Scale Insect. The species of this family are most usually, but not exclusively, found upon the tenants of our green-houses and hot-houses. The males are active, but the females usually fixed to a part of the plant; the former having wings, and are so small as to require a magnifier to distinguish them distinctly: they then appear somewhat like a gnat in form. The females are much larger, and in shape not unlike a bed-bug, but with a scaly skin. When hatching they envelop themselves in a woolly case. The eggs are oval, but no larger than dots. Brushing the stems and branches of trees and shrubs with a hand scrubbing-brush, will destroy many of these vermin, and if spirit of turpentine, with a painter's brush, is applied, so as to visit every cranny of the bark, the application is perfectly effectual. Smaller and more delicate plants in pots, may be placed under a sea-kale or other pot, with a little of the spirit in a saucer, and then submitted to a gentle heat; the vapour of the turpentine will destroy the insect in an hour or two. If the first applica- | tion fails, the second will not fail.

The efficacy of a solution of soft soap in thinning the ranks of this pest, arises probably from the turpentine it contains.

"C. hesperidum is found in greenhouses, especially on orange trees. It infests leaves as well as stems.

C. Bromelia

Pine Apple Scale infests that fruit, the hibiscus, justitia, &C.

C. Adonidum

Mealy Bug. This feeds on tropical plants, with which it has been introduced into our hot-houses, especially Coffee, Oestrum, Justicia, Carina, Musa, Renealmia, etc.; but it also is very injurious to the vine and pine-apple.

C. Testubo

Turtle Scale. This is found chiefly on stove plants requiring a high temperature. The scale is oval, very convex, and dark brown." - Gard. Chron.

C. Vitis

Vine Scale preys upon the Grape Vine, both in the open air, and under glass. It seems to be the same species which also attacks occasionally the Peach, Nectarine, and Plum. It is, says Mr. Curtis, " a longish brown insect, which in old age assumes a blackish-brown colour, and becomes hemispherical and wrinkled. The females are shield-like; being convex above, and flat or concave below; they are furnished with six small legs, which, when the insect is old, become part of the substance of the body. On the under side of the insect is a sucker, with which it pierces the cuticle of the plants, and extracts their juices. Soon after impregnation the female dies, and her body becomes a protection for the eggs, which are covered with long white wool, and sometimes completely envelop the shoots of the vines, or of plants, growing underneath them. The males are furnished with four wings, and are apterous. Their powers of propagation are immense; and, where they once become very numerous, they are exceedingly difficult to eradicate".

As a genus of insects closely allied to the Coccus, and usually confounded with it, is Aspidiotus; and as all remedial observations applicable to the one are equally applicable to the other, the prevailing kinds are here enumerated.

A. Nerii

Oleander Scale is found in our stoves and green-houses, chiefly on the Oleanders, Palmae, Aloes and Acacias.

A. Rosae

Rose Scale; A. echino-cacti. Cactus Scale; A.lauri. Sweet Bay Scale; infest chiefly the plants by the names of which they are distinguished.

A. Ostreaeformis

Pear Tree Oyster Scale, is found upon the pear tree.

Scale is much more difficult to destroy coc than aphis; as tobacco, soft soap, vinegar, and other materials scarcely affect them, even when applied in quantity and strength sufficiently to kill plants.

The most effectual method of ridding plants of these pests, besides those first named, is to brush or sponge the stems and leaves. If plants in pots are infested with this or any other kind of scale, they should never be cleansed in or near the house in which they are grown; as, though the old ones have not always the power of locomotion, yet the young ones have. Shreds and matting which support plants in houses, should always be carefully examined, as they form a kind of nest for the young insects. Old shreds should never be used, without being previously boiled." - Gard. Chron.