108 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
and which form the principal part of the sylvan scenery on the 
banks of the river Cam. 
The wild plants of the locality are great favourites with the 
curator, and he grows them in great perfection. Such as the 
Lythrum salicaria, Epilobium tetragonum, Hottonia palustris, Vale¬ 
riana dioica, Pinguicula vulgaris, Stachys palustris, and several of 
the Orchis tribe. All the more choice herbaceous exotics are seen on 
the borders, as well as all the old and new annuals ; and many 
half hardy trees and shrubs are trained on the surrounding walls. 
I noticed here the malady to which the young plants of the old 
China asters have been subject in most places for these few years 
past. They seem to be attacked by a minute species of aphis, 
which distorts the first leaves, and checks the whole plant so 
much, that it seldom recovers so as to bloom in perfection. 
Now, we know that the common aphides, which are so annoying 
to many cultivated plants, as well in houses as out of doors, are 
quickly banished by the fumes of tobacco; and why should not 
this be applied to protect the aster, when particularly required in 
a flower-garden, as well as any other plant ? But how, it may be 
asked, can we apply tobacco smoke in the open air ? We answer, 
nothing easier. And this expedient we would press on the atten¬ 
tion of the flower-gardener, not entirely for the sake of the aster, 
but for that of many much more valuable plants. 
The principal machine required in this business is a well con¬ 
structed fumigating bellows, — certainly the most useful article 
about a garden. Its use in houses or pits is well known ; and it 
is equally serviceable in the open air, if canvass cloths of sufficient 
dimensions are previously provided. A fumigating cloth may be 
fastened over a tree, on a wall, or supported over an infested 
standard tree, or bush, on the open ground ; and, for the pro¬ 
tection and insuring a fine bloom on the beds of a rosarium, a 
good fumigation or two, as soon as the buds are formed, will go far 
to free the trees from the aphides, as well as the tortrici, for the 
greater part of the summer ; and if repeated in the autumn, the 
old females might be prevented from depositing their eggs on 
trees, which they always do at that time. 
When only single plants in the stove or greenhouse are infested, 
they may be put together in a close frame, and there fumigated 
by themselves, which saves smoking the whole house ; and, as to 
low single plants such as the asters, already alluded to, pinks, 
