30 THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Agriotes—continued. 
shall feed, or else in the plants themselves, towards the 
base. The larve live a long time as grubs, three to 
even five years. Finally, they become yellowish-white 
pupe in cells of soil. See Fig. 84. See Wireworms. 
AGRIPHYLLUM. A synonym of Berkheya 
(which see). 
AGROPYRUM. A genus of Grasses, comprising one 
or two British species. See Triticum. 
AGROSTEMMA. Bentham and Hooker include 
this genus under Lyychnis (which sce), the specific names 
remaining unchanged. ‘To the species described on p. 43, 
Vol. I., the following should be added: 
A. Walkeri (Walker's). jl. richly coloured, compact, and very 
freely produced. 1890. A garden hybrid between A. coronaria 
and A. jlos-Jovos. 
AGROSTICULA. A 
(which see). 
AGROSTIS. Syn. Vilfa (of Adanson). Nearly a 
hundred species are embraced in this genus; they are 
broadly dispersed over the globe, but are mostly found in 
North temperate regions. See also Sporobolus. 
A, algeriensis (Algiers). A garden synonym of Aira capillaris. 
A. capillaris (hair-like), of gardens. A synonym of A. nebulosa. 
A. capillaris, of Thore. A synonym of A. elegans. 
A. Spica-venti. The correct name is Apera Spica-venti. 
AGROTIS. A very large genus of moths, several of 
whose Caterpillars are amongst the most destructive of 
garden insects. ‘The chief depredators, however, are 
A. segetum, or Turnip Moth, and A. eaclamationis, the 
Heart and Dart Moth. In this country the larve are 
amongst those popularly known as Surface Caterpillars, 
because of their habit of feeding just beneath the surface 
of the soil. In America some near allies are known as 
Cutworms, and are, if anything, more destructive than 
their English relatives. The latter popular name is a very 
appropriate one, and is in allusion to the insects’ habits 
of severing the stems of their food-plants. All the mem- 
bers of the f-mily seem practically omnivorous, and by 
reason of their very accommodating tastes they are most 
objectionable visitors to flower-gardens, market-gardens, 
and agricultural lands. The Moths are on the wing in 
summer, and the eggs are deposited on the leaves of the 
plants on which they have elected to feed, but close to 
the ground. As stated in Vol. III., the larve of the two 
species are very difficult to distinguish. The chief point 
of distinction, however, lies, according to Buckler, in the 
fact that in A. eaclamationis the black spiracles are 
always larger than the spots before and behind them; 
while upon each of the first five segments there is a pear- 
shaped blotch which is rather darker than the body- 
colour. Again, if carefully examined, it will be seen 
that the larvie of A. eaclamationis are darker than those 
of the other species. 
Less destructive than the two species already noted 
are A. suffusa (A. ypsilon) and A. nigricans. In America 
the former is a great pest in certain seasons, the Cabbage 
and Tomato crops being the chief sufferers. Here it chiefly 
lives upon such coarse weeds as Plaintain, Cow Parsley, 
and the like; but like its congener already named it is not 
very fastidious in its tastes. Im wing expanse it is about 
lhin., blackish as to fore-wings, relieved by a slight tinge 
of red, with blackish spots and dots; the hind-wings are 
greyish-white. The larva is brown, with a paler stripe 
at the sides; it feeds from April to June, the perfect insect 
appearing in July and August. A. suffusa is a slightly 
larger insect, having brown and yellowish fore-wings, with 
black outlined spots and other black markings; the hind- 
wings are greyish. The larva is yellowish-brown, with 
light greenish sides, and feeds from May to July. 
Turnips, swedes, and mangels are often badly attacked ; 
and, less often, celery, potatoes, carrots, beet, cabbage, 
radishes, and lettuce; while the roots of corn and grass are 
synonym of Sporobolus 
Agrotis — continued. 
also laid under contribution by these pests. Auriculas, 
Polyanthuses, Asters, and herbaceous plants generally are 
frequently quite spoilt by the caterpillars, though the 
insects actually responsible for the mischief seldom get the 
credit. 
Soot which has not been exposed has been found of great 
benefit for dusting round infested plants. Kainit has also 
been successfully employed. The object of the cultivator 
should be to get the plants to grow quickly; and this 
may be done by the judicious employment of artificial 
manures suitable to the particular crop. Nitrate of soda 
is most useful in the case of mangels. The hoe should be 
frequently employed, as this stirring of the soil exposes 
the larve (which, as a rule, feed some 2in. or 3in. 
beneath the soil) or their pups to the eyes of insecti- 
vorous birds, some of the most useful of which are the 
much-abused rook and its relative the starling, par- 
tridges, and plovers. In the case of gardens the use of 
an illuminated Moth trap (as employed by collectors) 
might be tried with success on summer evenings, as the 
Moths are readily attracted by light. If this trap were 
set early in the summer, doubtless many females would 
be captured before they had a chance of depositing their 
eggs. A powerful lamp, such as an electrie or acetylene, 
would be equally useful. The time at which each species 
is found upon the wing would have to be taken into 
account, as A. segetwm and A. exclamationis are earlier 
Moths than the other two mentioned. See also Surface 
Caterpillars and Turnip Fly. The Moths are 
seldom seen in the daytime, as they are so well pro- 
tected by their colouring. 
AGYLOPHORA. A synonym of Uncaria (which 
see). 
AILANTHUS [not Ailantus]. Four species of 
somewhat foetid, tall trees, natives of India, China, and 
Australia, are included in this genus. Flowers small, 
polygamous, on bracteolate pedicels; calyx short, five- 
lobed; petals five, spreading; disk ten-lobed, panicles 
terminal, branched. Samare rather large. Leaves alter- 
nate, imparipinnate ; leaflets alternate. 
A. erythrocarpa (red-fruited). A form of A. glandulosa, with 
fruits more brightly coloured than usual. 
A. flavescens (yellowish). A synonym of Cedrela sinensis. 
AIPHANES. A synonym of Martinezia (which 
see). 
ATIRA. Syn. Fussia. Four or five species, all 
European, are included in this genus. To those described 
on p. 44, Vol. I., the following should be added. 
Several plants formerly placed hereunder are now referred 
to Deschampsia (which see). 
A. capillaris (thread-like). This plant possesses all the general 
characters of A, pulchella, but is of larger proportions, attaining 
a height of 14ft. under cultivation ; the branches of the panicle 
being long, irregular, and divaricate. It is very useful in the 
making-up of bouquets. Provence, &c. SyNs. A. provincialis 
(R. H. 1892, f. 21), Agrostis algeriensis (of gardens). 
A. provincialis (Provence). A synonym of 4A. capillaris. 
AIZOON. Orv. JFicoidex. This genus embraces 
about eight species, natives of South Europe, North and 
South Africa, Arabia, Australia, &e. 
A. canariensis. A synonym of Seswviwm Portulacastrum. 
AJUGA. Including Chamepithys. The species of 
this genus number about thirty, and are distributed over 
extra-tropical regions. To those described on p. 45, Vol. L., 
the following varieties should be added: 
A. reptans variegata (variegated). J. glaucous-green, with a 
broad, white edging. There are also purple-leaved and white- 
flowered forms of this species. 
AKEBIA. Tree Lardizabalee of Orv. Berberidex. 
Four species of climbing shrubs, natives of China and 
Japan, are referred to this genus. Flowers violet, monc- 
cious, in axillary, few-flowered racemes; sepals three, 
somewhat valvate; petals wanting. Leaves digitately 
