370 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



SAWFLIES (TenthredinidcB). A large section of 

 Hymenoptera (see Insects), characterised by the females 

 possessing an organ adapted to cut through the skin of 



FIG. 422. LARVAE OF ROSE-LEAF SAWFLY. 



leaves and of branches, so as to permit of eggs, being placed 

 in the slits. This organ resembles a minute double saw 

 (whence the popular name of the insects), and is toothed 

 so as to serve as one, but the details of the toothing vary 

 with the species. The larree of all feed on plants. Most 

 of them greatly resemble the larvae of Butterflies and 

 Moths, except in having from eighteen to twenty-two 

 claspers or prolegs. Nearly all the larvae feed on leaves, 

 exposed on the. surfaces or the edges of the latter ; but 

 some burrow between the surfaces of the leaves (e.g., 

 Fenusa Ulmi), and others live protected in the interior 

 of fleshy pea-shaped or bean-shaped galls on the leaves 

 (e.g., Nematus gallicola), or swellings in the branches, of 

 Willows. When full grown, most of them go underground, 

 spin cocoons there, and in them become pupsa. Some 

 (e.g., Trichiosoma lucorum and Lyda) fix their cocoons 

 to branches of the food-plants, or spin up among dead 

 leaves or rubbish. The larvae of the Eose-leaf Saw- 

 fly (see Fig. 422), and of the Gooseberry and Currant 

 Sawfly {see Fig. 423), are good types of Sawfly larvae. 



FIG. 423. LARVA OF GOOSEBERRY AND CURRANT SAWFLY 

 Ribesii). 



In like manner, the Gooseberry and Currant Sawfly 

 (Nematus Ribesii, see Fig. 424) is a good type of a 

 large majority of the mature Sawflies. 



Sawflies are mostly sluggish and heavy in their move- 

 ments, even on the wing. The head is usually broad ; and 

 there is no narrowed foot-stalk between the thorax and 

 the abdomen. The colours are very generally black, 

 yellow, or brown on the body and limbs; the wings are 

 almost always transparent, and are of the form shown in 

 Fig. 424 The largest Sawflies in Britain are about as 

 large as a small Humble Bee, but most are of small size. 



Many species are very harmful to cultivated plants ; and 

 references will be found to the worst under Gooseberry 

 and Currant Sawfly, Lopuyrns, Lyda, Nematus, 

 Pear (INSECTS), Rose Sawflies, Slug-worms, and 

 Turnip Sawfly. Among the plants that suffer most are 



Sawflies continued. 



Coniferce, Currants and Gooseberries, Hawthorns, Roses, 

 fruit-trees, Willows, and Turnips; but few plants al- 

 together escape injury. Certain species 

 of Sawflies, injurious to cultivated produce, 

 feed exposed on the plants, and may be 

 hand-picked ; or, if very numerous, and if 

 circumstances permit, they may be destroyed 

 by watering the plants with infusions of 

 powder of Hellebore, or of Paris Green. 

 Social larvae, as in the genus Lyda, which 

 spin a common web, may be removed and 

 destroyed with the web. For further in- 

 formation, see the headings just quoted. 



SAW PALMETTO. See Serenoa 

 serrulata. 



SAWS. Instruments in frequent de- 

 mand for various purposes in gardens. An 

 ordinary Saw, with the teeth set rather 

 wide, answers well for sawing wood, cutting 

 down trees, &c. In addition, a cross-cut Saw should be 

 at command, as it is occasionally necessary to cut down 

 branches or trees that are too large for severing without 

 an instrument of this description. Pruning Saws, for 

 removing branches or spurs in ordinary pruning, are 

 invaluable for their purpose ; they are small, and carried 

 to a point, something like those used for turning or 

 catting circular holes in boards. It is most important 

 that Saws of every kind should be kept clean and in 

 a dry place, when not in use. It is a good plan to rub 

 a little sweet oil over the blades, in order to prevent 

 them from rusting. 



FIG. 424. GOOSEBERRY AND CURRANT SAWFLY (Nematug Ribesii) 

 a, Lines to show_actual spread of wings and length of body. 



SAW-WORT. A common name for certain species 

 of Saussurea and Serratula. 



SAXEGOTHEA (named in honour of his late Eoyal 

 Highness Prince Albert). STN. Squamataxus. OKD. 

 Conifera. A monotypic genus. The species is a half- 

 hardy, evergreen tree. For culture, see Tazus. 

 S. conspicna (conspicuous). Prince Albert's Yew. /., male 

 catkins in terminal spikes or racemes : females in spherical heads, 

 in the form of a little cone, on long, slender, terminal foot-stalks, 

 sometimes drooping. June. fr. composed of several consoli- 

 dated, free scales, formed into a solid, fleshy, depressed cone. 

 I. alternate and scattered, or somewhat in two rows on the 

 branchlets, leathery, stiff, linear or oblong-lanceolate, somewhat 

 falcate, slightly twisted and reflected, iin. to liin. long, convex 

 above, shortly petiolate, acute. A. 30ft. Southern Chili, 1846. 

 (J. H. S. vi. 25fc.) 



S AXIFRAGA (an old Latin name used by Pliny, and 

 derived from saxum, a rock, and frango, to break ; so 

 called because it was supposed to break stones in the 



