Floriculture. 



&87 



dening purposes, although their cost is, I believe, only about half that of 

 the latter. — J.B.W. 



Earivigs. — The part of the plant these insects attack is the nectary ; and 

 if they can get at it by no other means, they at once proceed to eat their way 

 through the calyx. A piece of sponge, dipped in oil, and tied round the 

 bottom of the stick and flower-stem, is said to be a preventive. (Smith's 

 Florist's Magazine, p. 85., art. Picotees.) 



The Wireivorm, which is said to be the larva of a species of click-beetles 

 (the Hemirhipus Hneatus or obscurus, or both), is another formidable insect. 

 " Entomologists say that they remain in the larva state for five years, during 

 which time they feed upon the roots of vegetables. They work below the 

 surface of the soil, which makes it the more difficult to destroy them. They 

 invariably attack the pink and the carnation at the bottom of the stem, near 

 the root, and make holes through it in every direction ; while the only indi- 

 cation of their presence is the entire destruction of the plant. The larva is, 

 in general, found in the loam ; therefore great care should be taken, in 

 sweetening that soil, not to allow one to escape when it is turned over; and 

 their colour being a light brown, makes the finding of them more difficult. 

 They are about li in. long, with a dark-coloured head, with jointed feet 

 placed near the head. The best way to get rid of them is to bury slices of 

 potatoes, turnips, carrots, beet, cabbage-stumps, or young lettuce plants, 

 about 1 in. below the surface, and mark the place with a stick : these baits 

 must be examined every day, and all that are found on them destroyed. This 

 was the plan adopted by Sir Joseph Banks ; and no better is now known. 

 The grub is also a great enemy of the carnation. It is almost always 

 found in pastiu-e loam, and it lies concealed just below the surface of the 

 earth ; but it will ascend the stem of the plants, &ajs Mr. Hogg, during 

 the night, and consume part of 

 the petals, eating holes in the 

 pod; and then it will descend 

 and bury itself for the day near 

 the foot of the stem. When the 

 blossom is in a dying state, it will 

 often secrete itself in the seed- 

 vessel, and devour the whole in- 

 terior." (Smith's Florist'' s Mag., 

 p. 86., art. Picotees.) 



FLORICULTURE. 



A Botanist's Spud. — Botanists 

 are often in want of an imple- 

 ment to get up the root of a 

 plant, when it may be very incon- 

 venient to encumber themselves 

 with any ordinary gardening tool 

 for that purpose. In this case a 

 pocket spud (^g.l09.) may afford 

 a useful substitute. The leathern 

 case, it need hardly be said, is for 

 the better security of the tool in 

 conveyance. The strap is affixed 

 to the under part of the case by 

 two sets of stitches, so as to ad- 

 mit of a string or riband being 

 "reeved" through, in order that 

 the spud may be tied to the but- 

 ton-hole, or worn round the 

 waist, &c., if such method be 



