Sometimes plants become pot-bound. To know this, turn the pot
over, with your hand on the top, tap the side or bottom, and if it
comes out easy it is all right, but if it sticks, it may be that it is full of
roots and needs to be changed to a size larger pot. You can in this
way also see if worms are infesting it, and remove them and save your
choice plants.
A plant needs re-potting when the roots have formed a compact
mass at the bottom of the pot. To ascertain this, just set the pot in
water, that the ball of earth may be saturated. Now spread the fin-
gers across the top of the pot, invert it, and a brisk tap of the rim on
a shelf will make the ball come out. If it does need re-potting, care-
fully shake out the roots and shift into a size or two larger, filling up
the space with new soil. If you want flowers very early, pack the soil
into the pots as lightly as possible. Lily bulbs and roses should be
potted tightly.
EXTERMINATING INSECTS AND WORMS.
The most effectual remedy for green fly is fumigation with tobacco.
Some soft-wooded plants, such as salvias, heliotropes, etc., will not bear
fumigation without injuring their leaves, and for these a weak solution
is quite effectual. Steep some tobacco in water, then sprinkle the plant
with the solution, afterward syringe with clean water. A little turpen-
tine diluted with water (one part to sixteen), will destroy the mealy bug.
The red spider is a very small insect, revealing its presence by the
browned appearance of the leaves. Sprinkle your plants often, and you
will not be troubled with red spider ; but wherever the air is dry and
120 FLO WERS.
close there is his delight. Alcohol, applied with a camel's hair brush,
will kill any insect it touches. Plants, treated with these remedies, mus^
be syringed immediately thereafter with clear water. To kill white
worms in flower pots take common lime.
This is a sure remedy for rose slugs : Make a tea of tobacco stems
and a soapsuds of whale oil or carbolic soap ; mix and apply to the
bush with a sprinkler, turning the bush so as to wet the under as well
as the upper part of the leaves. Apply before sunrise three or four
times. About June small green worms appear on the bushes, which
can be destroyed by this remedy. Take four gallons of water, add one
tablespoonful of Paris green ; stir thoroughly and apply to the bushes
with a sprinkler early in the morning. Keep the water well stirred
while applying, or the last in the pot will be too strong and kill the
leaves.
Angle worms at the root of plants can be made to come to the sur-
face by inserting a fine hair-pin or darning needle into the mold, and
then pouring lime water upon the soil. This will be found to be good
for the health of the plants, and will also keep the foliage fresh and
green.
To destroy small green flies on roses in the greenhouse put hot coals
on the floor, on which dampened tobacco stems are laid. The dense
smoke kills the pests.
Page 106
Presented as published in 1886. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Sometimes plants become pot-bound. To know this, turn the pot over, with your hand on the top, tap the side or bottom, and if it comes out easy it is all right, but if it sticks, it may be that it is full of roots and needs to be changed to a size larger pot. You can in this way also see if worms are infesting it, and remove them and save your choice plants.
A plant needs re-potting when the roots have formed a compact mass at the bottom of the pot. To ascertain this, just set the pot in water, that the ball of earth may be saturated. Now spread the fingers across the top of the pot, invert it, and a brisk tap of the rim on a shelf will make the ball come out. If it does need re-potting, carefully shake out the roots and shift into a size or two larger, filling up the space with new soil. If you want flowers very early, pack the soil into the pots as lightly as possible. Lily bulbs and roses should be potted tightly.
EXTERMINATING INSECTS AND WORMS.
The most effectual remedy for green fly is fumigation with tobacco. Some soft-wooded plants, such as salvias, heliotropes, etc., will not bear fumigation without injuring their leaves, and for these a weak solution is quite effectual. Steep some tobacco in water, then sprinkle the plant with the solution, afterward syringe with clean water. A little turpentine diluted with water (one part to sixteen), will destroy the mealy bug. The red spider is a very small insect, revealing its presence by the browned appearance of the leaves. Sprinkle your plants often, and you will not be troubled with red spider ; but wherever the air is dry and
close there is his delight. Alcohol, applied with a camel's hair brush, will kill any insect it touches. Plants, treated with these remedies, mus^ be syringed immediately thereafter with clear water. To kill white worms in flower pots take common lime.
This is a sure remedy for rose slugs : Make a tea of tobacco stems and a soapsuds of whale oil or carbolic soap ; mix and apply to the bush with a sprinkler, turning the bush so as to wet the under as well as the upper part of the leaves. Apply before sunrise three or four times. About June small green worms appear on the bushes, which can be destroyed by this remedy. Take four gallons of water, add one tablespoonful of Paris green ; stir thoroughly and apply to the bushes with a sprinkler early in the morning. Keep the water well stirred while applying, or the last in the pot will be too strong and kill the leaves.
Angle worms at the root of plants can be made to come to the surface by inserting a fine hair-pin or darning needle into the mold, and then pouring lime water upon the soil. This will be found to be good for the health of the plants, and will also keep the foliage fresh and green.
To destroy small green flies on roses in the greenhouse put hot coals on the floor, on which dampened tobacco stems are laid. The dense smoke kills the pests.