especially those who keep only a small number of plants in the living-room, is the better way, of 
watching them so closely and syringing and washing them so frequently that the fly is kept under 
and the plants maintained in the highest state of health, 
THRIPS. 
This is an exceedingly active little insect, and seems to leap rather than fly. The engraving 
shows a thrip of natural size, fig. f, and the same insect magnified, fig. h. These insects are 
extremely small, and have long, slender bodies, with very narrow wmgs which are fringed with 
fine hair. They live on leaves, flowers, in buds, and even in the crevices of the bark of plants, 
but are so small that they readily escape notice, the largest being not more than one-tenth of an 
inch in length. The color of the insect varies from a whitish yellow to a dark brown. It 
attacks the extremities of young shoots and tender leaves, which become 
broMai and shriveled, and will crumble to dust when rubbed between the 
thumb and finger. 
The same means that have been recommended for the destruction of the 
" green-fly" serve for this little pest also, but it does not succumb so readily 
THKip. — fumigation must be more frequently and persistently practiced. As we 
have said in reference to the "green-fly," so with this insect; it maybe prevented to a great 
extent from multiplying, by syringing and frequently washing the leaves of the plants. 
If a vinery should be seriously attacked with thrips, wait until all tLe foliage and fruit are 
taken off the vines; then remove all kinds of plants that have green leaves into other houses, 
and shut up the vinery close and fill it with the fumes of sulphur. 
RED SPIDER. 
The Red Spider i^Acarus tellariiis), is a troublesome little insect, and one M^hich, if allowed 
to run unchecked, would speedily bring devastation and total ruin to the plants of the house or 
conservatory ; but it is no doubt designed for some beneficial purpose. We can more clearly see 
the compensating good from its attacks than in the case of most other plant-prey ers. If it were 
not for the wholesome fear which it continually inspires, gardeners and other plant-growers 
would probably very frequently maintain an atmosphere so dry as materially to injure or destroy 
their plants. If you catch a glimpse of a red spider you may be sure that the atAiosphere of 
your plant-room has been kept too dry — if it is your living-room, it has also been too dry for 
the health of the human occupants. It will be seen by the engraving that the insect is veiy 
minute, as shown by the little dot a ; the same, highly magnified, appears at 
b. The body is of a blood-red color, and the feet a light red. 
A plant upon w^hich this insect has taken up his abode, in a short time 
shows some leaves turning yellow, indicating premature decay — when they are 
numerous they work webs on the under side of the leaves, and sometimes all ^ 
over it, until the plant becomes a mass of half dead and decayed leaves. Red spider (acar- 
Wateris fatal to the red spider, and as before remarked; with an atmosphere tellarius.) 
of proper humidity this insect would never get a foot-hold. When once finnly established upon 
the plants, the speediest way to destroy them is by the fumes of sulphur. This remedy, however, 
must be used with much caution, as the free use of it will cause most plants to shed their leaves. 
Fortunately, but little of it is required ; and in the green-houses it has been found sufficient 
to mix a little flour of sulphur with water, or with milk, which is said to be better, and to paint 
or smear with it a small surface of the heating pipes or the flue ; a very little of it in the atmos- 
phere proves sufficient for the destruction of the insect. In the case of a few house-plants, we 
think that sponging of the leaves on both sides, and syringing the plants so that the water is 
thrown on the under as well as upper sides of the leaves, will be effectual wathout recourse to 
sulphur. 
SCALE INSECT. 
The Coccus, or Scale Insect, is a common pest on some kinds of plants — the Orange, the 
Myrtle, the Camellia, the Oleander, and many other hard-wooded plants are apt to be infested 
by them. There are many species of Coccus, varying slightly from each other. One kind of 
plants is the home of one variety, and another sort devotes its attention exclusively to some other 
kind. The Grape, the Pear, the Elm, and almost every kind of our cultivated and forest trees 
has its special representative of this class of insects. In the engraving the insect of natural size 
28 
