24 



INSECTS. 



the aphis may be removed by brushing them off 

 with a feather and washing the plant in warm water 

 to kill the eggs. 



The red spider which infests plants only when 

 the atmosphere is hot and dry, may be effectually 

 disposed of by repeatedly washing the plant in 

 soap suds and keeping the atmosphere properly 

 moist. This insect is a tiny mite, scarcely discerni- 

 ble to the naked eye, with a blood-red body and 

 light red feet, but is a destructive enemy. Very 

 slight fumes of sulphur will also destroy this pest. 



The mealy bug is similar in appearance to the 

 scale, except that it is covered with a white downy 

 substance while the latter is smooth and brown. 

 Whale oil soap is its aversion and a weak mixture 

 in proportion of one pound to five gallons of water 

 destroys them. 



The scale like the mealy bug infests the bark 

 and leaves and feeds on the sap of the plant. Few 

 remedies except detaching them by hand are effec- 

 tual. A very little alcohol applied with a broom 

 splint or camels hair brush, is said, to kill this in- 

 sect. 



White mites sometimes called ground aphis oc- 

 casionally appear in the soil in pots. They are 

 destroyed with difficulty, and if possible, it is best 

 to wash the infested soil from the roots and replace 

 it with fresh earth. 



Should angle worms be troublesome they may 



