756 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



[Aug. 



considers tlmt if the plants be properly niana<]jed, no insects 

 will infest them: — "Take soft soap one pound; flour of 

 sulphur one pound ; tobacco half a pound ; nux vomica an 

 ounce ; which boil altof^ethcr in four English gallons of soft 

 water, down to three gallons, and set it aside to cool. In this 

 liquor immerse the whole plant, after the roots and leaves arc 

 trimmed for ix)tting. IMants in any other state, and which 

 are placed in the bark-bed, may safely be watered over-head 

 M'ith the liquor, reduced in strength by the addition of a third 

 part of water. As the bugs harbour most in tlw angles of the 

 leaves, there Is the Ix'tter chance that the medicated water will 

 be etfectual, because it will there remain the longest, and 

 there its sediment will settle. The above is a remedy for every 

 species of coccus, and for most insects, on account of its 

 strength and glutinous nature. Its aj)plication will make the 

 plants look dirty ; therefore, as soon as the intended effect may 

 be supj>osed to have followed, whatever remains of the litjuor 

 on the leaves should be washed otf with clean water. It would 

 be imprudent to pour a decoction charged with such otfensive 

 materials over fruiting plants. Farther, this peculiar dose, for 

 a tenacious insect, is not to be a])plied indiscriminately to 

 exotics in a general stove, as it might make the more delicate 

 leaves of plants fall off." 



Baldwin recommends to take horse-dun? tVi^n the stable, 

 the tVesher the better, sufhcicnt to make up a hot-bed three 

 feet high, on which to receive a melon-frame three feet deep 

 at the back ; ]>ut on the frame and lights inunediately, and 

 cover the whole with mats, to bring u[) the heat. When the 

 bed is at the strongest heat, take some fiigots, open them, and 

 spread the sticks over the surface of the bed on the dung, so 

 as to keep the }>lants from being scorched ; set the plants or 

 suckers bottom upjK^rmost on the sticks, shut down your lights 

 (juite close, and cover them over well with double nuits, to 

 keep in the steam ; let the plants remain in this stiite one hour, 

 then take out the plants, and wash them in a tub of cold 

 water previously brought to the side of the bed, then set them 

 in a dry place, tops downwards, to drain, and aftern-ards plant 

 them. This treatment is sure to kill every insect. It must be 

 observed, likewise, that the crowns and suckers in the bed* 



