August 23, 187 



JOUBNAL OP HOP.TICTJLTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. 



163 



Scarlet Tiger (Callimorpha Dominula) to be one of the hand- 

 somest of insects British or foreign. It is far scarcer than 

 the preceding, yet, like it, is usually found on or near waste 

 ground, where the caterpillar feeds on the Hound's-tongue. 

 Of special importance to us, however, are those Tigers which 

 in their larval state frequent gardens. There are three that 

 are capable of doing some amount of injnry, the largest species 

 being the Great Tiger (Chelonia gaja), the veritable "woolly 

 bear " of juveniles, and which one often sees in suburban 

 roads performing perilous journeys across, seeking a change of 

 diet probably. The long hairs, which are of a silky hoariness 

 in the adult caterpillar, prove, when the caterpillar has rolled 

 itBelf into a ball, an admirable protection from birds. It is 

 one of the species that hybernate in the larval stage, and of 

 the numerous changes of skin (amounting to eight, I think), 

 part are gone through in the autumn and part in the spring. 

 The leaves of the Hollyhock are much liked by this caterpillar, 

 but in the garden it will attack various plants. The Buff 

 Ermine (Arctia lubricepeda) is not properly a garden insect, 

 but whenever Docks and Chickweed are allowed to grow in the 

 vicinity of gardens the caterpillars of the species readily shift 

 themselves to cultivated ground. This caterpillar is palish in 

 colour with light brown hairs ; that of the White Ermine 

 (A. Menthastri), where the moth is lighter in colour, is much 

 darker, and though this occurs in all sortB of places duriDg the 

 autumn, it is quite at home in the flower or the kitchen garden. 

 Both species Bpin their cocoons before winter, and these should 

 be looked up and destroyed during the dull season, as every 

 female killed means the extinction of two or three hundred 

 eggs. Most of the moths of this family are sluggish, but not 

 bo the Clouded Buff (Euthemonia russula), whioh flies on 

 heaths during the day pretty briskly. 



The family of the Liparidae contains several species of im- 

 portance, which may now be passed over with slight mention, 

 as they have been fully spoken of in a previous series of papers. 

 Two species whioh do much harm on the Continent to the 

 fruit trees are the Gipsy (Liparis dispar) and the Brown-tail 

 (L. chrysorrhiBa). The former of these wbb once of not un- 

 frequent occurrence in Britain, but it has now become quite a 

 rarity; the latter, though local, is abundant where it is found, 

 yet seems now with ub to restrict itself to the Whitethorn and 

 Sloe. Its next-of-kin, the Gold-tail, is generally distributed, 

 and the caterpillar feeds also on the Whitethorn ; in disposi- 

 tion, however, it differs from the Brown-tail, for while the 

 caterpillars of L. chrysorrhasa construct a common abode in 

 which each brood tarries during bad weather, the individuals 

 belonging to L. auriflua construct separate cocoons in the 

 autumn, where each caterpillar leads a hermit life until the 

 spring. The rather inconspicuous imago of the Pale Tussock 

 (Orgyia pudibunda) is produced from a gay caterpillar of light 

 green with black bands, having brushes or pencils of hair, 

 which originated the name " Tussock " applied to thiB and 

 some similar species. Hop-picuers call thiB caterpillar the 

 "Hop-dog," though it is not limited in its choice of aliment, 

 as it visits numerous trees and shrubs. To this family also 

 belongs that fanny little moth, the Vapourer (0. antiqua), 

 and if ths caterpillar feeds on a great variety of plants in 

 shrubberies and gardens, by that circumstance it is prevented 

 from doing much harm to any one species, for it is not exces- 

 sively common. The eggs may easily be destroyed in the 

 winter, as they are deposited on the cocoon by the wingless 

 females. It is one of the very few insects that has for cen- 

 turieB braved the noise and smoke of the city of London, 

 breeding on the Limes, which Btruggle for life amid the gloom 

 of some old churchyards there. Lastly, it should be noted 

 that in the family Liparidse we have this peculiarity, that the 

 pupa or chrysalis is hairy as well as the caterpillar. — J. B. S. C. 



SILVEB VAEIEGATED DECIDUOUS TEEES. 



The golden and scarlet variegation among trees ia justly 

 admired and eagerly sought by connoisseurs. Of equal beauty, 

 although of softer brilliancy, is the silver variegation. The 

 silver-frosted vase has ita own charms, even in contact with 

 that which is golden-chased. Among these silver trees the 

 following are worthy of notice : — 



Variegated Ash-leaved Maple (Acer Negundo variegatum) is 

 well known, and has a pure white variegation, covering half 

 the leaf. Its effect upon a lawn is particularly fine, and it is 

 highly valued in England and one or two localities in this 

 country. It suffers fatal injury from our summer Buns, and 

 is not much used here except aa a pot plant. 



Variegated Ash is a very beautiful variety, not yet known in 

 Europe, but recently sent to Flushing from Japan by Thomas 

 Hogg. Its white is well defined and pare, covering nearly half 

 the leaf and fairly rivalling the preceding in its beauty. It will 

 be a very valuable addition to this class of trees. 



Another variegated Ash from Japan is a new and curious 

 variety, with its irregular blotching of silver or gold. Being 

 of dwarf habit, it would find a striking position in front of a 

 mass of dark-foliaged shrubs. 



Variegated Japan Dogwood (Cornus brachybotrya variegata) 

 was also sent from Japan by Thomas Hogg, and promises to 

 be the moat striking and valuable of the silver variegations. 

 Ita hardiness has been thoroughly proved in this country, both 

 in winter and summer. The white, or light yellow, is clear, 

 pure, and well defined, covering half the leaf, and a group of 

 it on a lawn would be a striking object. It i9 very difficult to 

 propagate, and must remain rare aome time. 



Another variegated Dogwood is the Cornus mascula variegata, 

 which runs from silver to gold, but of a decided and permanent 

 colour. It is a tree of moderate growth, scarcely above the 

 largest of the shruba. Its fruit, like that of the common 

 variety, is eBteemed by many. It formed a pleasant addition 

 to my daily dessert when spending a few montha in Lausanne, 

 Switzerland, in the markets of which it was regularly offered 

 for sale. 



Silver-edged Oak (Quercus pedunculata variegata) ia a very 

 beautiful variety, clearly and permanently marked with a well- 

 defined margin of white, which the hottest sun does not affect. 



Spotted Oak (Quercus pedunculata punctata) is spotted with 

 white points, and is somewhat changeable in colour. 



White-and-green Oak (Quercus pedunculata albo-viridi) ia 

 irregularly blotched with white, changing more or less into 

 gold. 



Variegated Cherry (Cerasua Mahaleb variegata) haa downy 

 glaucous shoots, ovate glaucous leaves, and a white margin. 

 It is a striking variety. 



Silver Medlar (Me3pilus argentea variegata). The leaves 

 have a faint pink tinge, with a silver- marbled variegation. 



Mottled Elm (Ulmus campestris punctata variegata). A 

 mottled variety, with broad blotches of ailvery white following 

 the nerves. 



White-edged Elm (Ulmus montana albo-marginata). Deeply 

 silver-variegated towards the top and margins, with reddish 

 leaf stems. 



Japanese Silver-leaved Maple (Acer polymorphum albo-varie- 

 gatum). A variety with deeply cut leaves, variegated with 

 white, yellow, and green, and apparently of very recent intro- 

 duction. 



The preceding are a few of the best variegated trees, and 

 are all perfectly hardy against our coldest winters. — S. B. 

 Paesons (in Mural New Yorker). 



NOTES on VILLA and SUBUBBAN GABDENING. 



Now that flower gardens are at their brightest and the various 

 colours are clearly defined it is the time to make noteB of pro- 

 posed alterations, to prepare plans, and to renew fresh stocks in 

 accordance with the requirements for another season's supply; 

 therefore push forward the propagation of all kinds of bedding 

 planta as rapidly aa possible. Cuttings of almost everything 

 invariably strike more readily and have time to become sturdy 

 and well hardened-off if inserted now than when inserted later 

 in the season. The considerable improvements made in carpet 

 bedding during the last three or four years have caused a very 

 noticeable falling-off in both the Gold anfl Silver-variegated 

 sections of Geraniums, nevertheless they are still preferred by 

 many amateur growers who do not possess the convenience of 

 keeping the more tender subjects so necessary for the arrange- 

 ments of carpet beds daring the long winter months ; whereas 

 Geraniums are kept alive with a modicum of trouble, requiring 

 just merely heat enough to prevent damp and to exclude frost. 



The present season around London has been very favourable 

 to the growth of our various bedding Geraniums, and the plants 

 are now just in the prime for yielding cuttings. These should 

 be tolerably hard and firm, as gross watery sbootB are liable to 

 damp-off. But in selecting cuttings the beauty and immediate 

 effect of the beds must not be destroyed ; a judicious thinning 

 in the case of Geraniums is the best, and let this be done so 

 evenly and regularly that anyone not seeing the operation 

 performed could not tell from whence a cutting was removed. 

 We generally go over the aorts required and take the cuttings 

 off with a sharp knife, and place them in a basket and take 

 them to the potting-shed, where the base of each shoot is cut 

 clean across and the bottom leaves are removed; in the case 

 of very Btrong cuttings of Geraniums the leaves are further 



