The Garden Under Glass

288 THE GARDEN UNDER GLASS In this way it will soon become thoroughly mixed. This precaution is especially necessary when paraffin forms part of the mixture, as it often does in home-made insecticides ; for the oil has always a tendency to float on the top and may in this way be used in excess. I think the safer way to measure out insecticides is by noting how many parts of water to one part of the preparation. Whenever traders give the quantities in pints, half-pints, etc., I like always to translate it into parts, and to mark the can this way. Thus, if half-a-pint is recommended to two gallons, knowing there are thirty-two half-pints in two gallons, we mark the can i in 32. Then, whether we have a cup of a standard measure or not we can be sure of putting in the right quantity by putting, say, one 3-inch potful of the preparation and thirty-two 3-inch potfuls of warm soft water. When sponging plants care must be taken not to tear o ff the leaves, and it must be remembered that the underside of the leaf is usually the happy hunting ground of these pests. When plants are dipped they should be turned upside down, the hånd being held over the top surface of the ball of soil and the pot that it does not come from its pot, and the plant should be moved about for a while in the bucket or tub to enable the insecticide to penetrate everywhere. After spraying, sponging, or dipping it is always advisable, on the score of safety, to syringe the plants with clear soft water. A special nozzle should be fitted to a syringe for spraying, as by giving such a fine spray it not only wets every part of the plant thoroughly but also economises the mixture, which in some cases is rather expensive. Ants.—Though very interesting little creatures, they often become quite a plague to gårdeners by getting on to ripe fruit, especially peaches. Undoubtedly the best remedy is to pour boiling water into their ncsts, when these