Page:The Amateur's Greenhouse and Conservatory.djvu/284

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THE AMATEUR’S GREENHOUSE

dipping tub a short time. Quassia chips steeped in water, at the rate of two ounces to the gallon, make a most effectual liquid for destroying green and black fly. Large-leaved plants badly infested with thrips or red spider will require sponging with either Gishurst compound or tobacco-water. It will be tedious work, but unless it is done effectually it would be better to destroy the plants instead of leaving them to form a rendezvous for the pests with which they are infested.

DRENCHING BOARD FOR CLEANSING PLANTS.

The subjoined figure of a drenching board, will suggest a simple means of economising any liquid preparation employed for cleansing plants. The plant is laid on the board, and the syringe is used with some force upon it, and a pail being placed in front, a considerable proportion of the fluid is caught for further use and none of it is conveyed to the roots. A carpenter would make such a board for ten shillings or less.


Tobacco-powder is one of the best remedies for green-fly and black-fly, if applied in a proper manner. First of all, stand the plants to which the powder is to be applied on one side by themselves, sprinkle them with water, and dust the foliage liberally with the powder. The puff’s sold by the trade