Waluewa 



(437 ) 



Wasps 



It is an excellent plan to furnish fruit walls with 

 glass copings projecting 8" to 10" ; the supports may 

 be of wood or iron, preferably the latter. These 

 copings not only give a good deal of shelter to the 

 trees, but they are convenient for attaching tiffany 

 ami other coverings to in frosty weather when the 

 trees are in bloom. If fixed glass copings are not 

 convenient, movable wooden ones may be used. 



The nailing of fruit trees to walls is gradually 

 falling into desuetude ; it knocks the walls about 

 too much. Wiring is better. The wires may run 

 horizontally or vertically ; the former is better and 

 more commonly practised. 



Where insect pests are numerous it is a capital 

 plan to undo the trees as far as possible in autumn 

 and limewash the wall. A little sulphur may be 

 added to the lime, and if the white is thought to be 

 too glaring the wash may be darkened with soot. 

 The time thus spent is generally well repaid. 



Boundary walls, including those of sunk fences, 

 and the containing walls of terraces in the flower 

 garden, should never be allowed to remain bare, 

 but should always be covered with climbers of 

 some sort. There are many beautiful plants (see 

 CLIMBERS and CREEPERS) available. There are 

 also shrubby plants which, although not strictly 

 climbers, can be made to adopt a sub-scandent 

 habit, and many of these flourish better with the 

 protection of a wall than they would do in the open. 



WALUEWA. 



The only species (ord. Orclridaceas) is a small 

 stove Orchid, of tufted habit, answering to the 

 same treatment as that meted out to the Brazilian 

 Miltonias. 



Only Species : 



pulchella, Feb., yel., petals pur. banded, lip 

 spotted pur. 



WARDIAN CASE. 



There are several different makes of Wardian 

 case, but they may all be described as small glass 

 structures, like miniature greenhouses, which can be 

 closed up very tightly, so as to allow little exchange 

 between their contained air and the external 

 atmosphere. When employed, as they occasionally 

 are, to convey delicate plants from their native 

 countries to Britain, they are kept very close indeed. 

 The pots containing the plants are plunged in 

 Cocoanut fibre refuse, and kept in position by strips 

 of wood, which are nailed or screwed into their 

 places. The glass of the frame is fitted in with 

 both top and bottom putty, and kept firm by narrow 

 strips of wood, screwed in. Many delicate plants 

 have thus made sea voyages, and with compara- 

 tively little injury, whereas if packed in the 

 ordinary way they would have died. 



Less close cases are in great favour for accom- 

 modating plants in dwelling rooms, and even in 

 plant houses. Thus, Filmy Ferns may be enclosed 

 in cases and grown in an ordinary greenhouse 

 amongst other plants. Specially delicate and 

 precious foliage plants are often enclosed in 

 frames of this kind, especially when they are 

 exhibited at flower shows. The case not only 

 prevents touching by visitors, but also keeps the 

 atmospheric conditions in which the plant is placed 

 uniform. 



When Wardian cases are employed in dwelling 



II i, I n ut (tee 

 Wari:ririr:rlla (sir 



rooms they should be stood in a zinc or leaden tray, 

 which may catch and hold the water. Cocoanut 

 fibre and moss should not be useil for plunging 

 unless they are frequently changed, because they 

 soon become sour and smell badly. Clean shingle 

 is far better. 



An adaptation of the Wardian case is frequently 

 utilised for the windows of dwelling houses, and if 

 properly attended to it is a very valuable adjunct. 

 Almost any plants of dwarf habit may be grown in 

 it ; Ferns especially do well. It is a mistake, 

 however, to mix flowering and foliage plants in the 

 same case. They never do well together, for the 

 former need the sun, while the latter generally like 

 shade. 



Various methods of filling these cases are avail- 

 able. The smaller hardy Alpines will do well if 

 planted upon a miniature rockery placed inside. 

 Where Ferns are favoured, some of the plants may 

 lie planted in mounds of soil placed in the bottom, 

 and others may be put in pockets of cork hung 

 against the sides. A favourite plan, and one to be 

 recommended where a frequent change is desired, 

 is to keep the cases filled with pot plants, which 

 may be grown for the purpose in another house. 

 There should always be holes in the bottom of the 

 structure through which the drainage water may 

 pass. 



WARREA. 



Tliis small genus of Orchids (ord. Orchidacesc) 

 is chiefly represented in collections by the species 

 tricolor. All are terrestrial plants, and need a 

 stove temperature. The flowers are large and 

 nearly round, the two lower sepals being bluntly 

 spurred. (For culture, see PHAIUS.) 



Principal Species and Variety : 



[NOTE. s. = sepals, p. = petals, 1. =lip.] 

 tricolor, sum., pseudo- stapelioides, s., p., and 



bulbs 4" to o" high, s. 1. barred br. 



and p. wh., shaded yel., 



1. wh., marked yel., pur. 



Other Species : 

 bidentata, has a longer cyanea (now Aganisia 



and narrower 1. than cyanea). 



tricolor. digitata (now Zygo- 



camlida (now Zygo- petalum wailesianum). 



petalum eandidum). discolor (now Xygo- 



petalum discolor). 



WASHINGTONIA. 



A genus of one species (ord. Palmse) of tall and 

 distinct-looking Palms, with white flowers, small, 

 black fruits, and nearly round leaves, whose mar- 

 gins are hung with fine threads. Propagation, by 

 seeds sown in heat. Soil, loam three parts, leaf 

 mould one part, and sand. 



Only Species : 

 filifera, 20' to 40',grh., Ivs. filamentosa, Pritchanlia 



with thready margins filaraentosa, and P. 



(*'/"*. robusta, Brahea filifera). 



robusta (we filifera). 



WASPS. 



Among the stinging Hymenoptera the specie 

 best known in the United kingdom is the Comm.'M 

 British Wasp (Vespa vulgaris). In appearance 

 the wasps differ from bees in being less hairy, 

 more slender, and having a more distinctive 

 colouring i.e. alternating bands of yellow and 

 black. They differ also in habit, as they do not 

 collect honey ; and, with the exception of a lew 

 fertile females queen wasps they do not survive 

 our winters. These queen wasps, after fertilisation 



