332 THE FLORIST. 



A BOON TO DAHLIA GROWERS. 



A VERT useful little article has been invented and registered by Mr. 

 Edwards, of St. Paul's Square, Birmingham, for the destruction of that 

 universal pest the earwig. The article in question is placed on the top 

 of the Dahlia stick, in the same manner as the inverted flower pots ; it 

 is made of japanned tin, and is so constructed that when the earwigs 

 have entered it they find it impossible to get out. The trap has been 

 placed in the hands of Mr. C. J. Perry, the well known amateur of 

 Birmingham, who has thoroughly tested it during the late season. 

 Mr. Perry reports as follows : — " In my opinion the invention is com- 

 plete, no obstruction whatever being offered to the entrance of the 

 insects, and I found that a httle sugar being placed inside the trap 

 carried such an attraction that in a few days the trap contained a living 

 mass of the destructive and noxious creatures. The hd is made to open 

 so that the trap can be emptied in a moment ; but its principal recom- 

 mendation is the fact that it is not necessary to remove it daily to 

 destroy the earwigs, as their detention being positive the grower can 

 inspect his traps at his leisure, or they may even be allowed to remain 

 during an entire season." 



If the inventor can produce the earwig trap at a moderate cost we 

 feel assured that the demand will be very great, as not only Dahlias 

 but many other florists' flowers suffer considerably from the ravages of 

 earwigs. 



RHODODENDRON JASMINIFLORUM. 



Considering so much has been written respecting Rhododendrons 

 and their various attractions, it is somewhat singular that this, one of 

 the most beautiful of the genus, should have been so little mentioned, 

 for although it cannot equal some of the Sikkim species in point of fine 

 foliage, it has properties to recommend it in preference to most of them, 

 and I think for general purposes it will be found a more useful plant 

 than the best of them ; but at the same I would not be understood to 

 depreciate the value of the Sikkim species, for many of them are 

 doubtless very valuable plants. 



In most gardens cut flowers are much required throughout the season, 

 and anything producing flowers to cut in the winter will always be 

 prized, more or less according to its merits. For this purpose the 

 R. jasminiflorum will be found invaluable, as it can be had in bloom 

 through a considerable part of the winter and spring months ; the 

 flowers will always cause it to be classed with the most choice for this 

 purpose, as there are few to equal it. 



The Stephanotis floribunda, which has long been a favourite for 

 cutting from, is almost the only plant (with the exception of a few of 

 the more rare Orchids) that can equal it, and over this it possesses 

 many advantages ; the neat compact habit, and the power to withstand 

 more cold, are properties that will recommend it to many. It is a 



