312 THE GARDENER. [July 



joint outside and close up to it, then peg down the split joint, so that 

 the shoot stands upright ; even the soil round the joint, and the whole 

 is finished. Water when necessary till the layer makes roots. The pegs 

 we use are either fern or bent pieces of willow. Auriculas, if they are 

 in a frame facing the north, heavy rains kept off, the drainage clear, 

 and all kept clean, will do well for the present. Let all plants be 

 attended to liberally with water, air, and cleanliness, as directed last 

 month. Chrysanthemums may be topped back for the last time. 

 Young bushy tops may be layered into small pots, and grown on if 

 small plants are wanted. Tie large plants out, and keep them sturdy. 

 Propagate fancy and other Pelargoniums by placing the cuttings under 

 hand-lights in sandy soil. When we lived with the late Mr Catleugh, 

 many thousands of the above were propagated in the open ground 

 annually for Covent Garden ; some of the more tender kinds were 

 sheltered with a frame. Cut down all those that are done flowering. 

 Zonals grown on liberally will take their place, and make a grand dis- 

 play for four months to come. Give manure-water to those which are 

 flowering freely. M. T. 



PHYLLOXERA VASTATRIX. 



We are very sorry to learn that this most formidable of all the 

 enemies of the Grape Vine has made its appearance in England. We 

 were the first to call attention to it in this country as being pre- 

 valent on the Continent ; little did we then think that it was at our 

 doors. We make the following extract from a letter addressed to us 

 by a gentleman in Kent : " My Vines have all grown well except two, 

 a Mrs Pince's Muscat and Meredith's Alicant ; these did not move more 

 than 2 or 3 inches, and I determined to take them up and examine 

 the roots. Now, 'tell it not in Gath,' the roots were swarming with 

 Phylloxera vastatrix, and no mistake ; there was also the winged kind. 

 Your description in the May number of the 'Gardener ' is very accurate. 

 With a glass of good power you can see it in all its stages, but you can 

 see it with the naked eye. It looks like grains of yellow sulphur 

 in the crevices of the roots; with a high power it resembles small 

 yellow tortoises. It barks all the roots and destroys the Vine." The 

 WTiter farther expresses a fear that this pest is known to be in some 

 nurseries, but is kept a secret. If so, no time should be lost in dis- 

 covering which these are, and in getting it "stamped out," to use a 

 phrase only too familiar to us. 



