This tip about dealing with fern scale infestation comes from a vintage issue of The WorkBasket (likely the 1950's -- for some reason, the scan didn't make it into the right folder for issue number and date; sorry about that.)
Though some of us certainly don't mind picking up the pieces of cake stuck to a plate as a quick kitchen snack, this tip (from Good Ideas: An Interesting Collection Made By Eddy's) does help the serving and appearance of dessert.