3G 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Jttly 9, 1874. 



we ehonld have perfect immunity from insects. If, on the 

 other hand, it were estabHshed that the honeydew is a secretion 

 of the plant following an attack of aphides, it would follow 

 that the removal of the ineects would restore the plants to 

 health and vigour. It is not, however, a secretion of the plant, 

 but an excretion of insects, which feed on the under surface — 

 the breathing-pores side of the leaves — sucking out the life- 

 blood of the plant, and covering the upper surface with honey- 

 dew, a fluid which on thickening completely prevents the action 

 of light, &c. Hence growth of the part attacked is impeded 

 or arrested ; immature ripening of the wood results, and the 

 crop of flowers or fruit is rendered imperfect. We thus arrive 

 at an estimate of the damaging effect of attacks of insects on 

 vegetable growth, and become convinced of the necessity of 

 freeing plants of them with the least possible loss of time. 

 Infects derive their support from the plant and leave a deposit. 

 That of the aphis and coccus is a gummy sweet fluid — honey- 

 dew. The tiny red spider and thrips leave dots which, whil-i 

 the insects feed on the juices of the plant, ultimately result iu 

 a fungoid growth and consequent disorganisation of tissue. 



The cause of insect attacks is probably the result of some 

 law of nature to meet the demand that will be made by 

 other of Nature's creatures, the feathered tribe, which in a dry 

 and sunny season breed immensely, and then require a greater 

 quantity of succulent insect food than in a wet and sunless 

 season. Bo that as it may ; the fact remains, that when insects 

 are unusually prevalent their great enemies appear more than 

 ordinarily plentiful, and are uncommonly active. Their great 

 enemies are the birds. There are few, it any, birds that do 

 not feed their young with insects — few birds but what are more 

 or less insectivorous — none, so far as I have experience, that 

 do not at one or more periods of the year destroy an immense 

 number of insects : hence their value to the gardener in keep- 

 ing the insects (small and comparatively insignificant creatures 

 individually, but in innumerable hosts) from so exerting them- 

 selves on vegetable life that the garden would be turned into 

 a wilderness, and the field into a desert. The baknce of 

 power as regards the insect and vegetable kingdoms appears 

 to rest with the birds. They have after suffering much, and 

 it is to be feared unknown persecution, been protected by law, 

 an amendment to a previous Act of Parliament being intro- 

 duced during the present session. It may, therefore, appear 

 needless to point out the value of birds, they being recognised 

 as useful and deserving of preservation ; but their value is 

 nevertheless not sufHciently known and so ackuowledged as to 

 lead to their encouragement, which is very different to a law 

 passed to prevent their extinction. Of the various uses of 

 birds in a garden I propose hereafter to treat, and hope to 

 enlist such sympathy as to encourage their breeding. — 

 Q. Abbey. 



posed to the south-west. Mr. W. Wilson Saunders always 

 spoke of it with pleasure. When it was planted I cannot say, 

 but I have lived here since 1855, when it was of a good height. 

 It was planted, I presume, by Sir. Fojkitt, who formerly lived 

 here. — W. D. Paixe, Reigaie. 



EEMEDY FOR DAMP WALLS. 

 To equal parts of Portland cement and lime add a piece of 

 soft soap, then apply. On stone I have found this resist all 

 wet, BO much so that to put on a second coat is impossible. 

 — W. T. 



[I fear the application will not meet the case complained of 

 at page 487, vol. xxvi., for the wall was that of a brick-built 

 dwelling ; and whatever coating was put on outside ought to 

 be transparent, so as not to alter the character cf the building 

 in appearance, which I fear a mixture of cement and lime 

 would do, as it must give a colouring. I may mention that 

 soft soap was one of the ingredients with which a sort of rough 

 varnish was made for coating the wall several times twenty 

 years ago, without much effect. I forget now the mode in 

 which it was applied ; but I know some care was required to 

 prevent air-bubbles, and I think alum was also used in addition 

 to the soft soap. The composition was colourless, and did not 

 alter the appearance of the brickwork. Some glutinous or 

 resinous substance that would give body without colour and 

 resist the weather would probably answer, only it ought not 

 to be costly. Many glass structures requue shading during 

 extremely hot weather, and limewash and other materials now 

 used are capable of vast improvement. A useful transparent 

 wash for damp walls might give ug a hint to use it elsewhere. 



— J. KOBSOK.] 



Saliseckia ADiANTiroLiA. — I havs a fine specimen superior 

 to the one at Kew, that having lost one of its good branches. 

 Mine is between 20 and 30 feet in height, if indeed not near 

 to 40. My soil is socdy and dry, with a stctp fall, fully tx- 



EXCESS OF PEARS IN CANTERBURY, 

 NEW ZEALAND. 



AccoMPAN'YiN'G this brief notice is an illustration of a heavy- 

 loaded branch of the little Swan's-Egg Pear, grown in my 

 own garden, which branch should have been in an upright 

 position had it not been for the weight of eighty-four Pears 

 on it. Of this variety of Pear, its hardiness and adaptable- 

 ness for the changeable climate of this part of New Zealand 

 there needs no proof. — Willum Swale, Cliristchurch, Canter- 

 bun/, N.Z. 



[The photograph shows that tho Pdars were roped on the 

 branch as Onions are roped. — Eds. 



NOVELTIES IN THE ROYAL GARDENS, KEW. 



Is the stove Amorphophallus campanulatus, a very remark- 

 able Aroid, has now an inflorescence, which is indeed curious. 

 The club of the spadix is about 20 inches in circumference, and 

 deeply crumpled. It is dark purple iu colour, approaching to 

 black, with a few irregular yellow spots near the top. The 

 ppathe is beautifully spotted on the outside. When in flower 

 the odour exhaled is detestable. On another plant a gigantic 

 leaf is being developed ; it is now about 5 feet high, and when 

 the divisions spread will be strikingly ornamental. This 

 species is of medicinal importance in India, where it Is also 

 largely cultivated for food. The rootstock contains a large 

 quantity of starch. It is of the easiest cultivation, does best 

 in fibrous loam, and should be potted in April, or when indicat- 

 ing a desu'e to grow. While in active growth it requii-es 

 water freely, but which, as soon as the leaf turns yellow, must 

 be gradually withheld. It may be cultivated in an interme- 

 diate house. The inflorescence is rarely produced, except from 

 large imported rootstocks. 



Albuca minor in flower in the Cape house is very pretty, 

 though belonging to a genus usually without beauty. The 

 flowers are yellow, drooping, and borne on slender stems, the 

 glandular appearance of which adds to the elegance of the 

 plant. 



Among Orchids recently open are Thuuia alba, of graceful 

 habit, the leaves of which are glaucous, the flowers white, and 

 the lip marked with purple lines ; Stanhopea oculata, a plant 

 with seven spikes ; Dendrobium dixanthum, a beautiful yellow- 

 flowered species, easily cultivated ; Aerides odoratum ; Pro- 

 mensea stapelioides, interesting from the resemblance of the 

 flower to a Stapelia; and Dendrobium japonicum, the flowers 

 of which are white or pinkish white, and, though not of highly 

 ornamental character, is worth cultivation. 



In flower on the Eockwork are the following : — Spraguea 

 umbellata, a plant of much interest from California, which 

 though known for some time is not yet common. It may bo 

 treated as an annual or biennial. Sown early under glass it 

 will bloom the same year. If sown out of doors it should be 

 where tho mature plants are required ; although it will bear 

 transplanting, it is better without that operation. Lilium 

 canadense, " one of the first plants introduced to European 

 gardens from America." — (Mr. Baker.) Lilium Washingtoni- 

 anum, one of the most beautiful and distinct. The flowers are 

 white and delicately spotted with puiple. It may be known 

 from all the other funnel-flowered Lilies by its having the 

 leaves ananged in whorls. Allium McNabianum, a very pretty 

 species, recently figured under this name by Dr. Kegel. Sedum 

 sempervivoides, a plant now rare in cultivation, and often 

 searched for in vain ; S. altissimum is frequently sold for it. 

 It has a rosette of broad leaves, and produces pretty flesh- 

 coloured flowers. MlUa ixioides (Calliprora lutea) is a very 

 pretty Califoruiau bulb, having an umbel of numerous yellow 

 flowers. It prefers a peat soil. Hutchinsia alpina, a diminu- 

 tive Crucifer, with pure white flowers, has been in beauty for 

 a considerable time. It is a native of the Alps, where, we are 

 told, it is gathered and eaten as a salad. We can find no con- 

 firmation in books. It is still worth a trial, as it would com- 

 bine beauty with utilitj-. The flavour is precisely that of 

 Cress. Seed is sometimes offered as Smelowtkia alpina. 



In the hcrUceous ground Fuckia Sieboldiana is very orna- 



