428 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Shard-borne Beetle continued, 



The Beetle to which the name is most frequently given 

 is one known also by other names, such as Dor Beetle. 

 Its scientific name is Geotrupes stercorarius, and signifies 

 " Dung-loving Earth -digger," a name very well chosen, in 



FIG. 483. SHARD-BORNE BEETLE. 



allusion to the habits of the insect The Beetle (see Fig. 

 483) is usually about lin. long, and is oblong and heavy 

 in form. It is nearly black, or dark violet, or metallic- 

 blue or green. The wing-cases are grooved lengthwise. 

 The Beetles are abundant throughout Britain, flying 

 heavily and clumsily in summer evenings, and often 

 striking against people in their flight. The females are 

 in search of dung of cattle or of other large animals. 

 Jf dung is found, the Beetles burrow through it to the 

 ground ; and there they dig " tunnels," about 1ft. long, 

 straight downwards. Into each tunnel they push a ball 

 of dung, and lay an egg in the ball. The young grub is 

 thus provided with dung as food ; and in the tunnel it 

 grows and becomes a pupa, and then a beetle, which 

 emerges, and provides in like manner for its own progeny. 

 All "Dung-Beetles" are harmless, if not actually useful 

 in gardens, on account of their habits. 



SHARE WORT. A common name for Aster Tripolium. 



SHEARS. Double-bladed cutting instruments, various 

 kinds of which are required in gardens, some for trimming 

 hedges, others for clipping grass edgings, and others, again, 

 for pruning. Hedge or hand Shears are in general use 

 for cutting Holly or Yew Hedges, &c. Grass-edging 

 Shears are provided with long handles, which workmen 

 may use while standing in nearly an upright position : the 

 form with a wheel attached for running along by the 

 edge of the grass is not to be recommended in preference 

 to the ordinary kind. Pruning Shears are made in several 

 small sizes, for using with one hand to cut branches that 

 are only of moderate dimensions ; a form with strong 

 handles about 3ft. long, sometimes called Parrot-bill 

 Shears, is one of the most useful pruning instruments 

 for cutting branches that are too large for severing with 

 a knife or any other kind of Shears. 



SHEATH. A part which is rolled round a stem or 

 other body. 



SHED. A covered building, either inclosed or con- 

 structed with one or both of the sides open. Sheds 

 are always very convenient storehouses in gardens; as 

 a rule, the covered space available for keeping things 

 dry is far too limited. Tool Shed and Potting Shed, 

 terms in frequent use, are self-explanatory. Open Sheds 

 usually have a wall at one side only, with the roof at 

 the other side resting on upright pillars. These afford 

 accommodation for keeping wheel-barrows and various 

 tools dry, and space for storing pots and potting soils, 

 preparing manure for Mushroom-beds, &c. 



SHEEP BERRY. See Viburnum Lentago. 



SHEEP'S BEARD. See Urosperauun. 



SHEEP'S-BIT SCABIOUS. A common name for 

 Jasione montana. 



SHEET GLASS. For glazing horticultural struc- 

 tures, this is the Glass best adapted. It may be obtained 

 in sheets of great dimensions, for cutting up into large or 

 small panes, as desired. Sheet Glass is made in various 



Sheet Glass continued. 



thicknesses, and its value is based on the number of ounces 

 in weight which a square foot contains. Thus 21oz. Glass 

 is more expensive than 16oz., as it contains the addi- 

 tional weight in each square foot of its surface, and is, 

 consequently, thicker throughout. See also Glass. 



SHELL-BARE HICKORY. See Carya alba. 



SHELL-FLOWER. A popular name for several 

 species of Alpinia and Chelone, and Moluccella Icevis. 



SHELTER. The value of Shelter cannot be over- 

 estimated in connection with the cultivation of some- 

 what tender trees and shrubs, fruit-trees, kitchen-garden 

 crops, and flowers, and gardening generally. A site 

 naturally sheltered is always preferable ; but this is not 

 always at command, and artificial methods of protection 

 have to be resorted to. Especially is Shelter necessary 

 from cold and unfavourable winds, and on the sea-coast 

 from the prevailing winds and salt spray. Young trees 

 and shrubs in nursery plantations may be effectually 

 protected by planting hedges at right angles to each 

 other, so as to form squares. These may be of Beech, 

 Privet, Hornbeam, Thorn, Holly, or Yew, any one of which 

 may be grown to the desired height, and kept trimmed. 

 For sheltering valuable alpines and perennials that are not 

 quite hardy, hand-glasses or bell-glasses are well adapted ; 

 a little dry litter or bracken may be scattered over them 

 as well during severe frost. Small hurdles, placed on 

 the coldest and most exposed sides, are good for protecting 

 some of the larger specimens, also for placing over half- 

 hardy shrubs and trees on walls. A covering of Frigi- 

 domo, or any woolly material, will afford a good deal 

 of Shelter to plants in frames during winter, and this 

 substance, or even ordinary netting, placed over wall-fruit 

 trees, when in flower, will often secure a crop that would 

 otherwise be lost. Branches of Common Spruce may be 

 used with advantage for sheltering somewhat tender trees 

 on walls, and for such plants as Tea Eoses in beds, &c. 

 For preserving specimen plants, such as shrubs, that are 

 not hardy, some stakes may be tied together, so as to 

 form a sort of hood, somewhat in the shape of an ex- 

 tinguisher, and covered close down to the bottom with 

 ordinary garden mats. This may be lifted on and taken 

 off in winter, according to the state of the weather, 

 and will be found to provide ample Shelter to the plant 

 beneath. The necessity of providing Shelter is referred 

 to under Garden and Seaside Grounds and Plants, 

 and in other places where the plants described are in 

 need of a specially-favoured situation. 



Boards of various widths, but generally 

 about lin. thick, used for standing plants upon in glass 

 structures. They should be painted the same colour as 

 the rafters and other parts of the woodwork. Shelves 

 may either be movable or fixed to the framework of a 

 stage, as in a greenhouse. A single Shelf along the back 

 wall of a lean-to house, or suspended by irons from the 

 roof, is often a valued place for growing small or 

 medium-sized plants that need plenty of ligh.t. 



SHEFHERDIA (named after J. Shepherd, curator 

 of the Liverpool Botanic Garden, who died in 1836). 

 STN. Leptargyreia. OBD. Elceagnacece. A small genus 

 (three species) of ornamental, hardy, deciduons shrubs 

 or small trees, natives of North America. Flowers dioe- 

 cious, small, very shortly spicate or racemose, opposite 

 the small bracts at the sides of the rachis. Fruit- 

 bearing perianth baccate and persistent at base. Leaves 

 opposite, petiolate, oblong, entire. Two of the species 

 have been introduced. They require similar culture to 

 Hippophae (which see). S. rotundifolia, not yet intro- 

 duced to cultivation, is a handsome shrub, peculiar to 

 the mountains of Southern Utah. 



S. argentea (silvery). Beef Suet-tree; Rabbit Berry. /. yellow. 

 April, fr. scarlet, edible, acid-flavoured. I. narrower than in 



