1843.] 
THE GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE. 
SI 8 IEE iy 
805 
will be large enough ; the soil should be the same as that 
recommended for the first potting, with this difference, 
that it ought to contain more of the fibry or turfy parts of 
the loam—this should especially be attended to if the 
One-shift’” is adopted ; the drainage in each case should 
be perfect. The plants may now be placed in a frame devoted 
to themselves, and have a temperature, derived either 
from dung or hot water, of 75° 3 the pots should be 
plunged in coal-ashes or charcoal-dust—the latter, being 
4n antiseptic, is preferable in this situation. It will be 
found sufficient to water them twice a week until May, 
when they will require it every second day: they may be 
watered with rai ter and liquid 1 ly. 
About the beginning of July they will be in bloom, and may 
be removed tothe stove, the conservatory, the greenhouse, or 
even the drawing : but the its them best at this 
Stage—in it alone does this plant expand its blooms with 
that cup-shape so essential to its beauty, andif kept in the 
Stove it will ripen abundance of good seed; but, on the 
Contrary, seeds that have been saved from plants that have 
bloomed in a greenhouse rarely vegetate, and may be 
known by their being less plump, and of a lighter colour, 
than those saved from plants in the stove. 
y the above method I have grown the Lisianthus 
Successfully for five years. In 1839 I had a plant with 
Above 300 blooms expanded at one time, and during this 
Season I have grown more than two dozen plants without 
single failure, some of them, between the beginning of 
July and the end of September, producing from 400 to 
600 blooms.— 1m. Thomson, Wrotham Park, Barnet. 
removed, a whitish or greyish spot is apparent upon the 
bark—on this spot the female rests; the inside of the 
Seale is hollow like a shallow cup, at the top of which the 
yellowish horny spot is very distinct,—the outer margin 
Of the scale is broad, whitish, and formed of the mem- 
brane which attaches it to the bark (Fig. 3). Itis not 
nown how these scales are formed, but they are undoubt- 
edly produced by the animal; I can, however, distinctly 
detect the same green particles upon these scales as 
clothe the bark of the Pear-tree, which is rather puzzling, 
as the animals have no power, like many Caterpillars, of 
detaching the substance with their mandibles, and uniting 
it with their habitations. 
The female is somewhat orbicular-heart-shaped, fleshy, 
fat, shining and yellowish white, with a few short hairs 
Scattered over the sides (Jig. 4); the tail is distinct and 
quite yellow, with a suture beneath; neither legs nor 
antennse were discoverable, but on the underside—between 
the anterior margin and the middle—was a minute nipple, 
from which issued the rostrum, of considerable length 
(Fig. 5), by which it is generally firmly attached to the 
» 80 that when the scale is removed the animal remains 
Suspended by it, and does not fall down. 
N 
a I. \S P 
cee one of the oval scales I found a brown dead pupa, 
- h from the partially developed members I feel satis- 
ars was that of one of the males of this species,—these 
the pestty, little creatures, of a bright ochreous colour; 
ae ead is small, with a black eye on each side, kidney- 
ara edyand Approximating apparently beneath; the antennae 
s nearly ag long as the animal, hairy, rather stout and 
; Jointed, the apex conical; the thorax is large and ovate, 
Collar distinct, and between the wings is a black trans- 
caine) behind this is the large semi-ovate scutellum ; 
Cana wen is shorter than the thorax, somewhat ovate,— 
apex 1s suddenly narrowed, and produces a long, horny 
oy the six legs are not very short, and but slightly 
and By. the tarsi taper, and appear to be. triarticulate 
ample inated by minute claws ; the two wings are very 
ae ag rest horizontally on the back in repose,—they 
Rennes and rounded, with a distinct submarginal 
the Nee ee has a long branch forming a fork towards 
on exch ©,——the two halteres, or balancers, are placed one 
Roedd eens at the base of the scutellum, they are com- 
eho Wo minute oval joints—the second producing a 
curved bristle at the apex (Fig. 6): Obs—The 
th 
minute figures by the side of the magnified ones exhibit 
the natural size of the objects, and Fig. 1 represents a 
branch of the Pear-tree with the Oyster-formed scales upon 
the bark. As I cannot find this scale described by any 
author, I have called it Aspidiotus Osireeformis, from its 
great similitude to the common Oyster-shell. 
After a careful search I could not discover a single egg, 
or young scale moving about, and most of the females 
seemed to have died, forming rust-coloured flattened 
bodies under their shields,—they were smooth and looked 
like little seeds; whether they had not been fecundated, 
or whether it is a species that arrives at maturity at a 
later period, I am unable to determine. Two or three of 
the males were certainly hovering about, and there were a 
few very small, shining ferruginous scales scattered over the 
branches,—these were attached to the larger ones, but they 
might form a portion of the autumnal brood. 
If it be difficult to get rid of the Apple-tree Mussel- 
scale, it will be still more so to extirpate the Pear-tree 
Oyster-scale ; for they lie so close to the tree, that it 
appears almost impossible to scrape them off without 
injuring the bark very materially. If, however, a stiff 
scrubbing-brush were used with soft soap, whilst the 
water is tolerably warm, it would I think have a benefi- 
cial effect. Gas-tar might also be very serviceable, if 
applied when the young make their appearance; for even 
the scales are at first tender, and consequently of little 
protection to their inhabitants, and this powerful and 
adhesive liquid if well brushed on would undoubtedly stop 
the breeding of multitudes of the females, and certainly 
destroy all the delicate males that might be about. 
shall now leave this subject for a time, but should 
d think it sufficiently interesting to be farther 
pursued, if they will favour me with such species of scales 
as have not been illustrated and described, I shall have 
much pleasure in the future investigation of them, and be 
happy to communicate the results through the medium of 
this Journal.— Ruricola. 
AMATEUR’S GARDEN.—No. XLVI. 
Amone the absurdities which have been transmitted 
from one generation of gardeners to another, and followed 
up like many more old practices, just because we have 
never taken the trouble to ascertain the utility, or rather 
injury of them, is that of annually digging among, and of a 
necessity destroying, all the best roots of old trees and 
shrubs. ithin an hour’s ride of the metropolis I could 
point out scores of gardens where this practice has been 
so pertinaciously persevered in for years, that shrubs 
which have been planted a quarter of a century might be 
turned out of the soil with little more ball of earth adhering 
to them than would be necessary to fill a number of four- 
sized pots; and yet the roots of these very plants, if 
allowed to progress properly, would have extended over 
from 10 to 30 square yards of ground. If you interrogate 
the gardeners, you will find it has been the annual custom 
to rake all leaves and rubbish from the borders and then 
to dig them over, the consequence of which is, the plants 
are not only deprived of that little nutriment which nature 
has provided for them, but they are still further robbed by 
preventing their roots from extending themselves in search 
of food. 
Now the result of such treatment is, the miserably 
decrepid specimens of trees and shrubs which are to be 
met with in most pleasure-grounds—plants producing a 
few stunted branches, and which either cast their leaves 
or look wretchedly bad after the first week of dry summer 
weather; and how could it be otherwise ! unless the roots 
were left unmolested, and the ground allowed some little 
nutriment. The leaves which fall from the huge Oak of 
the forest are not cast to the wild winds of heaven as 
things that are useless ; they contain the very elements of 
vegetable existence, and are intended, when decomposition 
has rendered thera soluble, as nutriment for those very 
trees which gave them being. 
Ob! but I shall be told, how bad the borders will look 
in spring if they are not dug ; and so they will if you 
expose the naked soil, but this is not necessary, as the 
front part of the borders should either be turfed or 
planted up, and the back parts hidden from public gaze, 
At Claremont the undergrowths consist principally of 
common Laurel, so thickly bedded together by thick 
planting and pegging down, that it would be impossible to 
dig among them. At that place it is a rare occurrence to 
see a bit of dug ground in the pleasure-grounds, and 
yet it has never been found fault with on that account, 
But the undergrowths at Claremont do not consist of 
Laurels only, but also of dense masses of Rhododendrons 
and other American plants, which bloom profusely, andin 
the season have a magnificent effect. 
At Dullingham House, near Newmarket, the wild Tvy 
has covered ,the ground under the trees in the pleasure- 
grounds; and in spring, when the Aconite, Snowdrop, 
Crocus, Primrose, and Daffodil stud it with their gay 
simple flowers it has a delightful appearance, 
At this place I intend, as far as possible, to layer the 
shrubs, and to fill up all vacant spaces with common 
Laurel, Aticubas, double Furze, and Rhododendrons ; also 
plants of Berberis aquifclium and repens, blue and white 
Periwinkle, common and Irish Ivy, or any other dwarf 
hardy evergreen shrub or trailing plant that may offer itself 
to notice. These, mixed with Crocuses, Snowdrops, Prim- 
roses, and other wild flowering plants, will make the 
place gay in spring, and appear considerably better than 
it would do under the old system of dug ground and a 
smooth raw surface.—W. P. dyres, Brooklands, 
HOME CORRESPONDENCE. 
Winter Flowering-Plants. — Mr. Errington having 
invited Amateurs and Gardeners to add to his list of 
Winter Flowering-plants, I beg to state that Brachycome 
iberidifolia, Lophospermum scandens, and Kaulfussia 
amelloides, are of that number, and have been produced 
by means of a cold frame only. The first, B. iberidifolia, 
was sown in March, kept dry during the summer, and 
placed under a north wall. In September it was put in 
the frame, and is now, and will probably for some time to 
come, be in full flower. The second, L. scandens, was a 
very small cutting, planted in April; at fifteen inches 
high it was stopped, and it then threw out lateral shoots. 
The bottom ones were pinched off, and three nearest the 
top were allowed to grow about a foot long. Three very 
slight pieces of lath were then inserted in the pot, and a 
sort of trellis formed with green worsted; to this the 
branches were trained, and although the whole plant is 
but twenty-five inches high, it has flowered beautifully, 
and has ten buds still unexpanded. The third, K. amel- 
loides, I sowed in August, one of its beautiful blue flowers 
has expanded, and it is covered with buds. I have also 
a Cineraria in full fiower, and a purple Verbena. I have 
sent the above in order that persons like myself, unpro- 
vided with artificial heat, may know what can be done in 
such a case.— EY, C. 
Pelargonium, “ Queen Victoria.” —This elegant plant 
may justly be considered to stand at the head of its kind 
in the class of those fancy varieties, which, although their 
brilliancy of colour or size of blossoms will not satisfy the 
florists, are nevertheless of great interest for their unri- 
valled delicacy and symmetry. Queen Victoria is distin- 
guished by its dwarf and compact growth, with interme- 
diate sized blossoms of a white ground, the upper petals 
being bright pink margined with white. The flowers re- 
main upon the plant until their footstalks decay beneath 
them, thus rendering its beauty of long continuance. A 
specimen presented to her Majesty on the 23d of June 
last was from nine to twelve inches high, and two feet in 
diameter, uniformly covered with nearly 500 blossoms. 
It was produced by the skill of Mr. Robert Catleugh, and 
admitted to be one of the most uniform and perfect 
specimens of cultivation ever produced.— From a Corre- 
spondent, 
Spathoded.—I see that some person corresponding with 
Mr. Beaton asserts the Spathodea campanulata to have 
nine oblong lanceolate leaflets, and that the segments of 
the corolla are bordered with yellow. May I ask if this 
is the true plant, or that of the Niger? I have been so 
fortunate as to see some few of this noble tree growing in 
different situations, but never found it with the leaflets 
always nine in number, but sometimes nearly double that, 
and at other times:below it ; and this not only on the same 
tree, but on the same branch. Again, the yellow border- 
ing was absent in all that I have seen. If growing with 
an unbranching stem or trunk to the height of 20 or 30 
feet before forming a head constitutes a shrub, this plant 
isone. I cannot but think that a mistake in the species 
has been made, as in this plant the inflorescence is termi- 
nal, somewhat panicled ; while the inflorescence of Mr. 
B.’s -plant. is racemose.— John Ansell. [This plant is 
figured in the “ Flore d’Oware,” &c.; and there it is 
represented with the flowers and leaves mentioned by Mr. 
eaton’s correspond But thei is a panicle ; 
and the plant is described as a middle-sized tree, having 
a soft wood smelling like Garlic.] 
Tropeolum tuberosum.—A correspondent states that 
the plant of Tropseolum tuberosum, mentioned at p. 
759 of last year’s Chronicle, reached nearly the same 
height as it did in 1841, when it flowered nailed to the 
front of Holme-house. He complains that last year not 
a plant in four flowered, although under very favourable 
treatment; and that this year not one in six has flowered, 
although in every respect treated like the plant that 
flowered. They were planted on the same day, and the 
tubers were equally strong. Perhaps some of our corre- 
spondents will favour him with some information on this 
subject. 
Mummy Wheat.—May I take the liberty of asking 
whether this be beyond controversy? I am quite aware 
of Mr. Pettigrew’s accuracy, and no suspicion can attach 
to Sir G. Wilkinson ; but these plaguyArabs will do any- 
thing in the world for Bachshish, especially with an 
Englishman. I believe that, at all events, Mummies have 
been searched by them, and afterwards so well re-arranged 
as to be sold for Virgin Mummies. I know, as an addi- 
tional proof of the vitality of some seeds, that when, early 
in this century, some parts of Romney Marsh were con-~ 
verted into arable land, some of the ditches were deepened 
and new ones made; the earth Jaid at the sides of the 
ditches, out of ground that had never been disturbed, so 
far as man knew, was covered with rampant crops of what 
they called there Wild Mustard.—Este. [We think Mr. 
Tupper’s case beyond question. — Almost all others appear 
to us at least apocryphal, as, indeed, we have already 
mentioned. s * 
To Keep Mice from Peas.—Having tried a number of 
plans for preventing Mice from destroying winter-sown 
Peas, I,have found none so effectual as the following :— 
Steep the Peas a short time in Salad oil, and then dust 
them all over with rosin ground to a fine powder, then 
sow them immediately afterwards.— Aliquis. 
Schizanthus retusus.—Some years ago I observed that 
a Nurseryman near me lost his plants just as Mr. Wood 
describes ; but when I got plants from hini, and planted 
them in a dry sloping border of poor soil on a rocky sub- 
soil, they did not die, but flowered, and produced abund- 
ance of seed. A lady who had observed this procured 
plants from the same Nurseryman, and planted them in 
her highly-manured Flower-garden (on a limestone-rock), 
and, as she said, she was greatly disappointed, for they 
did not flower, and looked just like a Parsley-bed.—O. 
Tame Wish.—In a gentleman’s garden in this neigh- 
