CONTEMPORARY WRITINGS. 
285 
CONTEMPORARY WRITINGS, 
AND ORIGINAL NOTES, CONNECTED WITH HORTICULTURE 
AND NATURAL HISTORY. 
The Scale Insects. — One of the most 
troublesome classes of pests to the gardener is 
that formed by the numerous species of the 
scale insect, which comprise the scientific 
family of Coccus. These take their common 
name from their appearance — that of a broad, 
flat, shield-like scale, which so securely shelters 
them from almost every attack, that when once 
established, they are with difficulty removed ; 
and, even if they are dislodged, it is ten to one 
but some of their numerous progeny are left 
behind. One of the best means of clearing 
plants of these pests is to ply them with hot 
water. Water of the temperature of 140 
degrees will annihilate the scale, young ones 
and eggs included, and will not do material 
injury to the plants. To the bark of leafless 
plants it will do no injury, nor will it affect 
stout and hard leaves ; and if it becomes ne- 
cessary to apply it in the case of plants having 
more tender foliage, though it may damage 
these, the injury to the plants will be far less 
than that which would result from the con- 
tinued attacks of the insects. Thus by apply- 
ing the remedy at proper periods the scale may 
be cleared off without at all damaging the 
plants. All deciduous plants should be cleared 
while they are leafless — they will not be in- 
jured then. Evergreens with thick leathery 
leaves may be operated on at any time, except 
when they are pushing their young and tender 
shoots, and under these circumstances they 
will not be inj ured. Those evergreen plants 
whose mature leaves are of delicate structure 
must be done during their resting season ; in 
most cases the plant may be cut in, and per- 
haps little but the old bare stem left to cleanse j 
— these will offer no obstruction ; if this cannot 
be, as much care as possible should be used, 
and if a few leaves are damaged, why, they 
will soon be replaced by the younger growth. 
The water may in most cases be most readily 
applied by the syringe ; sometimes it may be 
desirable to use a sponge. The principal 
condition of its application is, that it must 
reach every part to which the insect can have 
access. 
Gooseberry Caterpillar. — Various means 
are employed to destroy these destructive crea- 
tures. One very good plan is this : — About 
the end of March remove the surface soil about 
the trees for a diameter of a yard or so, that is, 
immediately under the bushes. This is to be 
taken out full two inches, or say three inches, 
and replaced by some fresh maiden soil ; and 
then, when the leaves break out, a light cover- 
ing of quicklime and soot is spread on the new 
soil in case there should be any stragglers. 
The old soil so removed should be taken away 
and burnt, and may then be used as a dressing 
elsewhere. The efficacy of this plan as regards 
the larvae of the Phalcena grossularidta, or 
magpie moth, may be easily accounted for. 
The eggs are hatched in September, and the 
young larvae take shelter during winter in the 
soil about the plants. By removing this be- 
fore they become active, we are obviously re- 
moving the cause of the evil, and as they 
will not occur in fresh maiden soil, the trees, 
it may be expected, will be in a great measure 
free from attacks. So the chrysalids of the 
Tenthredo grassidaria? — or gooseberry saw-fly, 
which also devastates these trees — which are 
deposited in the soil in autumn, are likewise 
removed with the old soil, and thus their at- 
tacks are prevented. The remedy is a simple 
one compared with the injury inflicted by the 
insects when left unmolested ; and those who 
have to protect their trees may choose between 
this plan and that of hand-picking as soon as 
the larvae appear, or dusting and washing the 
trees with the various powders and lotions 
which are held to be efficacious. 
Wild Vegetables. — Many kinds of wild 
plants afford acceptable vegetables in the early 
spring. Among these may be mentioned the 
young shoots of the nettle (Urtica dioica), 
which form an excellent spinach-like vegetable, 
and are exceedingly wholesome ; the young 
top, when quite crisp and tender, is the part 
employed ; they are boiled in the usual way. 
Another of these wild vegetables consists of 
the tops of the young shoots of the hop ( Hu- 
mulus Lupulus) before the leaves are expanded. 
These are dressed and eaten like asparagus, 
which they in some measure resemble. They 
are very wholesome and good. The succulent 
runners or under-ground stems of the marsh 
Woundwort ( ' Stachys palustrisj are used in 
the same way, and have somewhat the flavour 
of asparagus. In damp cultivated fields it 
often becomes a troublesome weed from the 
number of these suckers which it produces. 
The young leaves of the common cruciferous 
plant ( Alliaria officinalis), which bears the 
trivial names of Jack by the Hedge or Sauce 
Alone, form, when boiled, an excellent substi- 
tute for spinach. They are said to be excel- 
lent when boiled with mutton, or with any 
kind of salt meat ; in a fresh state they have 
rather an unpleasant garlic-like scent. 
Kohl Rabi. — The bulbs, or bulgy stems, 
of the kohl rabi form a useful vegetable, and 
are very hardy. The bulbs, when about three 
or four inches in diameter, are in a proper 
state for use. They are cut into quarters and 
well boiled, and have a flavour " between the 
artichoke and parsnip." The tops of the green 
variety form a very good substitute for brocoli 
in the spring, when the latter is all destroyed 
by the winter. 
