CARE OF CYCLAMEN

Evening Star, Issue 22596, 13 March 1937, Page 24

CARE OF CYCLAMEN

PROTECTION FROM PESTS It will be necessary to keep a : watch'-, ful eye on tbe young cyclamen plants to see that they do not become infested with insect pests (states a gardening expert in a northern paper). The chief : foe is aphis, or greenfly, which has the habit of establishing itself on the undersides of the leaves, especially when these have a curved or done shape, giving the pest some sense of protection. Where there are only a few plants, personal attention is best. Hold the pot sideways, or upside down, with the lingers placed over the soil. The aphis may be swept away with a small brush over a receptacle of soap and water. Where the number of plants is too great for this, recourse must be had to dipping them in a solution of soft soap, one ounce to one gallon of water, or, better still, by fumigation. A chance caterpillar may work havoa among the seedlings in a few days.of inattention, but if its presence is evident the culprit should be searched for and caught before any more damage is done. A light spraying with arsenate of lead, half an ounce to one gallon of water, will protect the plants against the ravages of the leaf roller, which, is very persistent in damaging the foliage,, e