July 17, 1873. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICDLTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



47 



pestris is more rnde, thongh going to some depth ; and the 

 immature Tiger awaits its prey, usually near the opening, 

 wedging itself there by means of booklets, with which it is fur- 

 nished for this very purpose. Having seized some by-passer, 

 the larva drops with it to the bottom of the pit. The digging- 

 ont of this is accomplished by the legs and horny head ; and 



the insect has a natural hod, in tlie form of a hump, uporj 

 which it rests the sand or earth as scooped out, and ejects it 

 near the mouth of the pit, not often troubling itself to remove 

 the rubbish to any distance. The change to a pupa takes place 

 within the same burrow, the luoutli being then carefully closed. 

 Here the insect remains from autumn until spring. — J. li. S. C. 



OETHOSirHON STAMINEUS. 



This is a very pretty and interesting member of the Labiata-, 

 and is well deserving of the attention of growers of stove 

 plants ; for, coming into full bloom about the end of July, 

 it becomes extremely valuable in a decorative point of view, 



serving to enliven the plant stove just at the time when there 

 is somewhat of a dearth. As a geuus, Orthosiphon is closely 

 allied to Ocymuin, Coleus, and Plectranthus, but its inflo- 

 rescence reminds one of a Clerodendron. 



Orthosiphon stamlaens. 



Orthosiphon stamineus is herbaceous in habit, and forms 

 neat Uttle bashes, which if required may be had in bloom when 

 only about G inches high. Most cultivators will, however, jirefer 

 growing it to a larger size before allowing it to flower, and, 

 therefore, when any bloom buds which are not required to 

 develope make their appearance, they must be picked off. The 

 stems and branches of this elegant little plant are furnished 

 with light pnrple hairs ; leaves sharply oval, toothed on tho 

 edges, and dark green on the upper side, but glaucous beneath, 

 the veins in addition being sparingly clothed with short white 

 hairs. The flowers are produced in terminal racemes, as the 

 illustration kindly lent us by Messrs. .James Veitch & Sons, 

 will show, although it fails to convey an adequate idea of the 

 plant's beauty. The corolla is about an inch in length, bluish- 

 lilac in colour, having the stamens much exserted, which adds 

 materially to the beauty of the raceme. 



The culture of Orthosiphon stamineus is really of tho 

 simplest nature, which is another feature in its favour, inas- 

 much as any amateur possessing a cool stove may take it in 

 hand without the slightest risk or fear of failure. Drain the 

 pots well ; for soil use about equal parts of peat, loam, and good 

 leaf mould, adding a little sharp river or silver sand to the 



whole so as to make it feel gritty when taken in the hand, and 

 during the growing and flowering season supply the planfj 

 liberally with water. It appears to be widely distributed over 

 India and through the islands of the Indian Archipelago, but 

 was introduced to our collections from the neighbourhood of 

 (Jape York in north-east Australia, by the late Mr. J. G. Veitch. 

 — ExPERio Ckeue. 



EscALLONiA MACRANTHA. — I Can with much pleasure endorse 

 every word Mr. Robson has said with respect to the beauties 

 of the above plant. I have one planted in the south-east 

 corner of a sunk-fence brick wall about <i feet high, which is at 

 the present time one complete mass of bloom, borne upon the 

 young wood of last season's growth in sprays from 12 to Ifi 

 inches long. It has almost assumed the character of a shrub, 

 as it has been naUed-in very little ; so the growth it makes 

 during the summer is left to ramble as it hkes, which is pro- 

 bably the cause of its blooming so profusely. The young 

 growth it is now making above tho top of the sunk fence will 

 again flower late in the autumn, but not so profusely as it does 

 in the summer. It is planted in a rich stiff loam, which ap- 

 pears to suit it in everyway, as it makes shoots from 18 inches 



