266 Till: PLEASURE GROUND. 



be well syringed the following morning, in order 

 to displace any of the fly that may cling to the fo- 

 liage ; and if they do not appear all to be destroyed, 

 a repetition of fumigation should be resorted to the 

 ensuing evening, which will effectually clear the 

 plants of these insects. When the weather is at all 

 favourable, the syringe should be frequently applied 

 in the evening, and the house shut up warm ; this 

 moist heat will, in general, keep the red spider 

 under, especially in the early part of the season : 

 but if this intruder begins to get a-head, a little 

 sulphur, sprinkled over the hot pipes, or flues, will 

 keep them in abeyance. The white mealy bug and 

 scale are more difficult agents to get rid of, and 

 require to be brushed off as soon as they begin to 

 appear; otherwise they will become very trouble- 

 some. Frequent fumigations of tobacco will, also, 

 considerably check their progress. 



The soil that appears most appropriate for the 

 growth of the greater portion of Stove Plants, is 

 sandy loam, consisting of the sward from a pas- 

 ture, which should be thrown into a heap, to de- 

 compose and pulverize for a short time previous to 

 using; to which a portion of peat soil, mixed with 

 it, will be a suitable compost for the growth of most 

 tropical plants. When there is a scarcity of peat, 

 a mixture of decomposed tree-leaves may be ap- 

 plied in its stead, with great advantage, Should 

 the soil not be of a naturally sandy quality, a little 

 sand should be intermixed, so as to render it light, 

 and free for the roots to run in. 



The plants should be all examined in March, or 



