AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



85 



Gooseberry or Magpie Moth continued. 

 near the middle a band of yellow, between two rows 

 of black spots. The colouring is, however, very vari- 

 able. In the male, the antennae are very slightly 

 feathered, while in the female they are thread-like. 

 The female deposits her eggs singly on the leaves of 

 Gooseberry or Black Currant bushes, generally towards 

 evening; and the fact that the eggs are so thoroughly 

 distributed by the moth, sufficiently explains, apart 

 from its mere fecundity, how the caterpillars are so 

 difficult to eradicate. The eggs soon hatch, and the 

 larvae feed for from two to three weeks, and then lie 

 secure within the folds of Gooseberry or Currant leaves, 

 and pass a sort of torpid state of existence. When the 



FIG. 126. GOOSEBERRY OR MAGPIE MOTH 



winter is past, the caterpillar emerges from its tem- 

 porary lodging, and again sets about the process of 

 eating. The grub, when full grown, is white and orange, 

 with some conspicuous black bands at each joint. The 

 chrysalis is of a black colour, having a few orange rings 

 round the segments of the body. The caterpillars of 

 this pretty moth are exceedingly destructive, and will 

 soon defoliate a very large space, especially if the trees 

 are on walls. Hand-picking is very practicable, the ca- 

 terpillars being conspicuous. Toads and birds will also 

 take them; but damage will be prevented by seasonable 

 precautions. For remedies, see Gooseberry and Cur- 

 rant Sawfly. 



GOOSE FOOT. A common name of Chenopodium 

 (which see). 



GORDONIA (named in honour of Alexander Gordon, a 

 nurseryman contemporary with Philip Miller). Including 

 Polyspora. ORD. TernstrcemiacecB. A genus comprising 

 ten species of greenhouse or hardy trees, natives of North 

 America, and of tropical and sub-tropical Asia. Flowers 

 often showy; peduncles solitary, one-flowered. Leaves 

 evergreen, entire or crenate. The hardy species are very 

 handsome, and deserve careful culture ; they thrive in a 

 moist peat, or leaf mould and sand. The greenhouse 

 species succeed in a similar compost, with ordinary treat- 

 ment. Propagated by layers, or by imported seeds. 

 G. anomala (anomalous).* fl. cream-coloured, sessile, solitary, 

 usually axillary. November. I. obovate-oblong, serrulated ; 

 upper ones entire, h. 3ft. Tropical and sub-tropical Asia, 1816. 

 Greenhouse. (B. M. 4019, under name of Polyspora axillarit.) 

 G. grandls (great), fl. white, large ; corymbs few-flowered, ter- 

 minal. 1880. A very handsome greenhouse species, with leaves 

 somewhat like those of the Cherry Laurel. 

 G. javanloa (Javan). A synonym of Schiina Noronhae. 

 G. Lasianthus (hairy -flowered).* fl. white, 4in. across, fragrant ; 

 pedicels axillary. July and August. I. oblong, smooth, serrated, 

 coriaceous, h. 8ft. to 10ft. (in England). North America, 1739. 

 Hardy. (B. M. 668.) 



G. pnbescens (downy).* fl. white, with yellow filaments, fragrant, 

 almost sessile, 3in. across ; petals and sepals rather silky on the 

 outside. August. I. obovate-lanceolate, pubescent beneath, 

 somewhat serrated, membranous, h. 4ft. to 6ft. (in England). 

 North America, 1774. Hardy. 

 GORSE. See Ulex europaeus. 



GOSSYPIUM (the Latin name used by Pliny). 

 Cotton Plant. ORD. Malvaceae. A small genus (com- 

 prising three species) of stove perennial herbs or shrubs. 



Gossypinm continued. 



Flowers yellow or purple, usually large and showy ; calyx 

 truncate or shortly five-fid. Fruit a three or five-celled 

 capsule, bursting when ripe, and exposing the numerous 

 seeds covered with down. Leaves three to nine-lobed, or 

 rarely entire. Gossypiums thrive in a light rich soil. 

 Propagated by seeds, sown in moist heat, in spring. The 

 seedlings, when large enough to handle, should be planted 

 singly in small pots, and transferred to larger ones as 

 required. This genus is one of the most important of 

 the whole vegetable kingdom, yielding, as it does, the 

 well-known cotton of commerce. 



G. Bahma (Bahma). This differs from other Cottons in its larger 



size, and its erect, almost unbranched habit. More cotton, too, 



is produced by it. Originated in Egypt, several years ago ; said 



to be a hybrid between Egyptian Cotton and Hibiscus esculentus. 



(G. C. n. s., vii. 561.) 

 G. barbadense (Barbadoes). fl. yellow, with a purple spot at 



the base of each petal, finally turning reddish, large. September. 



I., upper ones three-lobed ; lower ones five-lobed. Stem smooth. 



A. 5ft. Barbadoes, 1759. (B. B. i. 84.) 

 G. herbaceum (herbaceous), fl. yellow, with a purple spot on 



the claw of each petal. July. 1. five-lobed ; lobes rounded, 



mucronate. h. 3ft. to 4ft. East Indies, 1594. 



CrOUANIA (named in honour of Anthony Gonan, 

 1733-1821, Professor of Botany at Montpelier). STN. Re- 

 tinaria. ORD. Rhamnece. A genus containing about 

 thirty species of usually evergreen stove scandent shrubs, 

 of botanical interest only. They are natives of the 

 forests of tropical America, Asia, and Africa. Flowers 

 small, usually produced in clusters along leafless branches, 

 forming slender spikes. Leaves alternate, petiolate, with 

 veins running straight from the midrib to the margin. 

 The species require a compost of peat and loam. 

 Cuttings will root freely if inserted in sand, under a 

 glass, in heat. The most interesting species of the 

 genus is 6. domingensis, the Chaw-stick of Jamaica. 



GOURDS (Cucurbita). The species and varieties of 

 Gourds are very numerous, and, as they readily cross- 

 hybridise when growing near each other, it is somewhat 

 difficult to keep the sorts distinct without having them 

 isolated. Some have fruits highly coloured and very 

 ornamental, and others produce them of an enormous 

 size. From investigations made by M. Naudin, in 

 France, where Gourds are more largely cultivated than 

 here, the edible varieties have been referred to three 

 species of Cucurbita, namely, C. maxima, C. moschata, 

 and C. Pepo. The first-named includes the varieties 

 with unfurrowed stalks and large broad leaves, such as 

 the Large Yellow and Turk's Cap Gourds. Varieties 

 with slightly-furrowed stalks, much enlarged near the 

 fruit, deeply-lobed leaves, and rough seeds, are referred 

 to the second species. C. Pepo comprises all the 

 varieties with slender, deeply-furrowed stalks and deeply- 

 lobed leaves with rough hairs; these include the Vege- 

 table Marrow, Custard, Crookneck, and Orange Gourds. 

 With the exception of the Vegetable Marrows, Gourds 

 are cultivated in this country more as curiosities than 

 for the value of their fruits for eating. Where the 

 fruits of the very large sorts can be ripened before 

 frost sets in, they may be cut, suspended in a dry, 

 airy place, and kept for several months. The flesh is 

 usually scooped or cut out, after being kept some time, 

 and used in soups and stews, or baked, either alone or 

 with apples, in pies. The fruits may also be cooked as 

 a vegetable when young. All the plants are annuals, 

 and hardy enough to succeed outside, in warm positions, 

 from May until autumn. Many of them are vigorous- 

 growing trailing subjects, that may be utilised par- 

 ticularly the ornamental ones for covering bare walls, 

 hedges, unsightly fences, &c. Seeds should be sown in 

 a gentle heat, in April, and the young plants afterwards 

 grown on and hardened before being placed outside, 

 about the end of May. Protection should then be 

 afforded by handlights, until danger of frost is past, 

 and the plants have become established. All the sorts 



