Cockchafer 



( 226 ) 



Cocos 



the matured shoots taken in spring, and rooted in 

 sand in bottom heat; and by seeds, sown when 

 obtained. Seeds produce finer plants than 

 cuttings. Soil, equal parts o loam and peat, with 

 sand. Firm potting. 



Principal Species : 



Gossypium, 5V, My., yel. (syn. Bombax Gossy- 

 pium). A noble tree. 



Other Species : 



COCOS WEDDELIAXA. 



COCKCHAFER. 



The cockchafer (Melolontha vulgaris), known 

 also as the May Bug, is a very destructive pest, 

 though fortunately it confines its attentions more 

 strictly to field crops than to those of the garden. 

 In the larval or grub state it feeds underground 

 upon the roots of young trees, lawn grass, and 

 vegetables ; and in the fourth year after hatching 

 from its egg years which it has spent entirely 

 underground it emerges as a full-grown beetle, 

 and at once commences to make its presence felt 

 on the leaves of various trees. The fact that the 

 larvae give no indication of their presence in the 

 soil until such is furnished by the decay of the 

 plant attacked, makes the application of any pre- 

 ventive or remedy very difficult. Where it is 

 possible to break up infested land, this should be 

 done, and the visits of insectivorous birds, such as 

 starlings and rooks, encouraged. These much 

 maligned friends of the gardener will, too, fre- 

 quently extract the grubs from his lawns, appear- 

 ing to possess some peculiar instinct which 

 apprises them of the appearance of this dainty 

 food. Trees the foliage of which is badly 

 attacked may be cleared by shaking them over a 

 white cloth. Poultry may be allowed to pick the 

 fallen chafers up. Bats are fond of them. 



COCKROACH. 



The cockroach (Stylophaga orientalis) is a verit- 

 able nightmare to the grower of choice exotics, as 

 it frequents the houses and nibbles off the roots, 

 more especially the freely exposed ones of Orchids, 

 and the species americana is if anything worse. 



Some of the stronger spiders capture and dispose 

 of cockroaches in their own peculiar way. A small 

 quantity of phosphor paste spread on bread and 

 butter, or even on pieces of slate or flower pots, 

 will lure cockroaches on to a speedy death. 



COCKSCOMB. 



The name given to the peculiar inflorescence of 

 Celosia cristata, on account of its resemblance to 

 the ornamental appendage adorning the head of 

 the farmyard cock. (For culture, sue CELOSIA.) 



COCOANUT FIBRE REFUSE. 



A very useful auxiliary to the gardener. A 

 mixture 'of the fibre and sand forms one of the 

 beet mediums in which to strike cuttings of soft- 

 wooded plants. As plunging material it is un- 

 equalled, being light, sweet, and clean ; moreover, 

 it has the merit of serving again and again for 

 this purpose. It is also extensively employed as 

 a mulching for flower beds in summer, where, 

 besides conserving the moisture about the roots of 

 plants, it adds greatly to the appearance of the 

 bed. The coarser particles, obtained by passing 

 the fibre through a sieve, are often used for laying- 

 over the crocks in flower pots, but it is not safe 

 practice. 



COCOS. (Including GLAZIOVA). 



Description. Noble Palms (ord. Palmas), import- 

 ant both from an economic and a decorative point 

 of view. Xucifera, the Cocoanut, is an indispensable 

 plant to the inhabitants of the tropics, and it is 

 said that it alone is capable of furnishing all the 

 necessities of human life. There is indeed no 

 part of it but can be turned to account. It is 

 only a moderate success under cultivation. (For 

 the Double Cocoanut, see LODOICKA.) Cocos wed- 

 deliana is one of the most graceful of Palms, and, 

 although it likes a stove heat, will last a long time 

 in beauty in an ordinary dwelling-room. Under 

 such conditions its leaves should be frequently 

 sponged to free them from dust. Small plants, 

 only 4" or 5" high, are in great request for small 

 ornamental receptacles. For sub-tropical bedding 

 plumosa is the most amenable species. 



Propagation. By seeds sown in stove heat, in 

 sandy soil, or in a bed of Cocoanut fibre. 



Soil. Equal parts of peat and loam, with sand 

 in the early stages ; more loam for the older plants. 



Other Cultural Points. While Cocoses like 

 plenty of moisture, both in the air and at the root, 

 they are impatient of stagnant water, and the 

 drainage must be perfect. Generally speaking, 

 rather small pots give the best results. Firm pot- 

 ting is essential. The most troublesome insect is 

 red spider, and it must be kept down by the con- 

 sistent use of the syringe. 



Principal Species : 



nucifera, 50', fronds C' to 

 '20', bright gru. Cocoa- 

 nut Palm. 



plumosa, 40' to 50', fronds 

 3' to 15', dark gru. 

 above, glaucous be- 

 neath ; nearly erect in 

 growth. 



romanzoffiana, 30' to 50', 

 ilurk gru ; not common. 



weddeliana (tee figure), 

 fronds 1' to 4', gru. 

 above, grey below ; 

 drooping in habit. Py- 

 naertii is a var. with 

 broader pinna! (.//.. 

 LeojioldiiiKi pulclmi 

 and Glaziovu elegant- 

 isyima). 



Cocoanut Tree (see Cocos). 



