The Canadian Horticulturist. 371 



New Hybrid Plum. 



OTT. Sir, — I send you six samples of a new hybrid plum and would like to know 

 your opinion of them. The tree appears to be hardy and a great bearer. 



R. Troiter, Owen Sound, Ont. 



These plums are a fine sample of prune and seem to be worthy of careful 

 testing. We have shown Mr. S. D. Willard, of Geneva, N. Y., some samples, 

 and he says that from the appearance of the fruit he would regard the plum 

 with great favor, but of course there are so many other points to be considered 

 as regarding habits of growth, etc , that it seems premature to give any decided 

 opinion. 



Mr. George Cline, of Winona, thinks the plum v/ould be a valuable one 

 for the grower, possibly rivalling the Grand Duke, because the quality is good 

 and the size, color, shipping qualities and season of ripening are all that can 

 be desired. The great question is, whether the tree is a good grower, with 

 strong foliage and a heavy bearer. 



Three Insects Described. 



6'y§. Sir, — Can you give me any information respecting the three insects describeil 

 below. 



1st. A beetle, or rather bug (judging from the scent-bottle which he carries) appears 

 on red currant bush about when the berries are forming. He is then dark grey in color 

 and soon turns to dark green. V'ery nimble. I blame him for nipping off the berries. A 

 little over i inch long and say ^ across the shoulders. Shield shaped. 



2nd. This succeeds the former, making appearance about the end of July, but is per- 

 fectly oval in shape, with a fine line of pink round the entire oval back, and somewhat 

 smaller in size. Disappeared after two or three days. 



3rd. A very beautiful little moth or butterfly, makes its appearance when the lilacs 

 are in bloom. Easily mistaken at a little distance for a small Humniing Bird from its 

 flight and poise on the wing while dipping its bill into the flower. Body from 1^ to U 

 inches in length, with a flat fish tail tripartite ; has two bars of bright yellow on the lower 

 part of the back, the rest of the body a beautiful bright brown. Appear only when the 

 lilacs are in bloom, in considerable numbers, and when the flowers die they disappear. 

 If you can tell me where to get information about these insects I shall feel much oldiged. 



John J. Watson, Rockingham. 



Reply by Prof. James Fletcher. 



In the absence of specimens I cannot, of course, be certain, but from the 

 drawing and description I should judge that they are as follows: — No. i., a 

 plant bug found on red currant bushes. This I think must have been the 

 Placid Soldier bug {Podisus Placidus) a well known enemy of the Currant Saw 

 fiy larvae. It is sometimes very useful in destroying this injurious caterpiller. 

 It is not in the least likely to have been the insect which bit off the berries as 

 it has no jaws with which to do this work. 



No. 2, it seems to me, from the description, may be the Green Cedar 

 plant bug {Penatoma juniperitia), but we here generally find it on cedar trees. 



