MISCELLANEO US NO TES, 



779 



patch him. The mealy bug will stick to the plant even 

 after he is dead, and if one objects to his carcass it can 



Fig. 2. A Convalescent Coleus. 



be removed with a small stiff brush. Coleuses, jaco- 

 binias, the trailing vincas, and Cypcrns altemifolins are 

 particular favorites with this pest. 



The application of this decoction to greenhouse pests 

 was first made, so far as we know, by Professor Com- 

 stock, of Cornell University. He has an insectarv — a 

 greenhouse for the purpose of breeding insects — and 

 the pests appreciated his efforts to such an extent that 

 they overran everything and it was feared that they would 

 even attack the redoubtable professor himself ! The pro- 

 fessor's position was a peculiar one. He could not fumi- 

 gate, else he would destroy insects which he was breed- 

 ing. Substances almost without number were tried upon 

 the mealy bug, but the decoction of fresh pyrethrum, 

 which had been used for other purposes, was found to 

 be the only one which is thoroughly reliable. It is too 

 expensive for general use in commercial establishments, 

 perhaps, but for specimen plants and window gardens it 

 is the best insecticide. It is possible that the decoction 

 will have to be diluted for some plants. This point is 

 not yet well tested. 



What Ails the Coleus ? — I procured some thirty or 

 forty named coleuses last spring. They were given 

 careful attention, yet a number of them made no satis- 

 factory growth. They grew slowly ; the leaves were 

 small and pale and fell off before they were fully grown, 

 so that the plant bore only a few leaves at the ends of 

 the stems. Occasionally a plant would appear to re- 

 cuperate, but instead of sending up one or two strong 

 central stalks, it remained low and diffuse, as in Fig. 2, 

 with a tendency to make many puny shoots ; and the 



roots were all near the surface, so that the plant was 

 unsteady, and fell over easily when watered. 



An examination of 

 the roots in the first 

 stage suggested the 

 cause of the ailment. 

 A large, bunchy, irreg- 

 ular swelling comprised 

 nearly the whole root 

 (Fig. i), A microscope 

 examination at once re- 

 vealed myriads of the 

 little nematodes which 

 are now known to cause 

 the root-knot of the 

 peach in the south, and 

 similar diseases of to- 

 matoes, begonias and 

 other plants. The dis- 

 eased root appears to 

 decay and fall away 

 after a time, new roots 

 are sent out just under 

 the crown, and the 

 second or recuperative 

 stage begins. But un- 

 less the plants are re- 

 potted and set deeper, 

 a permanent growth is 

 always better to discard 



not likely to follow. But it 

 the plants at once — 

 taking cuttings for new- 

 plants, if necessary — 

 and to exercise special 

 care that the soil does 

 not become mixed with 

 the potting earth. The 

 nematodes are very ser- 

 ious pests. — L. H. B. 



The Hyacinth. — 

 This is one of the sweet- 

 est scented flowers that 

 can be grown in the 

 greenhouse or dwelling 

 room during the winter 

 months. The plant is 

 a general favorite and 

 many varieties of dif- 

 ferent colors can now 

 be obtained. 



The culture of this 

 flower is very simple, 

 and those who intend 

 to grow it through the 

 coming winter should 

 now think of laying in 

 their supply of bulbs. 

 This plant delights in a 

 light rich soil ; and this 

 can be easily prepared 



A Sick Coleus. 



