December 18, 1873 1 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTCBE AND COTTAGE QABDENEU. 



487 



earth, they there spin cocoons of silk, interwoven with frag- 

 ments of leaves and particles of inouIil,aucl the moth emerges 

 about foxir months after. M. Oxyacauthic may be seen at 

 evening, not only on I\-t.-, but hovering about flower-beds and 

 greenhouses ; and should a by-passer shake tho bush in which 

 it is reposing by day, the moth comes tardily forth and flies a 

 short distance to enter some covert again. 



A yet more beautiful moth (also autumnal) belongs to the 

 same family as the preceding, and it is one of our few green 

 Lcpidoptera. The MerveUle-du-Jour, as it is called, bearing 

 French words as its vernacular title, also known as Agriopis 

 Aprilina, has the head, thorax, and forewiugs pale green, tho 

 latter also ornamented with black and white markings that 

 sometimes gather themselves into an indistinct band ; tho 

 hindwings are smoky black, with marginal wliite spots, and 

 the abdomen is of the same dark hue. This moth has a par- 

 tiality for sweets, that draws it from the fields and woods 

 towards the flower garden, and it forms one of the troop that 

 seek Ivy bloom on mild evenings in November. Vt'o have 

 records of its capture in nearly every county in England or 

 Scotland, though now, to appearance, uncommon in tbo 

 vicinity of the metropolis. No doubt, when extensive Oak 

 forests surrounded London, A. ApriUna was more plentiful 

 than it will ever be again in these suburban districts. The 

 caterpillar' of the species is stout and very smooth, remarkable 

 for having a dark mark like the letter X on tho head, which is 

 greenish ; the body is a little deeper in colour, with lozenge- 

 shaped markings along the back, and having a pale stripe, or 

 sometimes a series of white spots, above the feet. During the 

 day this caterpillar conceals itself, when it can, in crevices of 

 the bark of trees ; it is, I believe, rarely found upon sapUngs, 

 and sometimes ascends the Oak to a good height, thus escap- 

 ing the eye of the entomologist. In June the insect is pre- 

 pared to undergo its transformation to the chrysalis state, for 

 which purpose the caterpillar goes deeply into the earth, 

 making, however, only a slight cocoon. The specific name, 

 Aprilina, points to a spring emergence, as well as an autumn 

 one, at least when the insect was first recognised by natm-alists ; 

 and it is a notable and rather a curious fact that some species 

 have changed their habits, more or less, in the course of the 

 last fifty years consequent upon alterations in our climate, or 

 through their having taken to a different food-plant than they 

 formerly resorted to. It might also be noticed, en jiassant, that 

 the diminution of our woods has forced some insects to take 

 up their abodes in our gardens. 



The pretty little moth, the Sallow (Xanthia cerago), may be 

 knocked-out of garden hedges in the autumn when there are 

 scarcely any leaves left. I have not observed it at sugar or Ivy 

 bloom, but others have so taken it. If a bush is shaken in 

 which an individual of tho species is resting, the moth gener- 

 ally falls with legs folded, as it dead. Tho forewings are of a 

 delicate yellow, the two customary spots known as the discoidal 

 spots are brown, and there are other brown markings slightly 

 pnrplish in most individuals. The thorax is bright yellow and 

 crested. The hindwings are silvery white. On the Continent 

 specimens are taken occasionally with all the surface of the 

 forewings yellow, save one central spot. It is only of lato 

 years that tho transfonnations of the species have been ob- 

 served in England, the caterpillar lurking in the buds of the 

 Sallow during spring. This is dull brown and striped, 

 sharpened towards tho head. After it is about half-grown it 

 generally quits the tree, and betakes itself to low plants, not 

 being particular as to species. 



The Gem (Camptogramma fluviata) is a near relative of the 

 excessively abundant moth (C. bilineata), of which every 

 hedgerow in June and July furnishes its scores. In size 

 C. fluviata is inferior ; it occurs later in the year, even in mUd 

 Boasona, towards the close of autumn. It is a tact in the 

 history of this species (which seems to bo more common near 

 London than elsewhere), that the two sexes present such 

 differences that they were once supposed to be distinct. The 

 fctaalc insect is tho more handsome, having forewings of a 

 pnrplish brown, with a very clearly-defined white spot, and 

 grey hindwings marked with waved lines. In the male the 

 forewings are clay-coloured or brown, with a darker band, in 

 which is enclosed a light spot similar to that seen in the 

 female. There are also a few white lines in some individuals 

 of both sexes. What is also not so easily explained is that 

 there are two varieties of the caterpillar of C. flnWata, but 

 these do not devclopo respectively into males and females, as 

 might be snpposed. Ono of these is yellowish green, and tho 

 other rather greyish ; both have been taken feeding on tho 



common Persicaria and the Groundsel, yet not, we may sup- 

 pose, limited to these. I have found the perfect insect sitting 

 on garden walls ; it is also addicted to immolating itself at 

 gas-lamps. From its ratjier retired habits in general we may 

 conjecture that in some counties its being unknown arises from 

 its being overlooked, and not actually absent. — J. K. S. C. 



KEEPING GRAPES IN WINTER. 



■\Ve have recently received letters from various localities, 

 stating that Grapes" that should have hung in good condition 

 on the Vines for a long time have moulded and dropped from 

 their stalks. In one case, the whole crop of Muscats was 

 literally lost. Considering the general dampness and want of 

 sunshine which characterised the Grape-riponing months of 

 August and September, and the heavy rainfall, it is not by any 

 means surprising that Grapes should, in many instances, not 

 keep well. There cannot bo a doubt that the successful keep- 

 ing of Grapes throughout the winter depends very much on 

 tbo circumstances under which they are ripened. At the same 

 time, very much depends on the way in which they are managed 

 after they are ripe, especially from the middle of October up to 

 the time that the Vines shed their leaves and become com- 

 paratively inactive. We know, from tho loss that has occurred 

 to several, that this is a subject that may be discussed with 

 profit to some of our readers; and, after opening the subject 

 with a few remarks, we shall be very glad to have the experience 

 and ideas of our correspondents. 



Glancing first at the difference which certain treatment in 

 the ripening of Grapes makes to their hanging for a length of 

 time after they are ripe, with the greatest possible freshness 

 and the least possible loss from damping and decay, we con- 

 sider it of great importance that they should be grown and 

 ripened under the influence of as much light as possible, and 

 freely subjected to a circulation of dry warm air. The cha- 

 racter of Grapes grown under the influence of a moist, steamy 

 atmosphere, with a less amount of ventilation, is very different 

 to those managed on the drier and more airy system. There 

 is not only a flabbiness and dropsical character produced in 

 the whole growth of Vines under close moist treatment, but 

 the fruit, as aU experienced Grape-growers know, partakes of 

 this characteristic. The berries may perhaps be larger, but 

 they will be less fleshy and more tender-skinned. In short, a 

 predisposition to ferment and rot when the trying season 

 comes is imparted to them. On the other hand, when culti- 

 vated on the dry and airy system, the berries are firmer, and 

 tho whole system of the Vine gets into a more matured or 

 ripened state. We consider it of much importance that Grape 

 crops — especially those in the northern parts of our kingdoai 

 — should be completely ripe by the first week of October, and 

 finished, too, under the influence of a circulation of dry warm 

 air, produced, if the season render it necessary, by fire heat. 

 Unless Grapes are thoroughly ripened, and the sugary matter 

 in them well developed, they are much more likely to ferment 

 under the influence of too much moisture at the roots of the 

 Vines or in the air of the vinery. Grapes ripened in a light 

 and large au-y vinery are much more likely to be ripened off in 

 that condition which not only constitutes them better Grapes, 

 but also much easier of keeping well after they are ripe. 



Turning now to the leading points of management in keep- 

 ing Grapes after they are quite ripe : there can be no doubt 

 that the most disastrous failures have occurred from the want 

 of studying the laws of heat and moisture in their relation to 

 tho Grapes. It water stagnates about tbo roots of Vines in 

 winter, that alone is enough to cause tho Grapes to mould and 

 decay. But the more general cause of failure arises from 

 moisture settlhig on the bunches. Tho drainage of the border 

 should be thorough. Not only so, but, in wet localities especi- 

 ally, it will be an advantage to throw heavy rains off the border 

 by means of wooden shutters or tarpauling, after tho middle of 

 October at the latest. Still, and although this precaution of 

 protection from rains is desirable, wc could point to many 

 cases of the most perfect success where such protection was 

 never adopted, but where the borders were well drained. 



The chief secret of success lies in tho ventilation and firing 

 of the vinery; and when these points are judiciously carried 

 out, (Irapes often keep well, while other matters may only be 

 second-rate. First, it is necessary that tho berries be more 

 severely thinned than for summer Grapes, so that the air can 

 circulate about the whole of the berries ; for it is damp settling 

 I on the berries that produces the mischief, and, as a conse- 

 ' qucnce, this is the thing by all means to avoid : hence the too 



