1873.] BIVINA HUMILIS, THE GOOSEBERRY CATERPILLAR. 103 



or grafting-wax. Mastic L'Hoiumo Lefoit is tlie best material I have ever used. 

 Clay and moss are objcctionablo for thig reason, tliat there being mucli moisture 

 ia the house, the graft, instead of forming an organic union, emits roots into 

 the clay, &c., and so never unites Avith the stock. In about ten or twelve days 

 after grafting, if the operation has been successful, the bud will have grown 

 somewhat. The shoots left on the stock boj'ond the graft should now be checked 

 and kept in subjection to the graft; and in about a month's time the matting 

 and wax should be removed, and the shoot treated as established. 



Vines grafted in this manner on strong stocks will grow 30 ft. or 40 ft. the 

 first season, and produce the strongest possible wood ; and Vines of any size or of 

 any age, if in a healthy condition, may be so operated upon. It is a capital plan 

 of introducing a new variety into an established house. — A. F. Bakeox, 

 Chisxcick. 



EIVINA HUMILIS. 



^pI^OST people are in the habit of growing the above pretty plant in small 

 Ci:^>^>^ll pots, which certainly answers very well for decorative purposes, because 

 oXiis it can be readily moved about to where it is wanted ; but planted out 

 is^S where it will have a good light position, and trained up a wall, or what 

 is better, up a pillar, if such there be, in a stove or intermediate house, it will 

 develop itself into one of the handsomest plants that one ever put eyes upon. 

 There is a profusion of its bunches or racemes of rouge-coloured berries, accom- 

 panied with its tiny white flowers, on the same branch with the fruit, that gives 

 it a peculiarly interesting appearance, and this, too, for the greater part of the 

 year. The plant is a sub-shrubby evergreen, and will thrive in a light, loamy soil, 

 mixed with a small portion of peat and charcoal. It requires plenty of water 

 when young, and weak manure-water occasionally ; the temperature of the 

 ordinary stove will suit it well. If it has a fault, it is that the berries soon drop 

 when the branches are cut for room and vase decoration ; but in the plant itself 

 this appears to me to be a wise provision of nature, for were such not to be the 

 case, the plant must soon exhaust itself, on account of its flowers and fruit being 

 produced successively in such wonderful profusion. — T. Eecokd, Gardener to 

 J. Whatman^ Esq., M.P., Vinters Pari; Maidstone. 



THE GOOSEBERRY CATERPILLAR. 



fi^'EW gardeners are altogether exempt from the visits of this scourge. What 

 makes it so very formidable is its voracious appetite ; for if allowed to 

 have its own way, it will strip the bushes of every leaf in the course of a 

 week or so. No time for its appearance can be exactly specified, but it 

 usually comes about the beginning of May, much, however, depending on the 

 state of the weather, so that we must be constantly on the watch. I have heard 

 it asserted, and frequently repeated, that it is the product of thunder and rain, 

 a Huxleyism which aflQrms that life proceeds from that which has no life. 



