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JOURNAL OF HOKTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEK. 



[ Jane 14, 1877 



notably by the larvse of a beetle called Soolytna destructor, 

 which is often reputed to be the destroyer of Elms, when it is 

 only the finisher of a mischievous work done by the far larger 

 Lepidopterons larva just named. In certain states of the 

 weather the peculiar smell that suggested the name of Goat 

 may be perceived some short distance from the trees haunted 

 by the caterpillars. Many wonderful narratives have been 

 published descriptive of the muscular force that the Goat cater- 

 pillar is endued with, and after the accounts of its biting a hole 

 through a sheet of lead, and upheaving a tumbler on whish 

 rested a book weighing several pounds, we are prepared to 

 credit it with any feat. The horny flattened head at once 

 suggests great strength, and its movements are aided by a 

 horny plate on the next segment, while each succeeding seg- 

 ment has a formidable array of mascles. 



The Leopard Moth (Zeuzera iEaculi), less in size than 

 Z. Cossns, is too well known as an enemy of trees, attacking 

 the branches as well as the trunks when a larva, and in our 

 London suburbs it has wrought the ruin of many an Elm, 

 Horse Chestnut, and Laburnum. I have also seen more than 

 one Acacia killed by it; and the late Edward Newman, long ere 

 his decease, was convinced that the opinion he once expressed 

 in print, that the Leopard did not destroy fruit trees, was an 

 erroneous one. In some districts of Kent and elsewhere the 

 iarvse have wrought sad havoc amongst young Ash trees grown 

 for use as hop-poles. But it does seem, as stated by Newman, 

 that in various instances Pear and Apple trees which are 

 infected exhibit a kind of spasmodic activity, and for a time 

 bear more fruit. An array of black spots on the back enables 

 as to distinguish the caterpillar of Z. iEsculi from the livid- 

 coloured Z. Cossns, in other respects excepting size they re- 

 semble each other. 



In the family of Hepialida;, the moths of which have peculiar 

 ehort and simple antennie, we have root-eating Iarvse, but 

 they principally attack plants in hedges and waste places. One 

 cf the species, popularly called the Ghost Moth (Hepialus 

 Humuli), has been named from the Hop, although the cater- 

 pillar has been unearthed from the roots of the Dead Nettles 

 and allied species. Another, the Common Swift (H. lupulinus), 

 is often seen near gardens flying in a dashing manner, as do 

 all the five species. — C. 



Apples. — About 230,000 barrels of Apples were last year 

 shipped to Europe from the United States. More than half 

 of this quantity went to England, which annually imports 

 5f30,000,000 worth of fruits, and yet, says an American con- 

 temporary, the British grower has a decided advantage in pro- 

 ducing most of the varieties on his own soil. The hint might 

 well be taken by English landowners. 



HANGING BASKETS. 



Few objects add more to the adornment of a pleasant win- 

 dow, or the decoration of the parlour or drawing room, than 

 hanging baskets tastefully filled with haudsome-foliaged and 

 flowering plants ; but though now more frequently seen than 

 formerly, they are still far from being as generally sought after 

 as their real beauty demands. A very good position can often 

 be found for them when there is no good convenience for plants 

 in pots ; and even where there are, one large and beautifully 

 arranged basket, when taken care of, is far more satisfactory 

 than a window full of inferior-looking plants. Indeed, it is 

 only under the favourable conditions of a swing window and 

 moderately heated rooms, without the use of too much gas, 

 that plants in small pots can be kept for any length of time in 

 a vigorous and healthy state. Baskets, however, in conse- 

 quence of the larger bulk of soil, are not subjected to the same 

 alternation of dryness and moisture, and admit of the use of 

 plants which withstand more neglect than when growing singly 

 in pots. As decorative objects, both from the position they 

 occupy as well as their variety and masses of foliage, or foliage 

 and flowers, hanging baskets may be considered among the 

 most attractive and beautiful. 



Baskets are made of different forms and of various materials, 

 euch as wire, terra-cotta, and wood. The wire baskets are very 

 beautiful when properly filled, but unless of tolerable size they 

 dry up quickly and require extra time and attention. Terra- 

 cotta baskets are very neat and ornamental, and some of the 

 patterns representing logs of wood quite natural and pretty, 

 but they are not so well adapted for mixed plants as for a single 

 plant of some vigorous-growing kind which will soon cover 

 with its trailing stems. For general purposes the rustic baskets 



form the best floral adornment ; and the plants which are best 

 adapted for this purpose seem to like the rough interior, creep- 

 ing, rambling, aud trailing over it in a free and natural way as 

 they do in their native woods. When wire baskets are selected 

 they should be lined with a thick layer of moss over the sides 

 aud bottom, to prevent the soil from working through. 



Soil and Drainage. — The first requisites are a suitable soil 

 and good drainage. Generally the latter is neglected or not 

 considered necessary, and the consequence is that unless the 

 watering is done by tolerably skilful hands the soil becomes 

 waterlogged, sour, and cold, and speedily the plants show the 

 effects of this. When, however, there is some drainage, water 

 may be given more freely and without the same danger to the 

 health and vigour of the plants. A email hole is sufficient to 

 allow superfluous moisture to pass oft'. The compost should be 

 a mixture of good, fresh, loamy soil, and very old decayed 

 manure or leaf soil, with a small quantity of sand. 



Selection of Plants. — This, of course, will depend very 

 much upon the taste of the planter, the position which the 

 basket is to occupy, whether shady or sunny, and the tempera- 

 ture where it will be kept, especially in winter ; for some plants 

 which are admirable for summer are unsuitable for winter. 

 With the exception of one or two plants for the centre, which 

 should be of erect habit, the others should be mostly those of 

 branching, rambling, or trailing growth. Strictly speaking, 

 very few handsome-flowering plants of difficult culture should 

 be planted ; the aim should be to have a good combination of 

 beautiful foliage contrasting in colour, and only a few flowering 

 plants. Our collections contain variety enough, but adaptation 

 to the position is what is most important. For the central 

 plant a Dracaiua with its crimson-purple or bronzy foliage is 

 distinct and very showy, or one of the small half-hardy Palms, 

 or a Croton with its green and gold-blotched leaves. For the 

 fiUing-up, the following may be named as well adapted to the 

 purpose, and, tastefully arranged, form very ornamental groups 

 — the old and always pretty variegated Periwinkle ; Cobcea 

 scandens, a free-growing and handsome runner ; Maurandyas, 

 white, red, or blue; the old Cineraria maritima, or Dusty 

 Miller, with its silvery leaves, is still effective because it 

 flourishes where other silver-leaved plants often fail; Abutilon 

 Thompsonii.with gold spotted leaves; Centaurea gymnocarpa, 

 and the handsome variegated Iris. For the outer edge of the 

 basket, the tiny Othonna crassifolia, with slender stems and 

 yellow blossoms ; the variegated Sedum.and theTradescantias, 

 two or three varieties ; the dwarf Maranta ; the Colosseum Ivy 

 (Linaria) ; the variegated and green Saxifrage or Strawberry 

 Geranium ; and among Ferns, which must not be omitted, the 

 silver-leaved Pteris, Adiantums cuneatum and pubescens and 

 Pleris tremula, as well as the taller and rapid-growing Nephro- 

 dium exaltatum, which thrives in sun or shade. For trimming 

 around or up the handles nothing is better or more pleasing 

 than the common Ivy, or the German Ivy. 



One thing should not be forgotten — not to select too large 

 plants ; for if large, so much soil has to be removed that the 

 plants suffer materially. It is better to choose rather small 

 specimens, which will leave room to fill up with good soil, in 

 which the roots soon take hold, aud the plants all grow up to- 

 gether, forming a mass of foliage which appears more natural 

 and beautiful than when the larger plants crowd out and nearly 

 destroy the smaller before they get well established. After all, 

 with a list of the right kinds to select from, the fine effect of 

 the basket will depend much upon the taste in arrangement. 



Case of Baskets. — Watering is principally essential to ensure 

 a beautiful hanging basket. The soil may be right, the drain- 

 age good, and the plants properly planted, but neglect in 

 watering will soon spoil all the labour. They should never be 

 allowed to get too dry, neither should they be constantly wet. 

 Experience is the only sure guide. Wire baskets filled with 

 moss require the most attention, and need occasionally to be 

 wholly immersed in water, so as to wet them through. All 

 baskets maybe sprinkled every day, and at least once a month. 

 Plants with large fohage should be gently washed with a 

 soft sponge. It is a good rule to let the basket occasionally 

 get rather dry, and then to give a thorough soaking. This 

 aerates the soil and gives greater vigour to the plants. If the 

 position in the window is too hot and sunny a newspaper 

 thrown over the plants will benefit them, especially before they 

 are well established. If we could be sure of proper caution in 

 its use, where the plants appear to have exhausted the soil we 

 would advise one or two waterings with liquid manure, quite 

 weak; but so many failures have been made that it ie rather 

 unsafe to dabble with ammonia, guano, and other fertilisers. 



