November 14, 1878, ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
373 
Few of the larvee of the Pyrales totally hide themselves from 
view, though some feed in leaves slightly drawn together. 
Often they have a transparent or glassy appearance, as has 
that excessively common larva of B. sambucalis, which strips 
the Nettles in company with B. urticalis. The moths generally 
sit by day on palings or trunks of trees, escaping detection by 
their attitude or colour ; some, however, fly during the day in 
anundulating manner. A notable insect—referred to by sundry 
authors, some of whom put it in this group, while others 
think that it belongs to the Tortrocina—is that enemy of the 
Vine designated the Vine Pyralis, or more correctly Cinectra 
pillereana. Fortunately for us it is a species of extreme rarity 
in most parts of Britain, and, according to Mr. Stainton, its 
sole food as yet observed is the seeds of Iris fcetidissima ; but 
in France it has a history attaching to that of the Vine which 
reaches back to the sixteenth century, when in 1562 “ prayers, 
processions, and exorcisms”’ were tried to check the ravages of 
the creature. If we are to believe the old chroniclers it first 
showed itself in the vicinity of Paris ; even as recently as the 
years 1836-38 the pest was terribly abundant in many depart- 
ments ; now probably for some time the Phylloxera is destined 
to supplant it, such revolutions amongst insects being not un- 
usual, On the whole I suppose the Phylloxera from its sly 
habits might be adjudged to be the worse foe, but modern 
science suggests methods of dealing with these enemies con- 
cerning which our ancestors were quite in the dark. The 
French have, however, long been alive to the fact that the 
Vine Pyralis is best nipped in the bud—that is, destroyed in 
the egg state, the leaves laden with these being hunted up and 
burned or buried deeply. According to Figuier the loss through 
this insect (mainly) in the two departments of the Sadne-et- 
Loire and the Rhone during 1837 alone amounted to three 
millions and a half of francs. 
The habits of this foe of the Vine are somewhat peculiar. 
Some time in July the moths—the wings of which expand 
about three-quarters of an inch, and which have palpi thrice 
the length of the head—are noticed flying over the Vines, 
laying eggs in little clusters that are fortunately rather con- 
spicuous. Hatching in August the young caterpillars are little 
inclined to revel in the foliage that is then abundant, butin the 
course of a few weeks they hybernate in cracks and crannies 
in or near the Vines ; re-appearing in spring they attack the 
young leaves and the just-expanding flowers at a most critical 
time, binding these in masses, within which they are themselves 
concealed. ‘‘ Desperate diseases require desperate remedies” 
says the proverb, and very probably the comparative immunity 
that the vineyards now enjoy is due to a proceeding advised by 
M. Andorim about thirty years ago. On his recommendation 
the proprietors carried out an extensive destruction of the Vine 
props and the shoots in which the caterpillars had harboured. 
The “China-Marks” are a singular family amongst the 
Pyrales, taking their name from a fanciful resemblance be- 
tween the markings upon their wings and those upon choice 
porcelain. Hach of the caterpillars of the four British species 
leads an aquatic or semi-aquatic life ; the typical species, Hy- 
drocampa stagnalis, subsists upon the common Duckweed, con- 
structing therefrom a kind of case, or from the leaves of a 
Potamogeton. These caterpillars can live entirely under water, 
or partly within it, when plunging beneath its surface they 
carry down with them a bubble of air. Most of the Hydro- 
campe have gills like filaments by which they breathe. One 
species actually passes its chrysalis stage amongst submerged 
leaves, and how the delicately winged moth in coming out 
escapes drowning remains somewhat a mystery. Passing by 
the group of the Pearls—to one example of which allusion has 
been made, the moths of which have lustrous wings, in some 
instances dark, in others pale—we arrive at the large family of the 
Veneers (Crambina). Stray specimens belonging to the Cram- 
bina enter gardens, but the majority are to be found in fields, 
on grassy banks, and amongst Reeds or Sedges. Individuals of 
the Gigantic Veneer (Schcenobius gigantellus) are occasionally 
taken measuring 2 inches across the wings; ordinarily they 
would be half an inch less, but most of the Veneers do not 
exceed the inch. From the manner in which the wings fold 
over the thorax the pinning-out of specimens gives the col- 
lector some trouble, as well as the subsequent naming. Some 
species, indeed, are easily recognised, like the Wainscot Veneer 
(Chilo phragmitellus), after which the enthusiast has often 
tushed deep into the mire of sedgy islets, but the majority are 
puzzling to make out, nor are they, from the habits of the 
larvee, frequently detected in their earlier stages. 
The Honeycomb Moth (Galleria cerella) is a Crambus with 
propensities that make it much disliked by bee-keepers. It 
appears to attack both bee hives and the nests of wild bees, 
and in hives the larvee not only damage the comb, but by 
pressure they cause the death ofa number of young bees. The 
food sought by this insect is the wax, not the honey, and in 
order to protect themselves from the possible attacks of the 
bees, the larvee form long silken galleries within which they 
reside, only thrusting out the horny head and the front seg- 
ments when they feed. In some cases it is evident the moth 
cannot escape but must die in the hive, and this probably 
assists in keeping down their numbers. The less common 
moths (Melia sociella and Achroia grisella) are also wax-eaters 
with similar habits—J. R. S. C. 
WORK FOR THE WEEK. 
KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Laying Down Broccoli.—Spring Broccoli in some soils is apt to 
become very luxuriant, and from the succulent character of the 
growth to be more susceptible of injury by frost than that grown 
thinly in comparatively poor soil. It is a capital practice, when 
the growths are luxuriant and the plants long in the stem, to 
lay them with the heads towards the north. ‘The soil is taken 
out with a spade on the north side of the plant, deepest near 
the stem and shallowing outward, so as to admit the stem of 
the plant being covered-up to the head. The spade is then in- 
serted to the south of the plant and 9 inches or so from it, and 
the plant is laid in the trench and covered with soil obtained, 
by making the opening for the next plant. In covering the stems 
the soil should be trodden rather firmly. The operation of laying 
the plants checks their growth, and the stems being buried the 
plants are in a condition to withstand the rigour of a severe 
winter ; indeed we have often known those so treated escape 
injury, whilst those having the stems exposed have been seriously 
damaged. That very desirable autumn Broccoli, Veitch’s Self- 
protecting, is now turning-in, and though it is hardier than Snow’s. 
and any of the Cauliflowers, it yet is desirable to break a few 
leaves over the heads so as to make all safe. When the heads 
are about the size of a breakfast cup the plants may be lifted and 
placed in frames or pits in moist soil, where the heads will keep. 
in good condition for a long time. 
Autumn-sown Onions, Lettuces, &c., and that valuable crop 
Winter Spinach, are often allowed to stand so thick upon the 
ground, and also to be encumbered with weeds, as by depriving: 
the plants of light and air to induce a tender weakened growth 
succumbing to frosts, which plants properly thinned and kept 
free of weeds withstand with comparatively little or no injury. 
When the plants are kept thin their growth is solidified and in 
the best condition for resisting wet and cold. See that the plants 
are not too thick and their growth not retarded by weeds and 
fallen leaves, but keep them clean, and healthy crops will follow. 
FLOWER GARDEN. 
Falling leaves will keep the broom in constant use for some 
time yet ; although it is hardly to be expected that grounds in the 
immediate vicinity of deciduous trees can be kept in good order, 
yet those in charge will need to be ever on the alert to detect any- 
thing that detracts in any way from the neatness that should 
prevail in all gardens. Lawns can scarcely have the roller passed 
over them too often, which, besides improving the texture of the 
grass, is a quicker and better way of removing wormeasts than 
sweeping. Some lawns may yet require to have the machine 
passed over them, as the grass by growing irregularly presents an 
untidy appearance. Weeds, such as Plantains, Daisies, &c., should 
be removed, detracting as they do from the rich velvety appear- 
ance of the lawn, the pride of English pleasure grounds. Walks, 
too, must be well swept and rolled, as by such means only can 
they be made comfortable; those having the surface loose ad- 
mitting wet are more readily acted upon by frost, rendering them 
unsightly and disagreeable. 
Where it is intended to make new beds or borders of Roses. 
those about to plant should, with a view to securing good plants, 
give their orders at once, as the earliest planters generally have the 
pick. Nurserymen, like other traders} wishful to supply a good 
article, do so upon the principle of supplying the best first, best 
last, and consequently best always. The soil should be trenched. 
a liberal dressing of manure being given and mixed with the soil 
beneath with a fork, and another good dressing given at the sur- 
face, which should be forked-in. This is {all that good’ loams 
require. Soils naturally stiff suit Roses on the Briar, light soils 
inducing suckers, which enfeeble the plants; on such soils the 
Manetti stock should be employed, and if the cuttings have been. 
properly made there will be no growth from the stocks. Manetti 
roots do not produce true suckers, but if eyes are left in the stocks 
these will grow much too freely. If small lumps of clay can be 
mixed with light soil the application will be highly beneficial. 
Soils not only light but shallow will be improved by being liber- 
ally mulched with manure. Some Roses do well on their own 
roots, especially in light soil, but they are best worked. In plant- 
ing those on the Manetti they should be planted so that the junc- 
