460 



JOUENAL OF HOBTICHLTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



I Jnse 15, 1818^ 



felt, who details various prognoatica connectsd by the northern 

 peasantry with these moving masses of larvie. They may 

 journey thus for food as suggested, or to seek a suitable locality 

 for their metamorphosis, Nature perhaps exciting them to 

 wander lest one district should be over-populated with them. 

 The flies rarely travel any great distance. By their united 

 action the larvfe of the Tipulas gain two benefits in these 

 journeys — they help each other along, and they retain by so 

 grouping themselves the moisture that is essential to their 

 life, which would otherwise be dissipated by the sun and air. 

 Guerin-Melville declares that he has seen columns of larvaa 

 about 30 yards in length, and as broad as the hand ; allowing 

 for some exaggeration in this statement, still the numbers 

 congregated in these columns must amount to millions. Though 

 such migrations do not occur in the history of our British 

 T. oleracea, it is very observable for its fluctuations — that is to 

 Bay, in certain seasons there will be comparatively but a few 

 larvfe and flies, in others they will swarm. It is probable that 

 unfavourable weather just as the flies emerge does in some 

 summers destroy thousands of the flies ere they deposit their 

 eggs, or kill the young larvas. Recent speculations on the sub- 

 ject have been put forward, to the effect that the diminution in 

 the number of several species of our birds, eEpecially such as 

 the lark and the blackbird, has had to do with the increase of 

 TipnliE, but the evidence on this point is not conclusive. 

 According to the Eev. J. G. Wood, however, the rook and the 

 starling are particularly hostile to these larviB, and it does not 

 appear that there has been any remarkable onslaught upon 

 these species in the vicinity of the metropolis. 



By many gardeners the larvffi of the various Tipula; are 

 classed vaguely under the general head of wireworms. The 

 term properly belongs to the larva of the Elaters, insects of the 

 beetle race, easily distinguished by their endowment of lege, 

 which are not possessed by the Tipulfe. It is obvious, there- 

 fore, that though frequenters of the turf, the larva? cannot be 

 accused of being " black legs ;" black-headed several species 

 are, and that portion of their bodies is hard and muscular, 

 enabling them to carry on subterranean operations. Since all 

 the TipnlsB are not grass-eaters, but some devour the roots of 

 Potatoes, Beans, and Brassicaceous plants, every horticulturist 

 is interested in knowing what is best to do in order to check 

 their increase. Of course the larvis may be sought for and 

 destroyed, though the process is tedious, and the mischief is 

 well nigh over usually ere this hand-picking can be put into 

 operation. Killing the fly has been strongly advised, and not 

 only may they be knocked down when on the wing, being feeble 

 flies, but as the females have difficulty in disengaging them- 

 selves from their cocoons when they emerge, many may be 

 " settled " by choosing the right time, and drawing a rake to 

 and fro in the grass. — J. E. S. C. 



NOVELTIES IN THE KOYAL GARDENS, KEW. 

 As one of the nearest centres of attraction we may con- 

 veniently commence with the Orchids, where there are many 

 good plants to repay inspection. Foremost, from a decorative 

 point, are the several splendid and distinct varieties of Cattleja 

 Mossias, which yearly produce a grand display. These are 

 accompanied by C. Turueri. Trichopilia albida deserves 

 attention, not only for the beauty of its flowers but also for 

 the sweetness and strength of their fragrance. The grotesque 

 flowers of Brassia verrucosa at once strike the attention, and 

 of green-flowered Orchids .it is perhaps the most ornamental. 

 The sepals and petals are extremely narrow, and the two lower 

 sepals approach a length of 5 inches ; the lip is nearly white, 

 and spotted with dark green. Among the Vandas are V. tri- 

 color, V. suavis, and V. insignis, all with flowers of good size, 

 to which must be added V. lamellata.a species less ornamental, 

 but of free-flowering propensity. The flowers are pretty, though 

 curiously coloured with dull red and green. It is here well 

 established on a block. Phalsenopsis Liiddemanniana we 

 think the most prettily coloured of that beautiful genus. A 

 good plant is in flower, with also P. rosea, P. grandiflora, and 

 P. cornu-oervi, chiefly to be admired as a curiosity. The 

 Aerides are represented by A. falcatum and A. aiBne var. roaeo- 

 Buperbum. Broughtonia sanguinea is one of the very few 

 crimson-flowered Orchids, and very rarely is any other of the 

 same colour in bloom. It is considered difficult to grow ; but 

 if there is suflicient heat and moisture it usually repudiates its 

 character of growing less. Dendrobium Devonianum is the 

 finest of the genus now in flower. I), sanguineolentum is 

 the next in beauty of colour, though surpassed in form by 



D. tortile and D. Pierardi. There is also the somewhat curious 

 D. aduncum. Caslogyne oohracea is extremely pretty and 

 sweetly scented. It can perhaps be seen only at Kew and in 

 one or two other collections. The flowers are pure white, save 

 the lip, on which there are pale yellow blotches edged with 

 a distinct margin of orange. They are nearly 2 inches in 

 diameter, and are produced about eight on a stem. Oncidium 

 pulchellum is the prettiest species now in flower ; and of the 

 OdontogloBBums 0. Alexandra;. Just now there is nothing as 

 a curiosity to surpass Poljcjcnis muscifera, which exhibits a 

 long pendulous spike of fly-like flowers. The Cypripedium 

 collection is rarely without one or more choice members in 

 flower. C. Argus, of recent introduction, is a welcome addition 

 on account of its conspicuous spots, which render it one of the 

 most ornamental. There is also in flower the interesting and 

 free-flowering hybrid C. Dominii, with C. Hookers) and several 

 others. 



The Eockwork is very attractive from the number of brightly 

 coloured alpines in flower. Senecio Fendleri is a new Bpecie& 

 recently introduced, and has small silvery leaves, just as in 

 S. argenteus, which it about equals in height. It is a native 

 of North Mexico. Saxifraga Maweana, introduced by the 

 gentleman after whom it is named, from Morocco some time 

 ago, is one of the most effective in (lower. It grows from C to 

 8 inches in height, and flowers profusely, the individual blooms 

 being larger than any other we remember. The leaves are 

 succulent, and while green as the others of the tufted section., 

 are unlike the rest from being either entirely red or margined 

 with that colour when in an exposed position. Phlox setacea 

 var. violacea is one of the most effective plants, and as it 

 cannot be common should have attention drawn to it, for it 

 seems a good plant for spring gardening. It is much in the 

 way of P. frondosa, but the flowers are more brilliant and 

 apparently m®re deeply coloured. Aubtietia Hendersoni is 

 also a good plant of popular character. The flowers are larger 

 and darker in colour than any other. Cheiranthus Marshall! 

 is in great beauty, and from the slowness of its increase does 

 not seem likely to be common. j-Ethionema jucundum is one 

 of the smallest of the choice alpines, and is now in good con- 

 dition. To the above may be added Primula luteola and Ra- 

 mondia pyrenaica as being rare and choice. Primula japonica, 

 Lithospermum prostratum, and several of the Dodecatheons 

 may be referred to as being highly ornamental. 



In the Conservatory is a new and very fine Boronia (B. ela- 

 tior) contributed by the Messrs. Veitch. While B. megastigma 

 is the most mournful in colour, this is certainly the brightest. 

 It is rather erect in habit ; the leaves are pirmate, with narrow 

 segments, and the flowers magenta. 



Napoleona imperialis, which we have before described, is 

 flowering freely. The flowers, though many times less in size, 

 are very suggestive of Eafllesia Arnoldi, the largest flowers 

 known, and which constitutes almost the entire plant, being 

 without either stem or leaves. It is a parasite on some of the 

 Vine order growing in Sumatra. 



Syringa Emodi is an old but rare shrub, of which a few 

 examples are very efl'ective near the Herbaceous Ground. It 

 has a handsome and distinct habit, standing boldly among 

 other things when out of flower. The stems are all warted, 

 and grow nearly erect ; the leaves are oblong, and 6 or 7 inches 

 in length. The panicles of pure white flowers are of con- 

 siderable size, having a height of about 7 inches. 



Fremontia californiea is becoming a fine object from tha 

 number and size of its flowers. This plant is on the wall. 

 The display of hardy Ehododendrons this year is magnificent. 

 The Azaleas also are in gorgeous condition. 



SYRINGING. 



Me. Abbey has written very fully on this subject, and also 

 strongly, so strongly that one might suppose that he had 

 banished the syringe from the garden under his charge. Like 

 Mr. Abbey I have not found regular syringings necessary to 

 keep the foliage of Vines clean and healthy, yet I value the 

 syringe and garden engine as amongst the most important of 

 garden requisites. 



Mr. Abbey takes Nature as his guide (he cannot have a 

 better teacher), and suggests that if water were necessary for 

 the under sides of the leaves of plants and trees that these 

 sides would not have been sheltered from the rain. I do not 

 quite see the force of that suggestion. Some flowers are erect 

 and others pendant, but I am not prepared to say that that is 

 because one Lily requires to have water in its cup while the 



