June 12, 1873. J 



JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AXD COTTAGE GARDENER. 



467 



choice species this spring. Some hybernating specimens were 

 observed, one in a hollow tree, another beneath a heap of 

 stones, and another under rockwork, and some of the butter- 

 flies likewise get into woodstacks, it may be presumed, like 

 their relatives. We will hope that those now coming forth on 

 the wing (for several appearances of Antiopa have aheady been 

 noted) will be spared by the boy insect-hunters, who are rarely 

 discriminating. 



Our entomological journals give us no account of the capture 

 of the butterfly in this country in its early stages. The eggs 

 are presumably laid in April and May, and the caterpillars, at 

 least while young, feed in parties — so they report from abroad. 

 I imagine, however, that the account quoted by Benuie of the 

 harm done by these iu some districts on the Continent is a 

 mistake, since V. Polychloros is more likely to be the insect 

 referred to. This caterpillar has long compound spines, the 

 body and head are black, with a few reddish spots, according 

 to Hubner, and the chrysalis is also blackish and much angu- 

 lated. These particulars we may, perhaps, verify in Britain 

 during 1S73. 



A pretty Uttle moth belonging to the Geometriue section is 

 not uncommon in our gardens about this time (there^are some 

 counties, however, in which it is rarely seen). Some seasons 

 it would be about after the winter's pupation, in the week I 

 am writing, but the temperature has given it a check. This is 

 the Waved Umber (Hemerophila abruptaria). In the day- 

 time it sits upon walls and palings, where it easily escapes 

 notice when the latter assimOates to its own colour ; and even 

 upon a tarred paling it deceives the eye sometimes, as it rests 

 with expanded wings, looking like a withered leaf which has 

 been fastened there by some spider. The wings are beautifully 

 varied with lines and tints of brown, in some specimens of a 

 much deeper hue than in others ; but the most conspicuous 

 markings are central dots on the forewings, with a long deep 

 brown patch, bounded by a waved black line ; the hindwings, 

 which have scolloped margins, show also a broad dark baud, 

 edged by black on one side, and fading into light brown on the 

 other. The males may be at once distinguished from the 

 females by their feathered antenna;. Of course these moths 

 must be on the wing at some hour in the evening, but I have 

 never caught one flying. 



Occasionally there is a second emergence of this moth in 

 August, owing to the rapid feeding-up of the summer cater- 

 pillars ; this rarely occurs in the \'iciuity of London, however. 

 The ordinary course is that the caterpillars hatch-out in June 

 or July, feeding in gardens upon the Lilac, and less frequently 

 upon the Rose, but never iu such a number as to be in any 

 degree injurious. They will also eat leaves of other plants, as 

 the White Thorn and Black Thorn. These are of aduUbrowu 

 colour, and " loop " in walking ; in the day the}' are frequently 

 at rest on twigs. Mr. HelUns says that when first hatched 

 tiiey have a purple stripe on the back, which disappears at the 

 first change of skin. When they have passed the last change 

 of skin they exhibit a white ring behind the head, which is 

 very conspicuous. Newman states that the adult caterpillar 

 " spins a silken cocoon on the twigs just behind the point 

 where two twigs separate." I have not seen the cocoon thus 

 placed, and in a state of captivity the caterpillar usually forms 

 a cocoon on the surface of the earth. The Small-waved 

 Umber (Phibalapteryx vitalbata) has a superficial resemblance 

 to the preceding, though less in size. It is not of general 

 occurrence in gardens, though a straggler may occasionally fly 

 in. This caterpillar is a feeder on the " Traveller's Joy " 

 (Clematis Vitalba).— J. R. S. C. 



hke of which has not been heretofore seen in the West of 

 England. The exhibition, which will be held on the Wednes- 

 day evening (June 25th|, will be devoted to the illustration of 

 the growth, structure, and products of plants, and to the 

 animal pests affecting the vegetable world.— (/><(( /i Express 

 and County Herald.) 



EoYAi. HoHTicuLTURix SociETi's Bath Show. — We under- 

 stand that apphcation has been made by one firm in the 

 neighbourhood for three thousand tickets, which will be dis- 

 tributed among the employees. Mr. Eyles has been again 

 busily engaged allotting the space for the tents and machinery, 

 the re-arrangement of which was rendered necessary by the 

 large number of entries. In the principal tent a quantity of 

 perforated stones obtained from Claverton Down has been 

 artistically grouped so as to form a grotto and cascade. It is 

 intended to adorn this ornamental erection with Ferns, and 

 ■when finished it is likely to prove one of the " lions " of the 

 Show. We are glad to hear that the soiree of the Microscopical 

 Society will be one of the special elements of attraction during 

 the week. The Bath and Bristol Associations have united for 

 the occasion, and as a result of the exertions of the combined 

 bodies, we are promised such a collection of microscopes the 



KOYAL BOTANIC SOCIETI'S SHOW. 



June 11th axd 12th. 



The second summer Show of this Society opened yesterday, 

 aud in the florioultural department is good, though perhaps 

 thinner than usual. The exhibition of fruit, however, is meagre 

 in the extreme. The weather on the first day was favourable ; 

 and as Messrs. Lane's Rhododendrons were in full bloom, the 

 Exhibition, taken as a whole, was so far an enjoyable one. 



In stove and greenhouse plants Mr. Barnes, gardener to H. 

 MichoUs, Esq., Southgate, as usual takes the lead with magni- 

 ficent specimens, which have nearly all been noticed in the 

 reports of previous shows. He is first for twelve, Mr. Ward 

 bemg second, and Mr. J. Wheeler, gardener to J. Phillpott, Esq., 

 Stamford Hill, third, and is aUo first for six, with Mr. J. 

 Wheeler second, aud Mr. Kemp, gardener to the Duke of North- 

 umberland, Albury Park, third. In the nurserymen's class 

 Messrs. Jackson & Son, of Kingston, Mr. Morse, Epsom, and 

 Mr. WiUiams are prizetakers with excellent collections. For 

 twelve in 12-inch pots Mr. Wai-d and Mr. Morse take the fore- 

 most positions. 



Of Orchids there is a very good show, and the specimens are 

 well flowered. Mr. Ward, iu the amateurs' class for twelve, has 

 fine specimens of MasdevaUia Harryaua, Odontoglossum Alex- 

 andra, Cypripedium viUosum, and Phalieuopsis grandiflora; 

 while Mr. Cuthbert, gardener to Mrs. Adams, Enfield, and Mr. G. 

 Wheeler take the remaining prizes. Mr. Ward is again first for 

 six. In the nurserymen's classes Messrs. WiUiams, BuU, Morse, 

 and Jackson & Son have excellent examples of Aerides Lobbii, 

 Thunia Bensoniaj, and Thunia alba, Miltonia festiva, Anguloa 

 Clowesii, and Cypripediums. C. caudatuni from Mr. WilUams 

 has eighteen flowers, besides five unexpanded. 



Of Koses in pots we only noticed one group, a fine one from 

 Messrs. Paul A- Son ; but passing to Show Pelargoniums, Mr. 

 Nye, gardener to E. Foster, Esq., Clewer Manor, fairly disposed 

 of ah lamentations as to the decline in the quaUty of the speci- 

 mens of this flower, by showing plants fully 4 i feet, some of 

 them we should think more nearly .5 feet, in diameter, and 

 bloomed to perfection. Fair Rosamond, Shakspeare, Desde- 

 mona, and MdUe. Patti are the largest, but closely pressing on 

 them come Lord Clyde, Woman in White, Alabama, Elegans, 

 and Rob Boy. When we add that Mr. Ward is second, the ex- 

 cellence of the first nine will be the better appreciated. Nestor, 

 Lord Clyde, and Bob Boy, as shown in his collection, are won- 

 derfully fine. Mr. James and Messrs. Dobson, of Isleworth, 

 take the remaining honours ; whilst for six, as also for the same 

 number of Fancies, Mr. Weir and Mr. James take the lead. 



Heaths, Palms, fine-fohaged plants, and Ferns are very well 

 represented, Mr. Baines, among others, showing a fine Sarra- 

 cenia purpurea. Both Mr. Parker, of Tooting, and Mr. Ware, 

 have charming groups of hardy herbaceous plants, as well as cut 

 flowers of these. Mr. W. Paul exhibits Tricolor and other 

 Geraniums trained as low standards, and among them lanthe is 

 very conspicuous by the fine colour of its flowers, aud the free- 

 dorn with which they are produced. He also exhibits baskets of 

 Variegated aud Tricolor kinds. Among cut flowers, stands of 

 splendid blooms of Marechal Niel Bose come from R. Webb, 

 Esq., of Reading, and stands of mixed kinds from J. HoUing- 

 worth, Esq., Turkey Mills, Maidstone, and Mr. Chard, Claren- 

 don Park, Salisbury. Mr. Hooper, of Bath, has fine stands of 

 Pansies — Show, Fancy, and Bedding, also Ranunculuses. Messrs. 

 Jackman & Son, of Clematises, and Mr. Pestridge, of Uibridge, 

 along with a remarkably fine group of Tricolor Pelargoniums, 

 exhibits a rich-coloured highly-scented Clove Carnation. Mr. 

 Parker, of Tooting, has a collection of cut flowers of German 

 Irises and Pyrethrums ; whilst Mr. A. Forsyth, of Stoke Newing- 

 ton, exhibits a stand of Chrysanthemums, which in June are 

 certainly unexpected visitants. 



Large groups of new plants are exhibited by Messrs. Veitch, 

 Mr. Bull, Messrs. RoUisson, Messrs. E. G. Henderson, and Mr. 

 WiUiams, also one of succulents by Mr. Croucher, gardener to 

 J. T. Peacock, Esq., Hammersmith. The certificates granted 

 for these were very numerous, and we cannot pretend to giva 

 anything hke a complete list of them. Messrs. EoUisson had 

 certificates for iEchmea bracteata and Gloxinia Brilliant, the 

 latter answering well to its name, having magenta-flushed 

 crimson lobes. In Messrs. Veitch's group (in which was the 

 rarely-seen Fremontia californica, and along with it stands 

 of Clematises), AraUa elegans, Adiantum speciosum, and Cypri- 

 pedium Stonei platytsemum were certificated ; in Mr. Bull's, 

 Draca;na amcena, Cyathea Burkei, Cycas imperialis, Odonto- 



