==Scale.==—­A very common species, found on many kinds of stove and other plants, is the =Lecanium hibernaculorum=, here illustrated on a twig, natural size, and magnified.  It is brown, tumid, and commonly somewhat more than hemispherical in shape.  Besides this species there is the =L. filicum= of Ferns, the =L. hemisphoericum= of Dracaenas, the =L. rotundum= of the Peach, and the common =L. hesperidum=, or Orange-tree Bug, which is one of the flat species, and it spreads to a great variety of plants.  The Scale insect sucks the sap from plants, and in some instances the ground beneath the foliage is wet and soddened by the falling sap.  Spirit of turpentine applied with a soft brush is considered to be a good remedy for Scale.  It is, however, advisable (as in other remedies) to test this on a small number of plants at first.  A near relative, a large brown =Coccus=, infests pomaceous trees, and is especially partial to the Pyracantha, which it often kills outright.  The Scale of the Vine is =Pulvinaria= or =Coccus vitis=.  Careful washing with soap and water, and the destruction of each separate Scale as soon as seen, can be recommended for the extirpation of this pest.

[Illustration:  Common scale =Lecanium hibernaculorum= (natural size and enlarged)]

[Illustration:  Thrips]

==Thrips== may pursue their mischief to a great extent before they are discovered by the novice, for their minute size and their habit render them inconspicuous.  But the black deposit they make reveals their existence to the experienced eye, and the debilitated condition of the plants they have attacked would soon compel attention were there no such deposit to tell the tale.  The Indian Azaleas are apt to be beset by Thrips, as the Grape-vine is by Scale, the Pineapple by Mealy Bug, and the Rose by Green Aphis.  Atmospheric humidity is a powerful preventive, as is also the promotion of vigorous growth by a plentiful supply of water to the roots of the plants; in fact, starvation and a dry, hot air will soon bring an attack of Thrips.  Generally speaking, the best remedy is fumigation with tobacco.  Or tobacco water and a solution of soft soap, together or separately, if carefully applied, speedily make an end of this troublesome pest.  A special preparation may be made as follows:  Take six pounds of soft soap, and dissolve in twelve gallons of water, add half a gallon of strong tobacco water, and dip the plants in the mixture.  Before they become dry, dip again in pure rainwater to remove the mixture.  If too large to dip, apply the mixture with the syringe, and in the course of a quarter of an hour or so syringe with pure rainwater.  Our illustration shows the Thrips in the larval and winged state, natural size and greatly magnified.