Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/481

445&#93; PRI to secure the plants from the ef- fefts of cold and moisture. This method has been successfully prac- tised by M. de C. with the most delicate shrubs, which uniformly prospered, after having lain several months in close boxes. PLANT-LOUSE.— These ver- min are very detrimental to trees, by devouring both their foliage and fruit : hence, they ought to be ex- terminated at an early period of their existence. — Mr. Forsyth recommends two parts of fine wood-ashes to be mixed with one part of unslackerl lime, reduced to powder ; which must be thrown on the under-side of the leaves in- fested with the inse6ts, by means of a commtni dredging- liox, till they are completely covered. This mixture should be applied early in the morning, before the dew is evaporated,' that the powder may . adhere more firmly ; and which must farther be suffered to remain on the leaves, for three or four days. Unslacked lime is then to. be incorporated with soft water, in the proportion of half a peck to 32 gallons ; and the mixture stirred two or thfee times in 24 hours, for three or four successive days. After the lime has subsided, the trees niilst be copiously watered with this liquid ; care being taken to throw a considerable part of it on the lower side of the leaves. The. irrigation must be repeated once every day, for a week ; a pra6tice by which the plant-lice will be effedually destroyed, PRIVIES are certain places of retirement, which require no far- ther definition. — As they frequent- ly emit an odour alike inconvenient ,and unwholesome, either from jiegle£t in cleansing them, or from P R U [445 the low situation of the houses to which they may be annexed, such fetor may be destroyed by throw- ing into them a mixture of lime- water and a ley of ashes, or of soap-suds : thus, the most offensive exhalations may be effedually re- moved, at a trifling expence. By a similar process, vessels may be kept in the apartments of the sick, where night-chairs cannot be easily procured, without emitting the least offensive smell : for, if 5 or 6Ibs. of quick-lime, a small quan- tity of ashes, and two buckets of water, be thrown into a tub, adapt- ' ed for the purpose by a proper lid, such composition will etfedlually. prevent any fetid eflHuvia ; and the feculent matter, thus neutralized, becomes an excellent manure, — See also Close-stool : vol, ii. PRUNING.— Of this import- ant point of horticulture, we have formerly given an outline which^ together with the diredions inter- spersed in the accounts of indivi- dual tj'ees, was deemed sufficient for the information of readers, in general. Nevertheless we have, at the request of several corres- pondents, been induced to add a few supplementary hints, which are chiefly derived from our own experience; because the pradical suggestions obtained from the works of Mr. Bucknall, and Mr. Forsyth, have already been communicated in the progress of this work, under a variety of arti- cles, conneded either with parti- cular trees, or with different sub- jects relative to orcharding. The proper age, and season, for pruning fruit-trees, is of the first consequence j as we seldom meet with an orchard which, in this re- spe6t-, has been judiciously ma- naged. To ensure success, there is required