78 THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. [April, 



so much, but when so treated it makes greater progress, and will bloom three 

 times in the season. The flowers last in perfection for a fortnight. It enjoys a 

 light situation, but must be shaded from bright sun. It should never, even in 

 winter, be subjected to a lower temperature than G0°. 



Those who may wish to procure a plant should do so in the summer, for if it 

 has to travel any distance during cold weather and it is out of heat for even 

 one night, the chances are that it will be killed. In February or March it 

 ought to be repotted, using in the case of small plants pots 2 in. larger than 

 before, and in all cases removing as much as possible of the old soil, which has 

 a tendency to become sour. Although it has been long in the country, the plant 

 is still scarce. It throws out suckers from the base of the stem, which root 

 freely if inserted in a mixture of peat and sand ; but I find it a better plan to 

 cut the plant off just above the suckers, and treat it as a sucker. It will soon 

 root, and receive very little check. 



One thing in its favour is that it appears to have a perfect immunity from 

 insects, for I have grown it for 15 years, and have never seen a single insect upon 

 it. It is better not to syringe overhead, as water lodging in the base of the 

 petioles will sometimes cause the plant to rot. T. Baines. 



Summerjield, Bowdon. 



THE OAK-LEAF SILKWORM. 



\F Silkworms there are many varieties, but in a profitable point of view the 

 mulberry breeds stand first. I propose, however, now to offer some 

 remarks on the newly introduced Oak-Leaf Worm, Bornbyx Yama-mai, 

 which is a most interesting insect, and is also likely to become a useful 

 This Bornbyx feeds on oak leaves, and I think the Turkey variety is the 

 Its eggs are as large as radish-seeds, and of a dark speckled colour. The 

 worms attain a large size, and the moths are exceedingly handsome. The 

 cocoons are about the size of pigeons' eggs, and produce good silk. 



In order to rear a few of these Silkworms half-a-dozen young oak plants in 

 large pots should, about March or April, be put into a vinery in order to force 

 them into leaf. They can then be brought indoors about the beginning of May, 

 and the eggs may be placed among the boughs, in little thimble-papers. As 

 many pots should be prepared as may be wanted to carry the worms through 

 their whole life. They could be distributed one worm to each plant, so that the 

 trouble of moving them to fresh leaves would in great measure be avoided. 

 The young insects as soon as they are born are fond of sucking up water, which 

 they do before they take to eating. Water should therefore be sprayed over 

 eggs, worms, and leaves two or three times daily, during and before the hatching. 

 The hatching-room should be kept heated to 70° Fahr., never lower. It is neces- 

 sary to confine the worms, by surrounding the pots and plants with muslin, or 

 they will crawl about and be lost. 



