48 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



trouble and expense in getting rid of it. It is an oval- 

 shaped insect, gi'ey, speckled with brown, and adheres 

 closely to the surface of the leaves, and preys upon the 

 juices of the plants, rendering them very unsightly, and 

 weakening them with great rapidity. It increases with 

 amazing rapidity, and yields only to the most severe 

 and laborious treatment. I have known collections 

 which have soon been rendered all but useless through 

 the introduction of a single plant with a breed of this 

 scale in it. 



I am glad to say that I have been fortunate hitherto 

 to escape having anything to do with it, and have so 

 far the want of experience in destroying it. Many 

 are the remedies which have been recommended for 

 its destruction ; while some have looked upon it with 

 despair, and have got rid of it only by getting a clean 

 stock of plants, after having destroyed the infected 

 ones, and thoroughly cleansed their pineries. 



Brown Scale. — This insect sometimes affects pines, 

 but it is not nearly so difficult to deal with as the 

 white scale. I know from experience that syringing 

 with clean water, heated to 140°, completely kills it 

 without injuring the plants. 



Mealy Bug. — This is also a most formidable insect 

 to get rid of when it is established on pine plants. 

 The white dusty material with which it surrounds 

 itself completely protects it from the influence of hot 

 water applied through the syringe, and it is second in 

 its destructive effects and difficulty of being eradicated 

 only to the white scale itself. If allowed to go on, it 

 affects every part of the plant — the fruit, leaves, and 

 roots. Consequently, the first appearance of it should 

 be dealt with as a serious evil, to be checked and 

 eradicated at once. 



