Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-05
Insects on House Plants.

A few simple directions about the
pests that live only to destroy the beau
tiful will probably be of some use to
amateur undergraduates. The in
sects most common in our conserva-
tories and windows are the aphis, the
thrip, the scalebug, and the so-called red
spider
The Aphis.- There is generally some
specific cause for its presence, that can
be removed and the creature will de-
part of itself Among these causes is a
too humid atmosphere, leading to q di-
seased growth. Secondly, a sodden con-
dition of the roots, from lack of thor
ough drainage Repot the plant, cut
away rotten roots, throw in for drainage
a good handful of potshreds and char
coal, and give your plants moderate
sunshine, and the aphis will not be like
y to return. The fact is, one purpose
that these insects subserve is to perform
scavenger wolk. They always attack
diseased plants with most avidity, trans
forming the carbonic acid into insect Vi
tality; or, rather, they devour what is
poisoning the air by generating carbonic
acid gas. Cure the plant and you will
rarely have to cure the aphis. But, if
you do, the specific is tobacco smoke,
and this is effective. But amateurs fire.
quently are not aware that the smoke
that kills the parents does not kill the
incipient offspring. 1t is necessary to
smoke moderately again on the second
or third day.
The Scalebng. -This generally attacks
plants that can be washed with carbolic
soapsuds Two washings with a bit of
gone over liriodendron twenty-five feet
long, washing both sides of each leaf.
Some trouble, but it will pay. It is
equally easy to wash the the oleander,
the Ficus elostica, and most of the plants
likely to be infested. But if a geranium
or other plant that can be renewed is
badly assailed, burn it up at once and
get rid of colonization. 1t is good
thing to wash the pots in such cases
with carboic soapsuds Or scald them
thoroughly. Some plants can be
cleansed by submerging them in very
hot water for a moment. Repeat the
bath on the next day. To do this, in
vert the pot with your hand placed over
it and the plant stalk slipped between
your fingers.
The Red Spider.--This is comparably
the most troublesome and destructive
of all we have to deal with: My rene
dy is few or frequent syringings of car
bolc soapsuds The lady who has a
few pet plants can set them on the
ground and sprinkle them thoroughly
by using broom duster Both sides of
the leaves should be thoroughly wet.
Roses and many other plants can be en-
tirely cleared by setting them out In a
heavy shower 1t is we'll to lay a fuch-
STA or similar plant on it's side in the
the leaves The red spider often ruins
a housewives pets when she cannot de-
tect the danger. The insect is no larger
than the point of pin. 1t is seldom
red, and not a spider, but it spins a web.
| have superb Marshal Neil that needs
shower but once month; but | hope
to get the last descendant of the family
killed very soon. Aphis like moist at
mosphere. Red spiders thrive i'll the
dry.
The Th,ip can generally be eradicated
by carbolic soapsuds. Thep are not
common in house or window collections.
Let any lady or amateur follow these
directions, and not try to keep a thor
oughly diseased, infested plant among
healthy, clean ones, and they Will have
little trouble. Remember at the same
time that diseased plants are productive
of disease to human beings; while thor
oughly healthy plants, performing their
normal functions, are as good as fami-
Ely DOCTOR The Independent.
To keep moths out of old clothing
Give the clothing to the poor.