334- M. Vibert on the Cockchafer. 



good, and to be admired, when considered relatively to the circumstances 

 which called them forth ; that is, historically, or with reference to the state 

 of the human mind at the time, 



France. 



Vibert, M., Cultivator of Roses at Chenevieres-sur-Marne : Du Ver Blanc, 

 expose de ses Ravages et de la Necessite de le detruire sous la forme du 

 Hanneton; suivi d'uneNotice sur leCharancon gris et celui de laLiveche. 

 On the White Worm, showing its Ravages and the Necessity of destroy- 

 ing it while in the Cockchaffer state ; followed by a Notice on the Grey 

 Weevil [Curculio cineraceus] and the Lovage Weevil [C. ligustici]. 

 Paris. Pamph. 8vo, pp. 101. 



The above pamphlet, accompanied by the following letter, was sent us 

 by Mr. Calvert, the well-known cultivator of roses at Rouen : — 



Dear Sir, I send you a new publication on a subject that I think of 

 the utmost importance to horticulture, and, indeed, agriculture. I have 

 for the last two or three years been a great sufferer from the grub upon 

 which the author treats, namely, the larva of the cockchaffer. I had made 

 some remarks, and intended to have transmitted them to you, but M. 

 Vibert has anticipated me. I can bear witness to the truth of the insect's 

 devastations, and this year the garden of M. Soulange-Bodin has also 

 greatly suffered from it. The dry summer has much assisted and increased 

 the devastation. M. Soulange-Bodin has proposed to give 400/r., and 

 entreated other cultivators to join him in offering a reward to any person 

 who can find the means of destroying the larva. I was sorry to see, when 

 last in London, that the devastation has also begun in England-; for two 

 years ago I saw nearly the whole of Mr. Colville's new nursery, near Roe- 

 hampton, destroyed by them. I have myself lost near 50,000 rose trees, 

 and thisyear dahlias and all kinds of plants have more or less suffered. I think 

 M. Vibert has omitted to give a very important fact, and one, in my opi- 

 nion, which is the most likely to lead to a mode of destroying them. The 

 insect lays its eggs about June, and, in six weeks, they produce a very small 

 maggot, and, as soon as they get strength, they approach to within an inch 

 or less of the surface of the earth. In my opinion that is the best time to 

 destroy them in the ground. I have tried a solution of arsenic and water, 

 and succeeded, but my experiment was not on a large scale. I think some 

 remedy might be found. The great difficulty to overcome is, not to destroy 

 the plants in destroying the insect. Many attempts have been made, but 

 they always injured vegetation. I trust you will, in your excellent Maga- 

 zine, entreat every gardener's attention to the insect ; and indeed chemists, 

 in trying to destroy it without injuring vegetation, will find a scope for their 

 talents. He who succeeds in conquering this European locust will render 

 a great service, not only to agriculture and horticulture, but to society ; 

 indeed it will be an act of humanity to the peasantry of this country, as 

 I have seen many poor and industrious families ruined by this pest to vege- 

 tation. I shall be very happy to afford farther information in answer to any 

 enquiries that may be made by any person in his endeavours to destroy 

 them. I have the honour to remain, &c. — A. C. Calvert. Trianon Nur- 

 sery, near Rouen, October 18. 1827. 



We first sent M. Vibert's pamphlet to Mr. Swainson, who furnished the 

 article on the subject which we have published by itself, and, subsequently, 

 to our able and experienced contributor, Mr. Main, who supplied what 

 follows : — 



M. Vibert, after forty years' occupation of a garden, during the last six 

 of which he has been annoyed by the grub of the cockchaffer to a ruinous 

 extent, is resolved to leave a nursery which he can no longer cultivate to 



