May 5, 1863. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



331 



out any variation (a fact of some importance in reference to the 

 geographical modification of Bpecies). He had also observed 

 that when its nest was built under stones of a black colour the 

 stone was left uncovered, but if the stone were white or light 

 coloured, it was covered with charcoal or other dark material, 

 the object of which, as suggested by the President, being the 

 increase of temperature arising from the dark colour. The 

 species of the genus Polvracha make their nests of leaves, the 

 margins of which are glued together by the insects ; but one 

 species forms burrows in the stumps of the Eucalyptus, which 

 is so hard and heavy that it sinks in water. The species of 

 Mynnecia are of large size and very formidable for their stings, 

 the poison of which is, however, of a very transitory kind. Their 

 larvae when full grown form a cocoon which is by no means a 

 common character in the Myrmecides, to which division of the 

 family the genus belongs. One of the species, M. nigro-eincta, 

 is able to leap to a distance of 2 or 3 feet, although the legs are 

 not apparently dilated or formed otherwise than for running. 



A letter was read frorn Mr. C. A. Wilson, of Adelaide, giving 

 an account of a recent exploration across the interior of Australia, 

 with notices of some of the insects observed. In the splendid 

 family of Beetles, Buprestidte, not fewer than 150 species had 

 been collected by Mr. F. G. Waterhouse. 



Mr. W. C. Hewitson read descriptions of two new beautiful 

 exotic species of Butterflies, from Bogota, one named Morpho 

 Alexandra, in honour of the Princess of Wales ; and the other 

 Papilio Burehaliii. 



Mr. Rowland Trimen sent descriptions of three new species of 

 Butterflies captured in the neighbourhood of the Cape of Good 

 Hope, specimens of which had been forwarded to the Society in 

 a post let ter. 



Herr Tollenhoven, of Leyden, also forwarded a notice of the 

 great work on which the Dutch Government is at present 

 engaged, containing an account of the zoological productions 

 of the Dutch settlements in the Eastern Archipelago, the first 

 entomological part of which is nearly ready for publication. 



THE TOAD, 



DOES IT HABITUALLY CONSUME TTOE1IS ? 



Towards the close of one of those wet misty days usual in 

 the autumn, my attention was drawn last year to one of my 

 noble friends, a toad, seemingly in a stooping position, or with his 

 head down. As I had never seen him in such a position before, 

 I watched his movements. On perceiving me he resumed his erect 

 position, and I then saw protruding from one side of his mouth 

 part of a worm, in size evidently above the medium ; the so- 

 called head of the worm being within his mouth, whilst the 

 opposite extremity struggled hard to release itself from the 

 firmly-closed mouth of its captor. 



I stood quiet, determined, if possible, to watch the issue ; but 

 my patience exhausted, I moved to go, when the toad moved 

 forward also, and at the same moment swallowed the worm. 

 It seems to be probable, that the toad habitually does consume 

 worms. This idea is strengthened when we take into con- 

 sideration the amount and frequency of its excrement generally, 

 which certainly is decidedly opposed to the idea that the more 

 minute insects which it is known to catch during the day, are its 

 only sustenance. — W. Earley, Digsaell. 



WORK FOE THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 

 The recent heavy rain will render the operation of continual 

 surface-stirring necessary : a light thin-tined fork to be used, 

 as it enters deeper into the soil and makes more effectual work 

 than any other implement. Small crane-necked hoes are useful 

 for stirring the soil amongst seedling crops. By all means avoid 

 treading on the soil after the operation is performed, especially 

 if the soil is at all wet. Continue to trench up all ground re- 

 maining or becoming vacant. Asparagus, the beds are now 

 coming into full bearing. The practice of allowing the shoots to 

 grow longer out of the ground before cutting is becoming more 

 generally adopted even by the market-gardeners, aud ought to 

 be universal : an inch or an inch and a half below the surface is 

 quite enough. Do not permit any to run up at present, not 

 even weak ones, and give the beds occasionally a good supply of 

 manure water with a little salt dissolved in it. Basil, as "also 

 Capsicums and Chilies, should now be undergoing the process 



of hardening previous to planting out. A portion of them to 

 be retained in heat for an early supply. Beans, make another 

 sowing of Longpod, or Green Windsor, or any other approved 

 sort. Earth-up the early crops, but if the weather is dry give 

 them a good watering previous to doing so. Broccoli, the seed- 

 beds to be frequently sprinkled with soot, wood-ashes, or dust 

 of some kind, to protect the young plants from the attacks of 

 what is commonly called the fly. The young seedlings some- 

 times disappear without any apparent cause ; but if they were 

 looked over about ten o'clock at night with a lighted candle, the 

 cause would appear in the shape of slugs. Two or three doses 

 of quicklime sprinkled over them will prove effectual for their 

 destruction. Carrots, if the main crop has failed, sow seed of 

 the Early Horn immediately. Cabbages, continue to plant them 

 out from the nursery-beds, and also the Cauliflowers as they 

 become large enough, and keep the earth well stirred about those 

 advancing. Cauliflowers and Cape Broccoli may still be sown 

 for a late supply, but there must be no delay. Parsley, thin 

 the early sowing as soon as it is up. Peas, earth-up and stick 

 the advancing crops, but before doing so they should be watered 

 if the soil is dry. Make another sowing. Potatoes, hoe and 

 stir the soil between the row! of the early out-door crops. 

 BadisJies, sow every ten days, and Letlucea every three weeks, 

 and Mustard and Cress every four or five days ; all in quantities 

 proportioned to the demand. A few of the earliest Radishes to 

 be left to seed, the pods for pickling. Scarlet Banners, make a 

 sowing in the open ground to succeed those that may have been 

 forwarded in boxes, and which will be ready to plant out the 

 latter end of the week. Turnips, thin the advancing crops, and 

 make another sowing of Stone to come on in July and August. 

 Vegetable Marrows, towards the end of the week have a ridge 

 prepared for turning them out on, and also Cucumbers under 

 hand-glasses. There is no better way than the usual one of 

 throwing out a trench 3 J- or 4 feet wide filling it up with ferment- 

 ing matter and returning the soil, but if the soil is not of a light 

 nature, it is advisable to get some light prepared compost laid 

 where the glasses are placed. Where any main crops have 

 failed no time should be lost in putting in more seed. 



HOWES GARDEN. 

 The late rains will be favourable for recently-planted shrubs, and 

 now the soil is damp no time should be lost in completing what- 

 ever in the shape of planting remains on hand. The herbaceous 

 ground to be well cleaned aud neatly raked over ; this cannot well 

 be done sooner, in consequence of many species being late in vege- 

 tating. See that standard Roses are secured against high winds. 

 Those which were budded last season to be again gone over, and 

 all the buds and suckers which proceed from the stock to be 

 removed : the inserted buds which have made shoots to be 

 stopped back to three joints, which will cause them to take a 

 firmer hold of the stock, and will increase the size of the head. 

 From those which are intended for budding upon this season, 

 rub-off all the buds with the exception of three well-placed ones 

 at the top of the stock. As the state of the soil and weather is 

 now favourable for commencing with the bedding-out stock, a 

 start to be made with the Calceolarias, Yerbenas, and similar 

 plants, reserving Heliotropes, Ageratums, and the more tender 

 kinds of Geraniums for the latest planting when the danger from 

 frost of any severity may be supposed to be over. Branches of 

 evergreens are easily obtained about most places, and a sprinkling 

 of these stuck into the beds after planting will be of great ser- 

 vice in protecting the plants from the drying effect of bright 

 sunshine, and will also help to ward off frost. 



ERUTT GARDEN. 



Moderate disbudding, or, rather, thinning, the shoots to be 

 persevered io, but they must now be removed with a sharp 

 knife, and not broken off, as the shoots are acquiring consistency. 

 Some of the strongest shoots of Peaches intended to remain will 

 require to be tacked-in. Stop the strongest shoots of Tines a 

 joint beyond the fruit, and commence nailing-in. Apricots being 

 generally used for tarts to be left until they are large enough for 

 that purpose. Pay attention to the destruction of insects on 

 fruit trees, in order to afford the young Bhoots a fair chance to 

 make healthy growth. See that recently-transplanted trees are 

 not allowed to suffer through want of water. Look after the 

 caterpillar on the Gooseberry trees. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



Where a large quantity of hardy shrubs is annually forced, 

 either to decorate the drawing-room or conservatory, it is not 

 desirable to pot a fresh stock each season, for a number of the 



