An Encyclopedia of Horticulture. 



03 



Ambrosinia — continued. 

 A. Bassii (Bass's).* ^., spathes prolonj;etl into a long tail, and a 

 ttm;4ue-shapetl spadix, with the male ilowers on one side, and so 

 placed as tu preclude the access of pollen to the stigma on the 

 other side of tlie spathe, save by insect agency. I. oblong, 

 stalked, h. 4in. Corsica, Sardinia, 18/9. 



AMBURT, or ANBTTBT. The name given to galls 

 of small Weevils {Criitliufhijnchug tmlcicollis) which 

 appear on the roots of Cabbages and Turnips, as well 

 as of tlie Wild Mustard, and of other weeds belonging 

 to the gonus Brassica. The galls form swellings indi- 

 vidually about the size of split poas. but often two or 

 more are joined to form considerable masses. In each is 

 a space inc'osing a white grub. Anbury is usually not 

 very hurtful. It is quite di.stinot from Clulibing. The 

 galled roots should be collected, before the grubs emerge, 

 and burned. 



AMEIiANCHIEB (Savoy name of the Medlar, to 

 which this genus is closely allied). Tribe Pomacece 

 of Ord. Rouireai. Hardy, deciduous shrubs or small 

 trees, with racemes of white flowers, and simple, serrated 

 leaves ; bracteas linear-lanceolate. Pome, when mature, 

 three to five-celled. They are of easy cultivation, in 

 a somewhat rich, loamy soil, and are propagated by 

 layers or cuttings, in autumn, in sheltered situations ; by 

 seeds, and by grafting, in early spring, on the Hawthorn or 

 the Quince, or the weaker on the stronger-growing species. 



A. canadensis (Canadian).* Grape Pear. ,//. white. April. Pome 

 purple. /. ohl<)ni;-i'lliptic, cuspidate, when young riither villous, 

 but at lengtli uliibrous. h. 6ft. to 8ft. Canada. 1745. A very 

 ornamental tret-, havin;; a profusion of Howers in early spring, 

 and rich autuniual foliage. Sv.N. Pyrus Lutryaplinn. 



A. c, florida (Howery).* Jl. white, numevi)us, in upright racemes. 

 .May. Home purple. L oliKin^;, obtuse at both ends, coarsely serrate 

 in the tcrniinal portion, glabrous in every state, h. 10ft. to 20ft. 

 North America, 1826. 



A. c. ovalis (oval-leaved). Jl. white ; racemes pressed together. 

 April. /. roundish-ellii>tic, acute when rather young, velvety 

 beneath, glabrous when mature, h. 6ft. to 8ft. North America, 

 1800. 



A. c. parvlfoUa (small-leaved). This has a dwarfer habit, and 

 shorter leaves, than the type. 



A. Bangulnea (bloody). Jl. white; racemes capitate. April. 

 Pome lilackish-purple. I. oblong, rounded at both ends, sharply 

 serrated, alw<iys naked. /(. 4ft. to 8ft. North America, 1800. 

 This form differs principally from A. canadensis in the fewer 

 flowers, m\ich shorter raceme, and shorter, broader, and more 

 ovate petals. 



A. vulgaris (common).* Jl. white. April. Pome darkish-purple. 

 l. romulish-oval, bluntish, pubescent beneath, at length glabrous. 

 h. 3ft. to 9ft. Europe, 1596. A desirable shrub, producing an 

 aViundance of flowers. Sv.^f. Mespilus Ainelanchier. 



AMEIalinS (a name employed by Virgil for a blue, 

 Aster-looking plant growing on the banks of the river 

 Mella). Ord. Comimsitm. Pretty, branched, ascending 

 or diffuse, perennial herbs. Flowers in solitary heads. 

 Leaves hairy, lower ones opposite, upper alternate. Of 

 very easy culture, in ordinary garden soil. Increased by 

 divisions, or cuttings, inserted under glass, in spring. 



A. Lychnitis (Lychnitis). jl. -heads violet, solitary, terminal, and 

 lateral. .Tune. /. linear, lanceolate, entire, hoary. A. 6in. Cape 

 of Good Hope. Evergreen, greenhouse trailer. 



AMENTUM. A catkin. A deciduous spike of unisexual, 

 apetalous flowers 



AMERICAN ALMOND. See Brabejum. 



AMERICAN ALOE, sv, Agave americana. 



AMERICAN BLIGHT, or WOOLLY APHIS 



{Schizoneura lanuginosa). The white, cottony-looking mat- 

 ter which is found upon the bark of the Apple and other 

 trees of a similar nature, belongs to a species of Aphis, 

 which has short legs : the females are wingless, while 

 the males are winged ; the latter appear in July and 

 August. The insects belong to a group of Aphides un- 

 provided with honey tubes on the hinder part of the body, 

 and in which the third vein of the front wing shows 

 only one fork The woolly coating also distinguishes them 

 from true Aphides The Blight is said to have been im- 

 ported from America in 17»7, but this is uncertain. 

 As these insects get into the cracks and under the bark 



American Blii^I^t, or Woolly Aphis — continued. 

 of trees, they are hard to dislodge. The injury inflicted is 

 not apparent for some time ; but, in process of time, large, 

 cankerous wounds are produced, which gradually (with the 

 aid of the insects) destroy the branches, and render the 

 tree useless. If young trees are attacked, they are ren- 

 dered valueless in a very short time The insects hide 

 in crevices of the bark of the trees each autumn, and 

 remain dormant during the winter, ascending to their old 

 quarters as the weather becomes warm. Trees which are 

 covered with moss and lichens probably serve as places 

 for hybernation ; hence, it is desirable to remove such 

 hiding-places, as well as all pieces of dead bark. To their 

 being left may be frequently attributed the severe attacks 

 of Blight experienced where they exist on trees. So soon 

 as the cottony substance makes its appearance, one of the 

 following remedies should be applied, and, if persisted in 

 for a few seasons, the trees will be quite cleared. 



Brusliing and Scraping. In winter, the trees should 

 be thoroughly cleaned ; and, so long as there is a chance 

 of the insects being in the bark, all loose pieces, moss, 

 itc, should be brushed off, and the parts aft'ected should 

 be thoroughly saturated with a strong solution of soft soap 

 or of soft soap and lime-water, applied with a stiff brush, 

 so as to enter all the crevices. 



Gas Liquor. This is the ammoniacal liquor from gas 

 works. It must be diluted with from eiglit to twelve 

 times its bulk of water, or it is dangerous to the trees ; 

 in fact, after dilution, it is advisable to test it, previous 

 to using to any great extent. As the woolly covering 

 of the insects resists water, it is desirable that the liquor 

 be applied with a brush, and forced amongst the Blight. 



Infusion of Tobacco Leaves (Jib. to 1 gallon) kills the 

 insects on shoots dipped into it. 



Paraffin or Petroleum. This is a simple and useful 

 remedy. Obtain a painter's half-worn sash-tool, free 

 from paint, and just moisten it in the oil. Then brush 

 out each infested place as often as the Blight appears, 

 and in one season the trees will be cleared. 



Spent Tan. Collect spent tan into a heap a month or 

 two before it is to be used, and if it has heated well and 

 rotted, so much the better. In winter, clear away all 

 leaves, rubbish, grass, &c.. and spread the tan at the rate 

 of about thirty loads to the acre, taking care that it 

 surrounds the base of each tree infested with Blight. 

 Practical proof of its utility has been given. 



Turpentine and other Spirits. The mode of applying 

 these is the same as for paraffin, but they frequently injure 

 the bark, and sometimes kill young trees. 



To kill insects on the roots, it is well to clear away 

 the soil as far as possible from them, and to saturate 

 the place with soapsuds or ammoniacal solutions ; soot, 

 quicklime, or other applications to the soil would also 

 prove useful. 



Other remedies that have been suggested are the drain- 

 ings of stables, and grafting-clay plastered over the bark. 



AMERICAN CENTAURY. See Sabbatia. 



AMERICAN CHINA ROOT. See Smilax. 



AMERICAN COWSLIP. See Dodccatheon. 



AMERICAN CRANBERRY. See Oxycocctis 

 macrocarpus. 



AMERICAN CRESS. See Barbarea. 



AMERICAN DEWBERRY. See Rubus cana- 

 densis. 



AMERICAN GOOSEBERRY. See Pereskia 

 aculeata. 



AMERICAN GREAT LAUREL. See Rhodo- 

 dendron maximum. 



AMERICAN HIGH BLACKBERRY. A com- 

 mon name for Rubus villosus (which see). 



AMERICAN MANDRAKE. See Podophyllum 

 peltatum. 



