought not to be troubled with red spider in the 

 cool house, and the horrid little scale which infests 

 Cattleyas does not trouble us at all. XL is 

 230werless against these, nor will it exterminate 

 the big variety of scale which settles on the under- 

 side of the leaves ; but to mealy-bug and thrips 

 it is deadly. 



There are various instruments for steaming 

 tobacco-juice. One I have tried, the Thanatophore, 

 sold by Messrs. Williams of HoUoway. It answered 

 perfectly ; my houses were absolutely clear for an 

 indefinite time. Any reader to whom expense is 

 no grave consideration may turn the page — the 

 Thanatophore is what he wants. 



Naphthaline is not used in this country to my 

 knowledge, but Belgian growers " swear by it." 



28 



