Miscellaneous Hints and Suggestions for the Amateur Florist— Continued. 



are resumed. You will know when this takes place by their 

 beginning to grow. 



Insects. — The insect most frequently met with among 

 house-plants is the aphis or green plant-louse. Some plants, like 

 the Rose and Pelargonium, are especially subject to its attacks, 

 and unless it is promptly checked they will be greatly injured by 

 it. The preparation on the market under the name of Nikoteen 

 is the best weapon I know of to fight this enemy of plant-life 

 with. Prepare and use it as directed on the bottle or package in 

 which it comes; and it will certainly destroy every aphide with 

 which it comes in contact. Keep a supply of it on hand, and 

 make use of it whenever you discover an aphis. Do this promptly, 

 and it is an easy matter to prevent the insect from spreading all 

 over your plants, but wait a few days and you will find that the 

 pest has increased a thousandfold. ' 'A stitch in time saves nine. ' ' 



For scale and mealy-bug I advise the emulsion spoken of in 

 the article on Palm-culture (see page 152). 



If the leaves of your plants turn yellow and drop without any 

 apparent reason for it, you are safe in suspecting that the red 

 spider is the cause of the trouble. Turn up a leaf and examine 

 it carefully. If you find tiny webs on it you may be sure your 

 suspicions were well founded. So small is this creature that he 

 will not be seen unless you look for him with sharp eyes. Even 

 then he will resemble grains of Cayenne pepper more than a liv- 

 ing organism. But, small as he is, he is capable of doing 

 deadly work. 



Nothing troubles the red spider but moisture. Showering — 



not sprinkling — with clear water will rout him if persisted in. 

 Lay the infested plant down on its side and turn on the hose. 

 Do this several times a week until the plant shows no more yel- 

 low leaves, and not a web is to be seen. But do not "rest on 

 your laurels" when you have accomplished this much, but act 

 on the belief that the enemy will soon return if you relax your 

 vigilance. He will, at the first opportunity, if he considers it 

 safe to do so. Keep water constantly evaporating on stove and 

 register in winter. Do any and everything that will help to 

 keep the atmosphere of the room moist, but depend upon show- 

 ering as a general treatment. 



Airing Your Plants. — Give the plants in your window 

 fresh air on every pleasant day. Open a door or window at 

 some distance from them and let the cold air from out of doors 

 mix with the warm air of the room before it reaches them. This 

 is very necessary, especially in winter when our rooms are sure 

 to be overheated, and the air in them is depleted of its life-giving 

 qualities. 



When Plants Are Received from the Florist do not 

 take them out of their wrappers immediately, unless the soil 

 about their roots is damp enough to hold together. Set them 

 up on end and water them well. Leave them until the soil has 

 had a chance to absorb a goodly amount of moisture, and then 

 pot them, being careful to expose their roots as little as possible. 

 In case the soil is so dry that it crumbles when they are re- 

 ceived, I would put them in the cellar over night after watering 

 them well. 



New and Rare Garden and Greenhouse Plants. 



ASPARAGUS DUCHESNEI. 



A recent introduction from the Belgian Congo, and entirely distinct 

 from all other varieties. The plant is of strong, climbing habit, with rather 

 large, dark green, glossy foliage. It should prove a valuable addition, 

 both for cutting and decorative purposes. 50 cts. each. 



ASPARAGUS SPRENGERI VARIEGATA 



A very pretty sport of the green-leaved type, in which every leaf is edged 

 with white. Stock limited. £3.00 each. 



NEW DOUBLE-FRINGED BEGONIAS. 



(Begonia Hybriela Parreii.'i 



These new double-fringed, tuberous-rooted Begonias originated with 

 our grower of these indispensable summer-flowering bulbs. The individual 

 flowers are of large size, full, double form and brilliant colors, the edges of 

 the petals deeply cut, or fringed, adding a most desirable character of 

 lightness to the flowers. Full cultural directions for tuberous-rooted 

 Begonias are given on page 124. We offer three distinct colors : White, 

 Rose and Scarlet. 35 cts. each ; S3. 50 per doz. One of each color 

 for $1.00. 



NEW BEGONIA DICHKOA. 



An introduction from Brazil of neat shrubby habit, with large, bright, 

 glossy green leaves, sometimes boldly variegated with large and small 

 silvery spots, both green and variegated leave- frequently appearing on the 

 same plant at one time. Its flowers are produced almost the year 'round 

 in large trusses, and are of a salmon-orange color, entirely distinct from all 

 other Begonias. A decided acquisition and a most useful pot plant for the 

 window-garden. 35 cts. each. 



New Double-fringed Tuberous Bkgonias. 



AEPINIA SANDERiE. 



A handsome new species from New Guinea of this useful class 

 of stove plant, with erect stems and short-stalked, glabrous 

 leaves, 4 to 5 inches long by J to 1} inches wide, tapering at 

 both ends ; of a rich, shining green, regularly striped at close 

 intervals with broad white bands diverging from the midrib to 

 the margin. $1.00 each. 

 (116) 



NEW CARNATION AEVINA. 



In this we have what we hope will be the forerunner of a 

 new race of Carnations, especially suited fur the amateur for 

 pot culture. The plant is of compact, bushy growth, never 

 exceeding 18 inches high, and will, in a good specimen, have as 

 many as 20 flowers open at onetime. These are of good size, fully 

 3 inches across, and of a fine, glowing pink color. Thrifty young 

 plants, 25 cts. each ; $2.50 per doz. 



