1869.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 461 



robust in growth. The leaves are longish ovate, slightly cordate at the 

 base. Flower-stem stout and erect, about 9 inches high, with a compact 

 umbel of large white flowers. Very handsome on rock-work in gritty 

 peat and loam ; kept moist in summer and dry in winter. Flowers in 

 May and June. Native of Northern India. 



P. iiwolucrata is nearly related to the last-named species, but gene- 

 rally considered inferior to it. It is not so vigorous. Leaves in shape 

 and texture similar, but not cordate at the base ; flower-stems weaker, 

 and the umbel fewer flowered. Flowers white in April and May- 

 Native of Northern India. Soil and treatment the same as for P. 

 Munroi. W. S. 



THE CULTIVATION" OF HARDY FRUITS. . 



THE APPLE. 



{Continued from page 397.) 



Another great enemy to the cultivation of the Apple is the Anthony- 



mus pomorum, commonly known as the Apple weevil. This small 



insect, which is from one and a half to two lines in length, has often 



been found to destroy almost the whole crop of an orchard. It finds 



a shelter under the bark of the tree or amongst the soil at the roots 



thereof in winter : when spring has come in, and the buds begin 



to get soft and full of sap, the female parent ascends thereto, and with 



her proboscis bores a hole into the bud, whereby she is enabled to 



deposit a single egg in every blossom. As she produces a great 



number of eggs, a very few females are necessary to destroy every bud 



upon a large tree. According to the state or condition of the weather 



these eggs will be hatched, and produce the grub or larva of the weevil 



from the middle of April till the first or second week of May. As 



soon as they have arrived at this stage of existence so soon does their 



work of destruction begin. The generative parts of the blossom are 



always the first to suffer, although eventually the whole contents of 



the bud are often devoured. It is very rapid in its transformation 



from one stage of existence to another, as a few days only elapse until 



it is changed into the beetle form. In this stage it remains, and 



during summer and autumn lodges upon the tree and feeds upon 



the foliage. Ere winter has set, it secures for itself a habitation 



under the loose bark of the tree, which position it generally prefers ; 



but should no such lodgment present itself, it seeks repose amongst 



the soil and roots. The cure recommended by most of our writers 



is the application of spirits of tar to the trunk and branches during 



