BELONGING TO THE GENUS STATICE. 
17 
several successive evenings, taking the precaution to remove the plants from the 
greenhouse, and to syringe them copiously both before and after they are fumigated. 
The thrips are cunning insects, and hence directly they perceive anything offensive 
in the atmosphere of the house, they jump from the plants, and burying themselves 
in the soil, remain there until the atmosphere is clear again, when they return to 
the plants and recommence the work of devastation. This is the reason why so 
much difficulty is experienced in clearing them from Vineries and other structures 
where the plants are permanent ; hut if, the same evening or the morning after 
fumigating, the walls, borders, and vacant parts of the houses are copiously syringed 
with water almost at the boiling point, much good will be effected. After the first 
brood of insects is destroyed, a quantity of eggs or young insects will be seen 
attached to the stronger part of the leaves, and these generally commence the work 
of destruction in from ten to fourteen days from the time of destroying the old 
brood. At this time, then, it will be necessary to fumigate again, observing the 
same precautions as before, and this will generally clear the plants for the season. 
The brown scale and mealy bug also infest the Statices, and these must either be 
sponged from the Leaves, or “ Hereman’s Dilutium ” must be used to destroy them. 
Statice sinuata. — This, the Scollop-leaved Statice, is an herbaceous species, and 
was introduced from the Levant in 1629, and consequently is by no means a modern 
acquisition. The plant when well grown, or at least the flower-stems, attain an 
elevation of about three feet, and a well-grown specimen should be about the same 
in diameter. The flowers are blue and pale yellow, and are produced in great 
abundance from July until November. In cultivation, this species is increased by 
dividing the old plants early in February, potting them into small pots, and keeping 
them in a tolerably close but cool house or pit, until they get thoroughly established. 
When fine specimens of this species are wanted, it is not advisable to allow the 
plants to bloom the first season, and indeed when extra first-rate specimens are 
required, it is necessary to grow the plants through two seasons without permitting 
them to bloom, and then in the third year they will make magnificent plants. This 
species must be potted in the compost before recommended, using a little more nice 
turfy loam at each shift, and not shifting too largely at one time. A good speci- 
men should be established in a 12-inch pot, before it is allowed to bloom. This 
Statice does not require so much heat to bring it to perfection as those previously 
noticed ; neither will it need so much syringing and washing, as the foliage does 
not contract much of the glue-like covering before alluded to. During the growing 
season it must be kept in a warm but shaded part of the greenhouse, and be copi- 
ously supplied with weak manure-water ; but through the winter it should be kept 
comparatively dry at the root. 
Statice ritidophylla. — The rasp-leaved Statice has been in this country for some 
years ; but the exact time of its introduction, or from whence it came, is not known. 
The species is commonly known in the nurseries as S. Dicksonii or Dicksoniana of 
the appendix of “ Don’s Catalogue.” It produces fine pink flowers in large trusses, 
VOL. XV. NO. CLXIX. D 
