jttEMARKS ON INSECTS. 



199 



which will become drown in the water below, or 

 they may be immersed all over in a tub in 

 water, with the chill taken off ; some apply to- 

 bacco dust, or Scotch snuff, over the plant, and 

 a lotion is also made use of, composed of sul- 

 phur, snuff, tobacco, &c, to wash the leaves 

 with, which is applied with a sponge or small 

 brush, or by dipping the plants all over therein. 



When the plants are in a very bad state 

 through insects, mercury is also used; this is 

 done by putting the quicksilver into an open 

 vessel, pour boiling water over it, pouring it 

 * off when cold, then adding more boiling water 

 until a sufficient quantity has been impregnated 

 for the use you require, and being placed in a 

 large tub, when only a little warm, take the 

 plants out of the pots, and immerse them 

 therein for a few minutes ; when taken out, place 

 them upright to dry, and sponge the leaves clean, 

 and take care to remove everything of a scaly 

 nature, as that is no doubt a nest of insects; if 

 the plants are very bad, they may be dipped a 

 second time before they are re-potted ; this sys- 

 tem in extreme cases is, I think, the most effica- 



