AngnBt 8, 1871. ] 



JOUENAL OF HOBTIOULTUBB AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



89 



plants, and even destroying small trees, the tops o£ which its 

 subscaudent stems are able to reach. The fruit of this plant 

 is so acceptable to frugivoroua birds of all kiods that, through 

 their instrumentality, it is spreading rapidly, to the complete 

 exclusion of the indigenous vegetation from spots where it 

 becomes established. — {Nature.) 



SOME PREDATORY INSECTS OF OUR 

 GARDENS.— No. U. 



Does it not at first appear a little remarkable, that amongst 

 those who pursue the study of insects, or who collect them as 

 an amusement merely, so great a preponderance will be found 

 confining their attention to the order Lepidoptera ? Some few 

 species of other orders have had their ardent students, it is 

 true, especially those whioji, living in societies, such as the ant 

 and the bee, display marvellous instincts ; and late years have 

 swelled the number of beetle collectors : but the majority of 

 entomologists prefer butterflies and moths, and seek them out 

 partly because of the surpassing beauty they present to view, 

 and partly because their transformations possess more seeming 

 interest than those of flies or beetles, and they are certainly 

 more easily observed. Lepidopterists, consequently, outnum- 

 ber all the other insect-hunters in the proportion of at least a 

 dozen to one. And though it is not very easy to create an 

 interest in the popular mind regarding the beauty of any insect, 

 it is by exhibiting some butterflies or moths that we do some- 

 times manage to create an impression. 



This brings me to the observation with which I had meant 

 to commence my paper, but at which I have arrived in a cir- 

 cuitous way — viz., that of the two principal divisions amongst 

 our Lepidoptera, it is usually supposed that the butterflies far 

 surpass the moths in gaiety of colouring. To some extent 

 this holds good, when we examine only the larger species 

 amongst the moths, but if we look at some of the diminutive 

 individuals, we find such brilliant hues as would put them 

 fully on a level with the gay and sportive butterflies, as far as 

 beanty extends, if they had but size. There are many of these 

 small moths which are denizens of our gardens — a few actually 

 injurious to fruit or vegetables, a larger number rather annoy- 

 ing than really hurtful, because by their destructive powers, or 

 by the habitations which they form for themselves, they dis- 

 figure various plants and trees. An insect may be so small as 

 to be apparently insignificant; but when even a tiny moth 

 larva occurs by the thousand, or a multiple of that figure, it is 

 easy to see the eiieots produced thereby. A very obvious in- 

 stance of this is given us by a species which occurs abundantly 

 in woods nearly every season, and strips the Oaks of their 

 leaves. Showers of the Green Oak Moth (Tortrix viridana), 

 may be shaken from their resting-places on the boughs of the 

 trees in July, and feeble and harmless as is the perfect insect, 

 its progeny can make the lofty " monarch of the forest " assume 

 a rather desolate aspect early in the summer. 



This, however, does not visit gardens, but it has plenty 

 of near relatives which do so, and a very notable one is 

 the Wceberian Tortrix (Semasia Wceberana). It differs, how- 

 ever, in its habit 

 from the Green 

 Oak Tortrix, in- 

 asmuch as the 

 caterpillar is not 

 a leaf-feeder, but 

 devours the in- 

 ner bark of trees, 

 working away 

 very persever- 

 ingly, and only 

 betraying its pre- 

 sence by a sort 

 of powdery substance, or " frass," which is ejected from the 

 minute holes which are observable in the outer bark. As is 

 often the case with our larval enemies, we only become con- 

 scious of the mischief this species is doing when the worst 

 has almost been done — at least by that particular brood. 

 Wood, in his recently published little work on British moths, 

 speaks of Tortrix Wceberana aa a particular enemy of the 

 Peach, the Plum, and other allied species which produce drupes. 

 But Kirby and Spence had long ago pointed out that it fre- 

 quently attacked Pomaeeons trees, and it is unquestionably the 

 fact that both the Apple and the Pear have their vigour im- 

 paired thereby, though it may not, in the case of these, so far 

 afieet the tree as to diminish the amount of fruit produced. 



Tortrix Wceberana. 



The caterpillars of this species rarely, if ever, touch the solid 

 wood of the tree, confining themselves to the inner layer of the 

 bark, as observed, and seemingly only making holes in the 

 outer bark for the purpose of convenient migration from one 

 part of the tree to another. In most years two broods have 

 been noticed in the south. There is invariably one in April, 

 from which moths emerge in May, and another hatch may be 

 looked for in July, followed by moths again in August. It has 

 been recommended by some to strip oft and destroy all the 

 bark which appears to be infected ; a rigorous remedy indeed, 

 and likely to result in worse consequences than the disease ! 

 With more show of reason, others advise the application of a 

 little oil to all the holes which are seen — a rather tedious pro- 

 cess certainly. The best preventive would be to destroy the 

 eggs, which are largish for the species, could they be found, 

 but this is not easy, since the parent moths usually conceal 

 them in cracks. No very cffuctual plan of dealing with this 

 and other sub-oortical larvas has been devised. — J. E. S. C. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN QAIiDEN. 



Attend to destroying weeds at all favourable opportunities, 

 as their seeding this month entails endless trouble in the- 

 autumn. Plant thickly a good breadth of Cabbages in rich 

 ground, to furnish Winter Greens. Put in a good breadth of 

 Endive and Lettuce for the autumn supply, and sow some 

 hardy sort of Lettuce for planting-out under south walls, or in 

 frames, to come in after the frost cuts off the out-door supply- 

 Attend to cutting and drying Herbs as they are ready. Pre- 

 pare ground for winter Onions. The main breadth of Spinach 

 should be sown at once. Dig-down exhausted plantations of 

 Strawberries, and have the ground planted with winter crops if 

 there is not already sufficient of these planted, and make a 

 further sowfng of Turnips, it these are likely to be scarce before 

 the winter is over. In sowing at this season crops which do 

 not come to perfection till spring, and which are expected to 

 grow more or less throughout the winter, the ground should 

 not only be well manured but trenched to a considerable depth, 

 that tbe rains and snows of winter may pass quickly beyonci: 

 the reach of the roots, and that a comparative dryness and 

 wsrmth may be thus maintained around the roots of growing 

 plants. Those who have observed how quickly snow thaws OE' 

 well-drained land owing to its high temperature, will at once 

 understand how important the above conditions are to crops 

 which are expected to make way in the depth of winter. 



FKUIT GAEDEN. 



No superfluous shoots ought to be kept on Peaches, Nec- 

 tarines, and Apricots after this month, so that the wood for 

 the ensuing year may be well ripened. Pears, Plums, and 

 Cherries on the walls and espaliers are amenable to the same 

 laws. The Alpine Strawberry ought to be encouraged this 

 month by trimming-off runners and placing slates under the 

 iruit. About the end of the month is a good time to plant a 

 bed of Hautbois Strawberry ; if planted earlier they sometimes 

 blossom in the autumn. 



FLOWER GAEDEN. 



Where bedding-out on a large scale is practised, the pro- 

 pagation and preservation of the annual supply of plants be- 

 comes an important part of the gardener's duty. That the 

 result may answer the expectation at planting time, a careful 

 calculation of the number required, and the means there are 

 of preserving them through the winter, should be made. The 

 next thing to consider is the kinds which require immediate 

 attention to have them well-established before winter, those 

 which may be deferred a month or so longer, and, again, what 

 can be propagated in sufficient numbers in the spring, pro- 

 vided a few store pots of each be kept for the purpose. In 

 the first class may be placed nearly all the varieties of Fancy 

 and bedding-out Geraniums (except Scarlets and their allies, 

 which may wait a short time longer), Orassulas, Lantanas, Me- 

 sembryanthemnms. Hydrangeas, and plants of timilar habit, 

 which require to be established and have tbeir wood matured 

 before winter. Next may follow Heliotropes, Salvias, Verbenas, 

 Petunias, Lobelias, &e. ; of the latter three, if pit or house-room 

 is an object, a few store pots only of each kind need be kept, 

 as with the assistance of a little heat in the spring a stock is 

 soon obtained, and spring-struck plants if properly grown 

 generally start better than older ones. The new plants which 

 have been planted out on trial should likewise have their dis- 

 tinctive features noted down, with their colours and habit, to 

 ascertain if in any certain class a better colour or habit is 



