1844.] 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



765 



— 





nervures scarcely visible; halters long and capitate; 

 length four and a half lines ; breadth nine. Female 

 iare er anc * darker > neat l vei T sma ll ana oval, not half the 

 breadth of the thorax ; eyes small, lateral and remote ; 

 ocelli similar to the male ; thorax large and oval ; collar 

 distinct ; abdomen large, broader than the thorax, nar- 

 rowed at the base, the apex trigonate, with two little 

 nipples ; wings very ample, fuscous ; the costal nervures 

 and stigma darker, as in the male ; legs stout ; hinder 

 the longest; anterior thighs inflated ; in other respects 

 the legs are similar to those of the male ; length six lines, 

 breadth 13 (fig. 3). 



The female lays her eggs in the earth, and in 

 the dung of horses and cows in May ; they do not hatch 

 until August ; it may therefore be presumed that they 

 are feeding at least seven months, viz., until the following 

 spring. During May the flowers in the fields and mea- 

 dows around London swarm with the Bibio hortulanus, 

 and about the same period the fruit-trees in our gardens, 

 and even the streets of the metropolis, are frequently 

 visited by multitudes of the large and sombre-coloured 

 Bibio Marci, whose flight is heavy and very peculiar in 

 the males, the body hanging down, the long hind legs being 

 stretched out like a heron. The larvze seem to require 

 a great deal of moisture, for they soon die if taken from 

 the soil they inhabit. 



Bouche' says the best remedy against these larvae is 

 hand-picking, which is not attended with any difficulty, for 

 the localities tfcey inhabit are readily discovered in the 

 spring, by the fine earth which is turned up where they 

 live in society. He cleared his Ranunculus-beds of them 

 eventually, by changing the earth in the autumn, and 

 bringing in fresh which was free from the larvae, and this 

 annual renewal of the earth seems to be a sensible and 

 easy remedy. — Ruricola. 



Home Correspondence. 



Pruning Timber-trees. — Without any previous con- 

 versation on the subject, likely to bias the opinion of an 

 old timb3r-merchant of Sussex, the question was put to 

 him of how he would prune an Oak ? His auswer was, 

 "Not at all; rely upon it, no tree puts forth a useless 

 Bhoot till you begin to meddle with it." In farther ob- 

 servations, he went on to say, that you might keep a 

 clean stem whilst the tree was young, so that you did not 

 interfere with his top ; but that afterward?, if you 

 pruned, you hindered his growth, and made his timber 

 doated( unsound or filled with rotten knots). This person 

 resides in one of the well- wooded parts of Sussex, and has 

 had ample means of observing thegrowthofthe commodity 



he deals in. It may be observed of the coppice Oak of 

 Sussex, that in the sapling state it is very much overgrown 

 by underwood (Hazel, Ash and hedge Oak), and so pushed 

 up with long and slender stems, which speedily acquire 

 strength, when fretd of that incumbrance by periodical 

 cuttings, and, if allowed fair play, soon overtops, and 

 eventually overshadows and destroys the underwood. In 

 this way the best carpenter's timber is produced ; that is, 

 long and straight stems. In the periodical cuttings 

 above spoken of, a straggling low branch on a sapling is 

 sometimes struck off by the faggot-maker, but no other 

 pruning is practised. The same is done with the tillars 

 or tellows (young Oak) of hedges and hedgerows ; but 

 here larger and shorter steins are produced by the free 

 and unincumbered growth of the branches, and the result 

 is the best ship timber, of which much is cut into plank 

 before it is sent off. Very little Fir is grown in Sussex 

 for economical purposes, except in a narrow strip of 

 country in the central parts of the county. Here the 

 trees seem to do best when left to themselves, only 

 having their stems cleared of branches as they die off in 

 the shadow of the overgrowing tops, so that the wounds 

 may close in before the knots become rotten. It may be 

 mentioned incidentally that, not of late, but it is almost 

 within the memory of man, the lop and top of a broke of 

 timber in the west of Sussex has been known to sell 

 for more than the timber itself.— P. P. [We particularly 

 commend this statement to the consideration of timber- 

 pruners. Like all the statements of our excellent corres- 

 pondent, it is full of good sense.] 



Pruning Forest-trees.— -In reply to " C. C. L. D.," 

 °f the Wicklow mountains, who, if I understand 

 ri ghtly, considers me a convert to Mr. Billington's 

 opinions, I would mention that this is not the case. 

 ^ r - B. has never, by anything of his which I have 

 read, induced me to change or modify any opinion I 

 previously held. It may be quite true that I hold some 

 opinions in common with Mr. B., but thev were not 

 certainly induced by his writings. Again, " C. C. L. D." 

 misapprehends me when he says, " I desire no better 

 authority than Mr. Billin»ton." It is true I used that 

 expression, but it referred merely to Mr. B., as a 

 reporter of the real state and management of the Nerquis 

 P autations, and nothing more. I considered him a com- 



fh none8t ' an( * experienced reporter, and such was 



e ground of my confidence in the accuracy of his testi- 

 mony. a.s the Nerquis Plantations appear to have been | 



visited by gentlemen from various parts of the kingdom,] 

 I would invite such as choose, to make their opinions 

 known through the medium of the Chronicle.— Quercus. 



Chrysanthemums.— If these are now watered with 

 liquid guano they will furnish splendid heads of flowers. 

 I have some under the above regimen which are flourish- 

 ing amazingly, many of the flowers measuring three 

 inches* across and nine inches in circumference, and 

 these in bunches, not in single blooms.— G. J. II. 



Hyacinths. — In cultivating these, prepare the four 

 following soils in equal proportions, viz., loam, peat, 

 rotten manure, and leaf mould ; let them be well incor- 

 porated together. Procure deep bulb pots, and place 

 some broken potsherds over the hole, on which put some 

 rough peat broken in pieces ; fill the pots with the com- 

 post to within three inches of the top, and put the bulb 

 on a little house sand, then completely cover it over with 

 the same, which will keep the bulb clean and in a uni- 

 form state as regards moisture, filling up the pot with 

 the compost. Water it with a fine-rosed watering-pot. 

 Let them stand till they get pretty dry, then plunge the 

 pots over in cinder-ashes or sawdust anywhere under 

 cover for a month ; at the expiration of that time they 

 will begin to push through ; they may then be exposed 

 to the light and air, and as they advance in growth water 

 them with guano, which will cause strong flower-stems 

 to be thrown up, and add greatly to their brilliancy of 

 colour. After flowering they may be planted out in the 

 open ground, in an airy situation, and the leaves allowed 

 to die off gradually ; then taken up and kept in a cool 

 dry place. Treated in this way, they will flower every 

 year. — Flora. 



Destruction of Red-Spider, Thrip, $c.—" Delta," at 

 p. 749, mentions the circumstance ot a Paper having 

 been read before the Horticultural Society of London, 

 Aug. 2, 1837, respecting Laurel-leaves being used, when 

 bruised, for destroying these pests. As a practical man 

 I can speak from experience on this subject. Being in 

 the habit of growing Melons and Cucumbers rather ex- 

 tensively for some years, of course I have been troubled 

 with these insects as well as my brother gardeners, and 

 this year rather more than usual. The method that I 

 have adopted for many years for killing the red-spider, 

 thrip, aud green-fly, is as follows : — When the plants 

 appear attacked with these insects, I get a quantity of 

 Laurel bruised, and put it into the frame or frames, as 

 it may be, about 3 o'clock p.m. It should be dispersed 

 all over the frame, but by no means allowed to touch the 

 leaves of the plants — for, if you do, it is sure to affect 

 them very materially ; then shut down the lights as 

 closely as you possibly can ; and should the sun be very 

 fervent at the time, I always throw a single mat over 

 the frame, in order to prevent the leaves of the plants 

 from being burnt. The heat to which I allow the frame 

 to rise is from 90° to 100° ; never allow it to rise above 

 that point, or you will be sure to lose plants, crop, and 

 all. The length of time that I allow this heat to remain 

 in the frame is two hours only ; this time may perhaps 

 appear short, but such is the fact. About G o'clock the 

 mat is taken off, and a little more air is admitted to the 

 plants. On the next morning, the Laurel is all taken 

 out, and the plants are well syringed with warm water, 

 and of course shaded during the day. I am certain that, 

 by the evening of the second day, there is not the slightest 

 appearance of thrip or spider. If ** Delta" will try 

 this plan, he may be sure of success. — Devoniensis. 



Glout Morceau Pear. — " R. T." in his description of 

 this Pear, (p. 71G), suggests that the meaning of the 

 word "Glout" may be explained by the synonym 

 44 Goulu," which he says " was recently observed in the 

 Catalogue of M. Henrard, of Liege." " Pois Goulus," 

 according to Chambaud, " signifies Sugar-peas, Honey- 

 peas. The Pear in question may be accordingly termed 

 a sugared or honied morsel." Now the only significa- 

 tion of Pois Goulus in the Dictionary of the Academy is, 

 " Peas of which the shell or husk is eaten, because it is 

 tender, and has not that small hard interior membrane 

 which is found in other husks." If, therefore, Glout is 

 to be considered the same as Goulu, may not the Pear 

 in question have been so named from the extreme 

 fineness of the skin, which may be eaten more easily 

 than the skin of most Pears ? The Dictionary of the 

 Academy gives no other signification to the wor-i 

 "Goulu" than "Gluttonous," and it is, I apprehend, 

 applied in that sense to the above-named Peas, as the 

 eating shells and all has doubtless rather a greedy ap- 

 pearance. — Guichenet. 



Botanical Lectures, $c. — In Hogarth's Works, pub- 

 lished in 1 808,by Longman and Co. , and edited by Nicholls 

 and Steevens, I observe the following notice in a note at 

 p. 348, vol i., under the datel7G2 :— " That Dr. Morell, 

 Curate of Kew, Twickenham, &c., preached, for several 

 years, the Botanical Lecture at Shoreditch Church." Did 

 you ever hear of this lecture : or canyou inform me whether 

 it is still delivered ? If a sum of money has been left 

 for such a purpose, and it has been diverted to another, 

 perhaps it might be possible to recover it, and use it ac- 

 cording to the donor's intention. Such a. lecture would 

 now be very gratifying to many, though want of encou- 

 ragement no doubt was the cause of its dying away. Can 

 you likewise inform me if the Boyle Lectures are still 

 delivered, and in what place ? In competent hands these 

 likewise might be made very interesting and acceptabl 



■p r* J J 



Cul.nl Melons.— I quite agree with Mr. Fleming with 

 regard to the Hoo>-.iinee and Cabul Melons. I observed | 

 at the time at which Mr. Cuthili's advertisement appeared 

 in the Chronicle, that he took the Hoosainee to be the 

 Cabul, or rather the Trentham Hoosainee to be that 

 variety. With respect to the Trentham Hoosainee, of 



which Mr. Fleming is proud, I have little to say; but 

 this I well know, if as he says it is a free bearer and ex- 

 quisite in flavour, it is the first hybrid that ever was of 

 any use. I wish to be properly understood : if it is a good 

 hybrid Melon it is one of the first that ever was really 

 good. We too often find Persian Melons hybrids in, 

 this country, and that to the utter ruin of sorts. The 

 kinds that Mr. Fleming chose for his parent plants 

 are both good when well grown ; still, strange as it may 

 appear, they seldom or ever produce good hybrids, how- 

 ever careful one may be in performing the operation of 

 hybridising : this I have proved. I have known many 

 gardeners to have produced what they call their hybrids ; 

 and what are they ? Any thing but good. I am fully con- 

 need that the flavour of a Melon depends much on the 

 cultivation, or the cultivator, if he is in possession of 

 good and true sorts. I have known seeds to be given to 

 two gardeners out of the same packet, of the true Ispa- 

 han Melon, sent to me direct from the city of Ispahan 

 in Persia, from which I believe it takes its name : the 

 produce of one was very similar to that of the Vegetable 

 Marrow ; and the produce of the other was fine Melons 

 from G to 8 lbs. in weight, and of a most excellent flavour. 

 This cannot always be said of hybrids, but quite the re- 

 verse ; they are more like the former, Vegetable Marrow, 

 however good the treatment may have been. I have 

 grown the Hoosainee, (but not Mr. Fleming's Hoosainee) 

 the original one : it is a good bearer, and as hardy as most 

 of the Persian sorts, excepting the Germek. I have 

 grown a hybrid between the Ispahan and the Green 

 Hoosainee, which turned out to be very little better than 

 one of the old useless kinds. I may mention that I 

 have also grown the Cabul Melon in question for the 

 at five years, seeds of which were sent to me by a friend 

 in India : it is a very delicious Melon, thickly netted, 

 and possessing a sweet melting flesh. Last season I 

 grew 18 good fruit,4he produce of a first crop, in a 3-light 

 box, and 19 of a second crop ; thus making in all 37 good 

 Melons from 6 plants. This Melon has one great advan- 

 tage over many others, viz., the good property of keeping 

 for a length of time after being cut : I have known it to 

 keep good for 5 or 6 weeks. On the 10th November 

 last year I sent the last fruit to table. — W. McDonald, 

 King's Road, Chelsea. 



Almonds. — It is not generally known that the Almond 

 (Amygdalus communis) ripens iu tint country, and in fa- 

 vourable summers, such as our last, produces a large 

 crop of well-ripened fruit, which makes a very nice addi- 

 tion to the dessert during winter; they should be gathered 

 in November, stript of their outer shells, and laid out to 

 dry for about three weeks, or placed on shelves in the 

 fruit-room; afterwards let them be kept in very dry sand, 

 and used as they are wanted. They must not be left in 

 a damp place, as they speedily lose their aromatic flavour, 

 and decay in our moist climate. — J. R. 



Fuchsias. — Perhaps it may not be generally known 

 that at this season, when Fuchsias have done flowering, if 

 the strong shoots are divested of their lateral branches 

 aud tops, and packed in powdered charcoal, or perfectly 

 dry earth in boxes, and placed out of the reach of frost in 

 a cool place, they will retain their vitality until next 

 April, when they may be cut into lengths of about a foot 

 long, and planted with a dibble ; insert them into the 

 ground so as to leave about three inches of the cutting 

 above the surface in any place where they are wanted to 

 flower next summer. If kept tolerably moist they will be 

 found to make good flowering plants with little trouble, 

 and to any extent that may be required ; the sorts that 

 I have tried are Globosa, Globosa major, gracilis, virgata, 

 and conica ; they were packed in powdered charcoal on the 

 27th of October, and planted on the 6th of April. They 



flowered very well. — A. C. 



The Meaty-Bug. — I wish you would call attention to 

 Hereman's lotion for destroying the Mealy-bug, which is 

 such a pest in our stoves. His printed paper does not d© 

 him justice, for it conveys an idea that the small- 

 sized bottle will not be sufficient to effect rear as much as 

 it can really do. The only objection I had to make 

 was the high price of the lotion, which would prevent 

 its being used as freely as might be wished. He has since 

 sent me a modified preparation, concerning which my 

 gardener writes me word that he finds it equally effectual 

 and less likely to injure the foliage ; and that, 1 believe, 

 Mr. Hereman will be able to sell at a lower price. I found 

 the first lotion very effectual and harmless to the leaves 

 in general ; but in some instances hurting them very 

 much, if not washed off presently ; but it proved quite 

 harmless if washed off soon after the application. — JV. 

 Herbert, Manchester. [We should like to hear the ex- 

 perience of our correspondents who have used this sub- 

 stance. This statement in its favour, by the Dean of Man- 

 chester, is very important ; for certainly, if there is one 

 thing more troublesome than another in glass-houses, it is 

 this Mealy-bug. We must, however, beg those who may 

 favour us with communications, to authenticate them by 

 their signatures.] 



Medlars. — As this is the proper time to gather the 

 above, I would advise their being kept in the lol!owing 

 manner, which will effectually prevent them from acquir- 

 ing that dry rotten state, or tart disagreeable flavour to 

 which they are so liable : — Select a dry day for the pur- 

 pose, and see that none are bruised ; have them placed 

 singly on open shelves in a cool place, and look them 

 over once a week, and the moment one is found decay- 

 ing (not ripening), remove it, as one will taint the whole. 

 They are much affected by a minute Fungus, which 

 spreads in an incredibly short time, and destroys an im- 

 mense number. By attending to these directions, this 

 fruit will be eaten in perfection, which is seldom the case 

 in this country.— J. R- 



