174 THE HOT-HOUSE. [Feb. 
head, remote from one another. Mouth or proboscis, formed by a 
small pointed rostrum inclosed in a sheath. Antennae, shorter than 
the proboscis. Feet eight. They are oviparous 
This is a pest to almost every kind of plant; for this insect is not 
only pernicious to most plants kept under glass, but also to many 
growing in the open air. 
In hot dry weather, the increase of these insects is exceedingly 
rapid, and when they become numerous, they, by various means, 
commit great havock on plants; for this insect, with its proboscis, per- 
petually wounds the fine or capillary vessels of plants, and extracts 
their nutricious juices. It also works a web about the leaves, and 
over the tender buds and tops of the plants, in such a manner as 
nearly to suffocate them, and prevent their vegetation. 
This insect does not seem to be affected by fumigation made with 
any ingredients hitherto discovered; and it is probable that the ap- 
terous insects, or those without wings, are not so much affected by 
fumigation as the winged tribe. 
However, the mixtures recommended for destroying the insects 
on the Pine-apple, will have the same effect on this. Plants greatly 
infested, and growing in pots, when their tops are not very large, 
may with great facility be dipped in a convenient vessel filled with 
those mixtures: the top of the plant need only remain a short time 
therein, and it should then be placed in a shady place, to prevent its 
drying too rapidly. 
These insects very frequently reside on the under side of the 
leaves, and, when very numerous, they work so thick a nveb there- 
on, that, it sometimes prevents the mixture from entering into cer- 
tain hollow parts of the leaves, by which means a few escape 
unhurt; in which case it will be proper for the plants to undergo 
the same operation the succeeding afternoon, which will most 
assuredly destroy all that escaped before. 
Large or climbing plants, when their leaves are large, as for 
instance the vine, must be dressed with the mixture by means of a 
afiunge: this has the appearance of a tedious operation; but in a 
dark day when the house is not very warm, a person will make 
considerable progress therein, in the course of a few hours. 
The keeping of the house in a moist state, by watering the walks 
and flues late in an evening, and the frequent sprinkling of the plants 
with water, contributes to retard the progress of these insects, 
which are very impatient of much moisture. This reduces them 
to a temporary state of inaction but will not destroy them. 
3. The Thrips. Order Hemiptera. Characters. Rostrum, 
small and obscure. Antennae, as long as the thorax. Body, slender, 
of an equal thickness in its whole length. Abdomen reflexible, 
being generally bent upwards. Wings four, incumbent on the 
back of the insect, narrow in proportion to their length, and cross 
one another at some distance from their base. Feet six, the tarsus 
of each foot having only two articulations. 
This is also a very pernicious species of insect, and is very com- 
mon in Hot-houses, as well as upon plants in the open air; it is very 
minute, so much so as to be scarely perceptible, generally conceal- 
