446 On Destroying the Turtle Insect. 
shilling, making the cost altogether three shillings and six-pence for 
a half hundred; — an expense very trifling, when the convenience and 
exceeding neat appearance of the "Bygrave Pink Hoop," is taken into 
account. 
For supporting the Dahlia, the best way I have seen, is driving 
into the gi-ound close by it, a stout stake, having three or four sticks 
put transversely through holes bored at the upper end, six or eight in- 
ches apart, in the manner of a cock-a-too or parrot's perch. x\s the 
plant advances in growth, the stem and branches are tied with mop- 
yam to this stake and its cross-sticks, which are soon hidden by the 
leaves, and the whole remains secure from injury by the wind. 
Allow me here to enquire of your correspondents, whether any of 
them have used Bone-dust as a manure for fruit-trees; and, if they 
have, — how, and with what success ? I have incidentally heard that 
the result of an experiment of the sort, made by a gentleman in this 
neighbourhood, was an abundant crop of fruit. The mode of appli- 
cation, as stated to me, was this : — the roots to some distance round 
the tree were bared, sprinkled with the bone manure, and then covered 
over again by re-placing the mould. 
T beg to forward you, a parcel of seeds, which were sent to 
Engand, from Candy, by Captain Firebrace, of His Majesty's 58th 
regiment. 
I am. Gentlemen, your obedient servant, 
A Practical Gardener. 
Newport, Isle-of- Wight, 
Dec. 23, 1831. 
Article VIII. — On an efficacious mode of Destroying the 
Turtle Insect. (Coccus lanigera.) By Mr. Wm. Brown, 
Prestwold Gardens. 
Gentlemen. 
I HAVE perused with pleasure your entertaining numbers on 
Horticulture, &c. and observing on your cover, that you request com- 
munications, however trifling, I have ventured to send you the present, 
which if you think worth notice, I shall feel obliged by your giving it 
insertion in your very useful work. 
In the beginning of January, 1828, slight fires were made to heat 
the back-wall of a fruiting pinery, on which vines were trained, they 
were well established, and annually bore excellent crops of grapes. 
Towards the end of Februaiy or beginning of March, there appeared 
