280 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



1 plate). — This insect, a near relative of the vine weevil, has caused 

 considerable annoyance by entering houses in swarms. The larvae of this 

 beetle feed upon roots of grasses, and especially on the strawberry just 

 at the ground level, so that the plant may be pulled up with the least 

 effort. The adult beetle, which is black, will feed upon the leaves and 

 flowers of a very large number of plants. The habit of getting into 

 houses is due to seeking *or shelter at midday. The adults cannot fly, 

 but are active in running about. The only practical remedy is the 

 cultivation of the strawberry in clean land. — F. J. C. 



Strawberries in Ohio (U.S.A. Exp. Stn. Ohio, Bull. 154; Sep- 

 tember 1904 ; 14 figs.). — Gives an account of trials of a considerable 

 number of varieties of strawberries, with notes on time of flowering, 

 date of fruit ripening, yield, size of fruit, and habit and health of 

 plants.— i^. /. C. 



Sugrar Beet, Influence of Environment upon. By H. W. Wiley 

 {U.S. Dept. Agr., Bur. CUein.^Bull. 95; 1905; ^ figs.).— A review of 

 the influence of environment on the sugar content &c. of the sugar beet. 

 The sugar content appears to vary with the latitude, the lowest latitude 

 producing the lowest sugar content, and vice versa. But, although the 

 duration of light has so marked an influence, yet the variation in the 

 length of clear sunshine seems to have a much less marked effect. The 

 sugar content varies generally inversely as the temperature, while the 

 distribution of the rainfall appears to have little influence on the quantity 

 of sugar produced, though it is evident that there might be such a 

 distribution as would interfere with the normal growth of the plant, and 

 hence with the sugar content. — F, J. C. 



Sweet Fennel [Fcpniculum dulce). By Franc^ois Charoneuse [Le 

 Jardin, vol. xx. No. 460, p. 117 ; April 20, 1906).— This vegetable is a 

 favourite in Florence, and deserves to be better known in England. It 

 should be steeped in boiling water to remove excess of aromatic flavour, 

 and is said to be superior to any cooked celery, endive, or chicory ; or 

 it may be eaten raw as a salad. It is easily grown, if sown in rows 

 in light soil enriched with compost, and transplanted a month later to 

 ordinary garden soil ; the richer and deeper the beds, the more the fennel 

 will flourish. On reaching maturity it should be trenched and treated 

 exactly like celery. Slugs are very fond of it, and must be guarded 

 against as soon as the plants are pricked out. It requires a good deal 

 of water. The heads should be cut when the swellings at the base of 

 the petiole are the size of one's fist. It keeps well and travels well ; the 

 heads were sold at 6r/. each in the Paris markets last winter. — F. A. W. 



Table Decoration. By E. W. Dix, and Emily E. Williamson {Garden, 

 No. 1784, p. 49, Jan. 27, 1906 ; and No. 1785, p. 65, Febr. 3, 1906).— No 

 hard-and-fast rules can be laid down as to methods of decorating tables. 

 So much depends upon the likes and dislikes of those whom one has to 

 please, the size of table to be decorated, and the material at command. 

 At the same time, there are certain points which must always be carefully 

 considered. Glaring contrasts of colour should be avoided. Some colours 



