298 



JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



t ApiU 4, 1872. 



stated he had observed, that whilst species of iusects in- 

 habiting mouutaius were extremely local, those which were 

 found on plains were widely dispersed. He ako mentioned the 

 curious fact that whilst the species of Oxytelus, one genus of 

 Staphylinidae (rove-beetles), found in England were identical 

 with those found in Siberia, all the Siberian species of Bledius, 

 another genus belonging to the same family, were distinct from 

 those of Western Europe. 



The following memoirs were read : — Ou the species of butter- 

 flies first described iu the great work of Herbst and Jablousky, 

 and which had been greatly neglected, by Mr. Kirby. 2, De- 

 scriptions of new exotic species of sliield beetles (Cassididie), by 

 Mr. Baly, all the species except one being from Ecuador. 3, An 

 elaborate memoir ou the genus Acentropus, a small white insect 

 which had long been considered as Neuropterous (and, indeed, 

 was still so by Mr. Newman), but which Professor Westwood 

 had jjroved thirty years ago to be a moth ; Mr. Dimniug support- 

 ing that view, and considering the insect to be a Cramboid Hy- 

 drocamj)a, of which, notwithstanding the opinions of various 

 recent authors, he believed that there was only a single variable 

 species, A. niveus. 



The second March meeting of the Entomological Society was 

 held on the 18th, F. Smith, Esq., V.P., iu the chair. Mr. 

 Higgins exhibited several beautiful species of Cetoniida! from 

 Java, including some apparently new. Mr. Bond exhibited a 

 dimorphic example of Aoronj-cta leijoriua, one side of which 

 was coloured and marked as in the typical form, the other side 

 as in the variety bradyporina, the two forms having been at one 

 time considered distinct species. Mr. Smith said the remarks 

 ou Siberian insects at the last meeting had induced him to 

 make a minute examination of specimens of the hornet (Vespa 

 Crabro) from Em'ope, Siberia, and North America, and he found 

 that individuals from aU these countries presented no appreci- 

 able variation. The Asiatic V. orientalis was, however, quite 

 distinct. Mr. Miiller read notes on Senopalpus striatus, which 

 beetle he considered to be a wood-feeder, especially attached to 

 Fir wood : heuce its occurrence in a hose warehouse at Leicester 

 could onlj' have been accidental. 



The Secretary read a long account of the ravages of locusts in 

 South Australia, in December, 1871, as related in the " South 

 AustraUan Eegister " for January 2nd, 1872. The insects were 

 described as coming iu swarms that darkened the air, eating all 

 vegetation in their way. It was found that those individuals 

 that had partaken of leaves of the Castor-oil plant died im- 

 mediately, and Larkspur seemed to be also inimical to them. 

 Mr. Home related his experiences of locusts in India. The 

 Castor oil plant had certainly no injurious effect upon Indian 

 Bjjecies, though they were affected by leaves of the Tama- 

 rind tree. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAEDEX. 



EvEKY important opera'.iou out of doors has been interrupted 

 by the incessant hail and snow storms, which have satm-ated 

 and chUled the ground. I must refer, therefore, to last week's 

 calendar', as the work there recommended has doubtless been 

 delaj'ed. "Wait till the weather change before planting out 

 Cauliflowers, Lettuces, etc., wintered under glass, but in the 

 meantime harden them well by giving them all the air possible 

 without damaging them by dii-ect exposure to frost. \Vheu 

 the weather permits, sow Snow's Early Broccoli for autumn 

 use, and the Eutield Market and Sugarloaf Cabbages on a warm 

 border for summer supply. The necessity for some sort of pro- 

 tection for early Carrots, liadislies, and similar crops against 

 the driving storms of hail has been lately tolerably evident. 

 The forward Peas and Beans should be protected with boughs. 

 Sow more ; the Dwarf ProUfic Bean and Knight's Marrow Pea 

 are suitable for this sowing. Sow Carrots, Parsnii}S, and Onions. 

 Plant Potatoes. The Early Six-weeks 'Turnip, Lettuces, 

 Radishes, and similar vegetables which last a short time, 

 should be sown fortnightly on Ught soils. 



FKtllT GAKDEN. 



Of com-se. Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots are secui-ely 

 protected from frost ; in some respects the late severe weather 

 may do good by protracting the blooming period, but the 

 better kinds of Plums, Pears, and Cherries should have pro- 

 tection when they are in bloom. 



FLOWEK G.iRDEN. 



Repair displacements of soil or gi'avel ou slopes or precipi- 

 tous walks with as little delay as possible, for every shower 

 will widen the channel. Gravel put ou sloping walks should 

 be almost in the state of mortar prepared for use ; well trodden 

 and afterwards rolled, it forms a hard and durable walk. Roll 

 and mow gi'ass, trim edgings, and finish rough digging in the 



pleasure grounds. It is often desh-able to keep Ivy close to a 

 building against which it cliugs, in that case it should be de- 

 foliated every year about this time, and it will again be 

 speedily covered with fresh and vigorous leaves. As soon as 

 the weather has become a little more favourable, a good col- 

 lection of annuals, whether hardy or tender, should be sown. 

 For the latter a slight hotbed is requisite. The more hardy 

 kinds should be sown in patches and covered with a garden- 

 pot, taking care to remove it in the daytime when they are 

 coming up, and covering them at night. If any rough or unim- 

 portant shrubbery borders requu'e a little gaiety, and business 

 presses, a mixture of seme of the hardier sorts might be made — 

 such as Collinsias, Clarkias, Mallows, Larkspurs, Candytufts, 

 &c. — and strewed at random over the open parts of the border 

 after a thorough cleaning. The late heavy rains have been by 

 no means congenial to the roots of TuUps ; in fact, unless the 

 beds are situated on n porous subsoil or well di'ained there will 

 be positive injury. The meshe-s of the nets used to protect 

 the beds ought not to be very small, otherwise the foUage is 

 apt to be drawn-iip and the stems wUl rise weakly. Particular 

 attention must be paid to those whose foliage is cankered, 

 cutting it away to the quick with a sharp knife. As soon as 

 the beds are sufficiently dry the surface soil should be care- 

 fully stirred, if not previously attended to. 'VMrere the seed 

 of Polyanthuses was sown early and placed iu heat to vegetate, 

 the pans or boxes should be removed to a cooler situation, 

 gradually inuring the tender plants to the open au'. As the 

 trusses of the old plants rise, if intended for exhibition, they 

 should be carefully examined and the pips thinned out accord- 

 ing to the strength of the plants. Occasional wateilngs with 

 weak liquid manure will be found serviceable. Auriculas will 

 requir-e the gi-eatest attention possible. The lights of the frames 

 should be carefully examined iu order that diip may be pre- 

 vented, for should a drop of water fall into the expanding pip 

 of the Aiulcida it will be ine\-itably spoiled for exhibition, and 

 the sooner it is cut awaj' the better. Cover well at night with 

 one or two mats, especially if there is the least indication of 

 fi'ost. During the day every possible means must be adopted 

 to insure plenty of aii' to prevent the plants being drawn. No 

 time must be lost in getting Carnations and Picotees potted 

 off. As old flowers of considerable merit I may venture to 

 enumerate the following : — Scarlet Bizarres, HoUiday's Grand 

 Master and Lord RancUffe. Crimson BizaiTes, Slater's Gla- 

 diator and HoUidaj''s Thomas Hewlet. Pui^ple Flakes, BaiTin- 

 ger's Earl Spencer and HoUiday's Queen of Pui^ples. Scarlet 

 Flakes, Holyoake's Dido and HoUiday' Scarlet Gem. Rose 

 Flakes, May's Ariel and Lorenzo. If seed of Ranunculus is 

 not aheady sown, sow immediately. Attend to dir-ectious pre- 

 viously given. This is a good time to strike cuttings of Pansies ; 

 put them in roimd the sides of small pots, plunge them in 

 sand on a north border, and cover them with a hand-glass. 



GEEEXHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



The judicious regulation of temperatm'e in plant houses, 

 with adequate attention to the acbnission of fresh au' and 

 supplies of moisture, are recommendations which demand 

 attention, but which this uncertain and ungenial weather 

 renders of somewhat difticult application. The great propor- 

 tion of greenhouse plants are now in activity, and a great deal 

 depends on the treatment they receive at this moment. Rain 

 water, where it can be collected, should always be prepai'ed for 

 watering. Hardwooded plants whose pots are fuU of roots, 

 and which it is not convenient to repot just at present, should 

 be carefully attended to with water, for it allowed to flag 

 many plants, particularly such as have fine hair-Like roots, 

 scarcely ever recover. The growth of plants intended to bloom 

 next autumn and winter will requu-e attention. The early- 

 started Chinese Azaleas and the common and Otaheitan Orange 

 will be making growth, which should be encouraged by frequent 

 .sjTinging and a genial temperature of about 50^ by night. 

 Straggling shoots should be at once removed, and to obtain 

 perfect flowering specimens the new growth should be uniform, 

 to enable the wood to ripen at the same time. Some of the 

 earUest-bloomed Camellias may be added, and occupy the 

 shady part of the house. Epacrises are another useful family 

 for winter flowering, and T\ill stand a moderate foremg. Select 

 the early-blooming section, and after pinrning place them in ^ 

 moderately warm temperature, and by damping frequently 

 encourage them to break. To the above may be added various 

 plants, which, if requii'cd to bloom by Christmas, should be 

 encouraged to make an early growth preparatory to an early 

 pireiriug and rest. I prefer potting such of the above as 

 requu'e shiftmg after the growth has become somewhat ma- 



