XXvi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
on the north side ; but the smaller all around the stem from bottom to- 
top. One of the largest trees shed all its leaves in August, and it looks- 
as if the whole of the trees will die. 
Mr. McLachlan sends the following report : — " The Elms are attacked, 
by the larvae of a beetle. No perfect beetles are to be found in ihe bark 
sent, but there are numerous larvae, each in a small cell, in which it will 
undergo its transformations. So far as can be judged from these larvae,, 
they are those of Scohjtus destructor, so common in many places. In 
order to destroy them it was suggested, more than forty years ago, by the- 
late Capt. C. J. Cox, that all the old outer bark be pared off by a spoke- 
shave or GODie similar instrument (the scrapings being of course collected 
and burnt), taking care not to injure the inner bark and wood. Dressings- 
of dilute petroleum, repeated at intervals in dry weather, might also be 
of service. But the subject opens up a wider question, viz., whether the 
beetle is the cause of the condition of the trees, or only steps in where 
these latter are in a moribund state from some other cause. The writer 
of these remarks is inclined to think the beetles come as scavengers. At 
any rate, in the case of tall old trees, probably already ' stag-headed,' it is 
practically useless to employ remedial measures, and the best thing is to 
cut them down and burn them — or, at any rate, cart them away at once 
from the vicinity of trees not already attacked. The bark of such old trees- 
is usually riddled by the larvae from base to top. When the trees are- 
younger and less tall, remedial measures, such as those suggested, might- 
be tried. Even supposing the trees to be in an unhealthy state from 
some other cause, the attacks of the beetle must aggravate that state and 
hasten decay ; and if these attacks could be lessened or averted, there 
might be a chance of the trees recovering from the other conditions what- 
ever they may be. But, as a rule, disease or decay have already proceeded 
too far before being discovered." 
Fern-roots attacked by grubs—Mr. Burt, Caenwood Towers, Highgate, 
sent a specimen of soil and grubs with the rhizomes of Adiantum 
cuneatum. Mr. Hudson observed that he was not unfamiliar with them. 
The specimen was forwarded to Mr. McLachlan, who reports as follows : 
" The grubs at the roots of Adiantum are those of a species of weevil, 
probably Sitones, but I cannot commit myself to anything more precise 
without seeing the perfect insects. I should think the best thing to do- 
now would be to turn out the plants from the pots, shake the old soil 
from the roots, and repot in clean earth, taking care to burn all the old 
with the grubs. When the foliage shows signs of being attacked, go over 
the pots at night, turn each pot gently on its side, and shake the foliage 
over a sheet of paper. By this means multitude? of the perfect insects 
may be collected and destroyed, and the deposition of eggs prevented." 
Orobanclie on Pelargonium. — A plant in flower was received from Misa 
Frances M. Cooper, Forest Road, Wokingham, described as having 
established itself in a pot of Geranium. The latter at first showed nO' 
sign of diminished vigour ; but now the specimen has come into bloom 
its host-plant seems to be weakly, and its leaves are turning yellow. The 
plant does not seem quite like any wild species." The Orobanche was- 
of a purple colour throughout, but not agreeing closely with any true 
British species. 
