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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Its attacks are characterised by yellowish or brownish blotches on the 

 upper surface of the leaf, - and often these blotches are very numerous, as 

 many as sixty-eight full-grown caterpillars having been taken from one leaf. 

 The eggs are laid in June, and the caterpillars reach their full size about 

 the middle of July, remaining as pupae only about eight to ten days, and 

 the larvae hatched from the eggs laid by this generation reach maturity 

 about September 1. This brood lines its burrows with a dense layer of 

 fine white silk, and hibernates therein, either as pupae or larvae, until 

 about May. The perfect insect has a dark-brown shining head and upper 

 wings, the latter being purplish and dusted with pale yellow ; the hind 

 wings are dark grey. It measures about 3 mm. in length, and about 

 8 mm. across the expanded wings. The insect has been found in 

 Germany by Frey and Boll (Stett. EnU Zeit. xxxix. p. 254) on leaves 

 of imported apples. — F. J. C. 



Arachnanthe annaraensis. By R. A. Rolfe (Bot. Mag. tab. 

 8062). — Annam. Nat. ord. Orchidaceae ; tribe Vandeae. A stout, erect 

 plant, 18 inches high. Flowers large, ground colour, bright red-brown 

 and yellow bands ; sepals and petals long and narrow. — G. H. 



Aristolocia elegans. By Ad. van den Heede (Le Jardin, vol. xx. 

 No. 471, p. 294 ; October 5, 1906). — This variety has small leaves and 

 sweet-scented flowers of a dull purple colour blotched with cream. 

 Easily cultivated in cool greenhouse, and remarkably free from insects. 

 This species was introduced in 1885, but has been overlooked in favour 

 of the well-known A. Sipho, which is rampant in most gardens. 



F. A. W. 



Asparagus Miner and Beetles. By F. H. Chittenden (U.S.A. 

 Dep. Agr., Bur. Ent., Bull. 66, pt. i. ; March 1907 ; 2 figs.).— The larva 

 of a minute black two-winged fly (Agromyza simplex Loew) mines under 

 the epidermis of the asparagus stalk, feeding there until the pupa state is 

 reached, when the skin bursts and the presence of the insect is revealed. 

 It is generally found near the base of the stalk, penetrating to 7 or 8 inches 

 below ground. It occurs mostly in the Eastern States and is native in 

 America. Two methods of control offer themselves : (1) trapping by 

 allowing a few stray asparagus plants to grow and so attract the insects ; 

 and (2) by pulling old affected stems as soon as the trouble is discovered. 

 Co-operation will be necessary over a considerable area if this remedy is 

 to prove effective. 



Good results have followed the use of arsenate of lead as a spray 

 against asparagus beetle (Ciroceris asp>aragi), in some experiments 90 to 

 100 per cent, of the insects having been killed. The twelve-spotted 

 asparagus beetle has been found to develop and to feed where possible 

 exclusively on the asparagus berry. — F. J. C. 



Asparagus Sprengeri. By C. H. Wright (Bot. Mag. tab. 8052).— 

 Natal. Nat. ord. Liliaceae ; tribe Asparageae. A climbing shrub. Leaf- 

 spines 1-2 lines long; phyllocladia solitary or 2-4 together, flat, linear ; 

 fruit globose, crimson. — G. II. 



