356 



THE GARDENERS* CHRONICLE. 





Syringe gently each day, and the continued beauty of the 

 plants will more than repay the attention. 



The above directions are equally applicable to plants 

 •f Salvia, &c, for the purpose of giving additional effect 

 to a conservatory when plants are wanted to harmonise 

 with .Chrysanthemums, &c. — W. Wood, Pine-apple 



Place. 



l 



/ FAMILIAR BOTANY. 

 Morphology. — No. XIV. 



* Would yoo, then, learn to dissipate the band 

 Of these huge threatening difficulties dire, 

 That in the weak man's way like lions stand, 

 His soul appal, and damp his rising fire? 

 Resolve, resolve, and to be men aspire. 

 Let godlike Reason, from her sovereign throne, 

 Speak the commanding word-l will !— and it is done. 



Although there are many unbelievers in the change 

 of leaves into petals, there are few who doubt that sta- 

 mens may be transformed into petals. And how, indeed, 

 can it be otherwise when one has once nestled one's nose 

 in a fine, sweet, soft double Rose ; or stood admiringly 

 over a bed of Ranunculuses ? For we know that the 

 middle of a wild Rose, or Ranunculus, is filled up with 

 stamens, and that when such flowers become double, the 

 disappearance of stamens is always in proportion to the 



appearance of petals. 



Cut although this familiar fact has the effect of making 

 the change of stamens into petals seem a very possible 

 event, yet, in truth, it is a far more surprising thing than 

 the change of leaves into petals ; because there is an 

 entirely new sort of organisation introduced with the 

 change. Let us see how thin happens. 



If we examine the white Water Lily we find so gra- 

 dual a passage of sepals into petals, that it is hard to say 

 where the former end and the latter begin. However, 

 at last we come to what are evidently petals, viz., the 

 thin, flat, white, shining plates which form the brilliant 

 rays of that most lovely flower. Now, if we pull away 

 these petals, we shall find them alter as they approach 

 the centre of the flower. They become narrower, 

 •mailer, and thicker, till at last their points assume a 

 new form, and become yellow on each side. By degrees 

 these altered petals become very narrow 6traps ; by 

 similar degrees the yellow sides near the eud become 

 thicker and larger ; and at last we find that they are the 

 seat of pollen— a perfect anther being formed. The sides 

 of the petal near the end have secreted the yellow powder 

 in their inside, and at last they split and allow it to 

 escape. In this instance, in the natural state of things, 

 the formation of stamens out of petals is so very gradual 

 that plenty of instances occur which are neither the one 

 nor the other. The same sort of transitions, but in a 

 less degree, are observable in the Calycanthus. 



When flowers become double the reverse of all this 

 takes place. In the common China Rose the filaments 

 become broad and thin, and acquire colour ; at the same 

 time the anthers shrink up ; and by degrees, the latter 

 having wholly disappeared, the usual condition of the 

 petals is gained. In this, which is called retrograde me- 

 tamorphosis, very instructive cases of intermediate struc- 

 ture are everywhere observable. Sometimes a stamen is 

 half changed, and then a half anther is found on one 

 side, while the other is expanded into the thin texture of 

 the petal. Sometimes the anther seems to struggle with 

 the filament for mastery, and resolutely maintains its 

 ground at the point, while the filament as resolutely ex- 

 pands and reddens, till at last it rises above the anther 

 ©n each side, as if to smother that which it cannot 

 otherwise destroy. 



Examples of this kind are endless ; the Hawthorn, the 

 Cherry, the Pceony, Anemone, and Ranunculus, are full 

 of instructive information ; not, however, such plants 

 as the Dahlia, which, although called double, owe their 

 d mbieness to a cause entirely different from the trans- 

 formation of stamens into petals. 



The progress of growth proves all this still better than 

 the transitions that have been pointed out ; but it is dif- 

 ficult to observe. The most accurate observation shows 

 that when a flower is very young, the petals and stamens 

 are little scales, differing from each other in no percep- 

 tible degree ; but after a certiiu period those scales take 

 different roads to their final organisation. The petal- 

 scaJ.es are continually expanding, and thinning, and ac- 

 quiring colour ; but the stamen-scale3 seem influenced 

 by some power of contraction that is incessantly acting 

 npon their growth ; they get no colour, but expend their 

 vitality in the conversion of a part of the cells of their 

 interior into pollen. This has been observed even in the 

 Lupine, whose stamens and petals are among the most 

 "unlike that could be easily found. 



The stamens, then, are transformed from petals, the 

 petals from sepals, the sepals from bracts, the bracts 

 from leaves ; and therefore the stamens are also trans- 

 formed from leaves. 



Our next consideration will be the way in which the 

 frnit is made from leaves. — R. E. 



7 



ENTOMOLOGY. 

 Oniscus asellus, and Armadillo vulgaris ; 

 called in England, Wood-lice, Millipedes, Pigs' -lice, 

 Sow-bugs, Old-sows, and Carpenters ; and in Scotland 

 Slaters. — Cucumbers and Melons in frames are subject 

 to the attacks of various insects, &c, which by perfor- 

 ating or otherwise injuring the leaves, render them unfit 

 for the elaboration of the sap, and consequently the size 

 and flavour of the fruit are greatly injured. Wood-lice, 

 the Thrips, Aphis, Acari, and a minute Hister, are men- 

 tioned amongst the aggressors ; and as the first are often 



complained of as a serious pest, we will now undertake 

 to give their history. There are, it will be found, two 

 sorts that inhabit gardens, which although confounded 

 by many persons are very easily distinguished — one 

 species rolling itself up into a compact ball when touched, 

 and being more convex than the other ; indeed they are 

 sufficiently dissimilar to have been formed into two 

 genera, one having eight- jointed, the other seven-jointed 

 antennce, but I have seen the young of the following 

 species wanting the two end joints of the antennae, and 

 I believe also one pair of legs. 



Oniscus asellus of Linnaeus, named by Fabricius O. 

 murarius (fig. 1), does not roll itself into a ball when at 

 rest, and the antennae are composed of eight joints, the 

 fourth being almost as long as the fifth, the terminal one 

 producing a short bristle ; the body is oval and but slightly 

 convex ; it is composed of 14 visible segments, including 

 the head, which is broad, with a distinct tubercle on each 

 side before the eyes, which are small, black, and coarsely 

 granulated ; the tail is furnished with four styles and a 

 central spine, the two outer ones biarticulated. This 

 species, when young, is sometimes red, or of a lead colour ; 

 but when full grown, it is of a yellowish-white ; the upper 

 side is rather rough or warty, variegated with brown or 

 lead colour ; the antennae are longish, angular, and 

 pubescent towards the extremity; the two basal joints 

 only are whitish ; the head is entirely of a lead colour ; 

 the sides of the segments are dilated and acutely serrated ; 

 the back is dark, variegated with yellowish spots, leaving 

 the lateral margins whitish ; seven of the segments have 

 a large dark spot on each, forming a line of yel- 

 lowish ones down either side ; the legs, of which there 

 are seven pairs, are 5-jointed, beautifully ciliated inter- 

 nally, and terminated by a claw (fig. 2). 



This Myriapode principally inhabits chinks in old 

 walls, rotten wood, and dung-hills, and is reported as the 

 most destructive species in the Cucumber, Melon, and 

 Mushroom-frames, and will feed off, in a very short time, 

 a young crop growing near walls, such as scarlet Beans 

 and Peas ; the old plants they materially injure by gnaw- 

 ing off the bark. In wet seasons they become very mis- 

 chievous amongst wall-fruit. 



Armadillo vulgaris of Latreille, the Oniscus Armadillo 

 of Linnaeus (fig. 3), rolls itself up into a ball when 

 touched, concealing its legs and antennae ; the latter are 

 not long, but pubescent towards the apex, and seven- 

 jointed, the fifth joint twice as long as the fourth ; the 

 apex is furnished with a minute bristle (fig. 2) ; the body 

 is elliptical, very convex, being semicylindrical, and 

 composed of 14 segments ; the head is very broad, with 

 a minute eye on each side, coarsely granulated ; the tail 

 is not prominent, and the lateral appendages are short 

 and broad ; it is of a deep lead colour, and the upper 

 side is punctured ; the sides of the segments are not 

 dilated, but droop below the abdomen, and they are 

 obtusely serrated ; it has seven pair of legs, which are 

 six-jointed, the 3d, 4th, and 5th joints being shaggy on the 

 inside ; the sixth joint is small, and terminated by a 

 minute claw (fig. 5). Obs. — Figures 1 and 2 in the 

 cut are rather larger than specimens are usually found. 

 This species is sometimes called the Pill-Millipede, 

 and was formerly employed in medicine to cure agues, 

 consumption, &c. : it inhabits moss and the base of walls ; 

 it is likewise found under stones, rubbish, &c. I am not 

 certain that it is not equally as destructive as the Oniscus 

 asellus. 



The eggs are first deposited in an oval bag beneath 

 the abdomen of the Wood-lice, and when they are hatched 

 the mouth of the pouch is opened for the young brood to 

 sally forth, and as soon as they have scrambled off, 

 the mother closes it again. The young are brought 

 forth towards the end of summer; and it seems 

 they have only 12 legs at first ; but after several moult- 

 ings they attain another pair ; this succession of skins 

 may account for the variation of colour so often percep- 

 tib'e, as well as for their different sizes. When they have 

 just cast off their horny coats of mail they are white and 

 soft, but occasionally I have found a brood of a brick-red 

 colour. The Onisci walk slowly unless disturbed, when 

 they run fast away ; they shun the light and heat of the 

 sun, and therefore are seldom visible by day ; they not 

 only feed on plants, but on the juices of animals, and 

 will even devour one another when confined without food. 

 I believe that neither lime, soot, nor the fumes of sul- 

 phur will expel the Wood-lice from frames, unless the 

 latter be applied to an extent which would injure, if not 

 kill the plants ; for some by burying themselves in the 

 earth, and others possibly by rolling themselves up, would 

 remain secure during a severe fumigation. I have not 

 long since stated that a toad, the Rana Bufo of Linnaeus, 

 if kept in a frame will soon exterminate Wood-lice, 

 Ants, &c. ; but a pan ofwxter should be put in with the 

 animal. Large quantities may also be caught by placing 

 two tiles or boards over each other, between which they 

 will crawl as the dawn of morning approaches, to conceal 

 themselves ; and tiles laid over old Cabbage-leaves form 

 excellent traps. — Jiuricola. 



cause, both in 



1 



[June l, 



THE ROSE-GARDEN^NoTxT 



(Continued from page 332.) 



Insertion of Bud.— On the upper part of the iW *f 

 this year, as close as possible to the stock sav tn» J 



- it within the eighth of an inch at its ba^ 

 make an incision one inch and a half 

 long, in the direction of the length rf 

 the shoot, quite (but no more) thronth 

 to the wood ; above that at right anriei 



H ll : i'l makeacrosscutabo «t2-5thsthecircam. 



ference of the shoot, or rather say wiaV 



enough to admit the shield freely. ThU 

 is of the greatest importance, as the shield 

 would otherwise be raised up in the 

 middle, instead of lying in contact with 

 the wood below it, and the bud, beinz 

 thus deprived of the sap from the stock 

 would ultimately perish. In unskilful 

 hands multitudes of buds fail from this 

 the time of budding and at subsequent 

 periods. 



When the shoot is not ripe, the chance of its being 

 broken off by the wind is much lessened by making 

 the longitudinal incision of a greater length than usual 

 and omitting the transverse cuts. The difficulty in in- 

 serting the bud is but slightly increased, 

 and the success quite as certain. Proceed, 

 then, to prepare the shield as before di- 

 rected ; which done, for convenience sake 

 place the upper end of the shield, (but only 

 the tip of it,) between the lips, then loosen 

 the sides of the bark, within the dotted 

 lines, turning down, as it were, the corners 

 of the bark at the top, with the ivory end of 

 the budding-knife ; this must be done with- 

 out injury to the bark, and clean to the 

 wood, and no difficulty whatever must occur 

 in separating the bark from the wood ; if 

 there be, the sap is not active, and the bud 

 inserted would perish. Slip in the shield to 

 the bottom of the incision, and then cut off the piece of 



bark which was between the lips, even with 

 the cross cut, so as to place the shield in 

 exactly the same position as the bark which 

 now overlays it formerly occupied. The 

 bud is now in the centre of the incision, 

 and in that position is less likely to be 

 injured by wind, when it pushes, as well is 

 more convenient to bind over, than if it 

 were at the extreme point. The first junc- 

 tion takes place at the cross cut, by the 

 sap, in its descent ; care must therefore be 

 taken that the shield fits exactly at that 

 place. The shortest possible time should 

 elapse pending these operations, lest the 

 lips of the covering bark or the bud, should 

 get dried ; and for this reason, as before mentioned, a 

 dull growing day is far preferable to a windy one, as 

 evaporation is the death of the bud, which, like all cut- 

 tings from the mother plant, succeeds best when unex- 

 posed to the air. , 



Some disappointment will at this time be expe- 

 rienced, by the operator finding that the bark or 

 several of his plants, so far from slipping, will not ap- 

 pear to be even plump ; and if any attempt be ; made >o 

 move it, by cutting across as usual, the shoot breaks on 

 in his hand, and proves to be little more than pi h. 

 Habit alone enables the eye to see at once, from we 



. . «. ., v '«. ze :l u a ; n a fit state to 



-i 



r?rw 



When a plant is round to De in a b*o 5 ..-"'- 

 beginning of August, it rarely becomes fit to "« l 

 bud during the current season, and the shoot or shots 

 upon it should be shortened to six, eight, «'. len !° c ' ." 

 according to their strength, that the whole vig ou r or 

 plant, which was before applied to the entire : shoots, m j 

 be confined to narrower limits, and the buds, tnos 

 breaking out, will continue to draw up the sap, ^ 

 maintain all the action the root can afford. Any i ^ 

 ment on such plants during the current ""^.^ 

 almost always prove a waste of time, but fif 



spring will in all probability infuse fresh ivigo un ^ tfae 

 the plant either to receive a scion, to take a tura i 



base of the shoot left the preceding autun J D, L a k ) or if 

 buds upon which should be left at liberty to u ^ ^^ 



the head be removed, start new and more f V > e defalcation 

 fitter for the same purpose. The cause or itsT j g0 ur 



of the plant, arises from its having expend e " g roots , 

 in its spring shoots, and having few or no goil not 



or their action having been weakened uy ^^ thc 

 being sufficiently light or properly P uIve * f tnC stem 

 plant was put into the ground, the grow" ^ be 



and branches is suspended, though tne r d t 



slowly increasing. The older the plant, v / ^ 

 certain age,) the more liable it is to this i ra i|y 



is sometimes temporary, sometimes total, ^ 0SCf 



happens to a proportion of the plants P re P e ived the 

 which, it must be remembered, have no being fc 



advantages possessed by other JO« n £ "^J,.!. The 

 general much more maimed on their nrsi mentioned, 

 best preventives to the inconveniences aoo ^ ^ # 

 are early planting, keeping the stocks as s ^ rooll 

 possible out of the ground, taking care uher deep 

 and fibres are extended horizontally, be ' n * of the soft 

 enough in thc earth to prevent the etteci ^ ^ ^ 

 nor so near the surface as to be exposea i & ^b, 



dried up by it ; that they are well c °* e ' e S iemS elves •£ 

 light, well-pulverised soil, and the plant thes^ ^ ^ 

 placed in an open and airy situation, W 

 meridian sun. 





