Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-12-30
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
BY Laura A. kirkman.
THE CARE OF YOUR PLANTS.

Several OF my readers have written
about "apb,dea', tor plant licel, asking
me TO write an article upon getting rid
of these little pests. so the following IL
in answer 10 annie H." "A Constant
Reader" SELMA" young Housekeep-
err and m. Il. D."
1t calls for eternal vigilance on the
part Of the housekeeper to Keep mouse
plants free from these parasites As IL
the case with many things, an ounce
of prevention is worth a pound of cure
Every new plant should be kept
scrupulously clean and at the first sign
OF infection should be "quarantined
and treated with an insecticide before
tho leaves begign to curl up ana aiiof"
protection to the lice.
The stems of ferns should be wash
cd frequently with soapsuds; palms
and rubber plants should also be given
this treatment In fact. all plants are
better for an occasional bath of this
sort. Use ordinary soap and sponge
or piece of cotton. and be sure 10 go
under the leaves as that is where the
insects hide.
Among the many remedies used for
aphides are the tobacco decoctions, 10
bscco dust. kerosene emulsion. ana
vhele-o,i-soap. The latter is very sooo
aud &c easily applied. Tobacco may be
u.ea as a spray or i'm fumigaion. The
following treatment is excellent:
Tobacco Water: Pour gallon OF
boiling water over a pound OF tobacco
stems and let il stand day, Keeping
II warm. Then strain anu use as
spray. After aushour spray again. anu
dust with tobacco dust tthis can pe
boushp. The next day give the plant
a bath of carbolic soap suds' ioiioWeu
by a shower of tepid water.
To Use Whale-Oil Soap: Dissolve
ono mound Of the SOAP in five gallons
~ hot water. Use this as a spray. af-
tor which wash the stems Of the plant
n ia frequently necessary 20 spray
aaain on the day following the first
spraying. as the insects sometimes re
rover from the first treatment. Three
or four spravings. indeed. are often
necessary 10 kill them. The spray may
hs applied with n garden syringe oi
with q whisi
Home made soaps and good laundry
scans are often 9 effective as whale
oil soap. SO the housekeeper need not
despafr II she is not able 10 OBTAIN
The regular whale-oil soap for hei
plants. The following kerosene enul-
.,on my also he made with good
laundry SOAP instead Of whale-oil soap
Kerosene Emulsion Hard. soft 81
whale soar. = pound water.
gallon kerosene. 2 gallons. Dissolve
Tho soap in hot water; remove from
The Ere and while still hot add the
kerosene Pump tho liquid back int
itself Cor agitate In any wayl unth y
becomes q creamy mass lf properly
made. the oil will not separate out or
cooline For use in killing plant liCe
on foliage dilute with from ten to If
teen PARTS of water. Crude oil emul-
sion Is made IN the same way by sub
ssitu,ins crude oil in IilaCe IF kerosene
IL IL best 10 apply these remedies he
fore the leaves have curled and afforj
protection FOR the lice. The under
side Of the leaves should he hit. il
spravine. for IL is there that the lict
viii be found. n the housek eeper does
not wish TO &c 20 the trouble Of spray
ins her plants with tobacco water
.serceene emulsion or the whale-oi
soap preparation. she should burr
srrrs tobacco near the plants-or ge'
scu,> man TO smoke pipe near them
rua,scrrow--M More Answered Letters.
An Inquiries addressed to Miss Kirk
man in care Of the Efficient House
kesrsna department Will be answered
In these columns in their turn. This
requires considerable time. however
OWING 10 the great number received
ac ~ a personal OF quicker reply il
desired stamped and self addressed
envelope must be enclosed with the
oue.tion.-The Editor