GREENHOUSE PESTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 July 1940, Page 9

GREENHOUSE PESTS

GET RID OF THEM. No matter how clean everything may be kept in the greenhouse, there are still liable to be pests of some kind, and if steps are taken to destroy them in their early stages they are not very difficult to control. Green fly is one of the commonest pests, and also one of the most destructive. The insects stick their beaks into the soft tissue and suck the juice out of the plants, and as they increase at such a rate they soon weaken them. They are particularly fond of calcealarias. pelargoniums, and cinerarias, but attack most plants. They can be destroyed by fumigating with seme such materials X.L.AII or nicotine. The X.L.AII is very convenient, it is obtained in cakes, each being sufficient for a certain number of cubic feet of space. They are placed in a copper or zinc dish, and this is put over a spirit lamp. The material melts, then evaporates, filling the house with poison gas, which penetrates to all parts. When fumigating, which is usually done on calm evenings, do not spray the plants or benches or damp the paths, and the next morning lay the worst affected plants on their sides and spray with clean water, which will dislodge any insects which have been stupified but not killed. Tobacco paper and. tobacco can also be used. Spraying with soapy water with a teapsoonful of nicotine preparation added to each gallon, is also an effective spray for green fly. Thrips and mite are both pests which attack plants with fleshy leaves, such as tuberous begonias, cyclamen, gloxinias, etc. Fumigating with X.L.AII or some other nicotine preparation will keep them in check, also spraying with the soap and nicotine preparation, or dipping in the mixture when the plants are small, is effective. In each case the plants should be sprayed with clean tepid water the next day to wash off the soap.

Red spider is a dry weather pest which attacks vines and many other plants with large, rough leaves. It is not a spider at all, but as it weaves a web over its eggs it has thereby received its common name. It is usually a sign of a dry atmosphere due to lack of damping, or to too great a heat in the hot-water pipes. Frequent spraying and damping will keep it down, also spraying with lime sulphur. 1 in 120.

Mealy bugs and scale are pests which attack 'palms and other foliage plants mainly. Sponging with warm, soapy water io which some nociticide has been added is the best, remedy and it may be necessary to use a half-worn small paint brush to get into all corners. When mealy bug attacks succulent plants which are covered with spines, painting with methylated spirits will destroy it. It should be emphasised that correct treatment is the best preventive—correct ventilation, frequent damping of the paths and benches, watering when necessary, correct temperature, and the right potting soil.