dxXXvi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
raised without crossing, have already appeared—viz. compactus 
and densissimus. It is an interesting species in that the 
“ needle-like ” structures of the garden Asparagus are in this 
species represented by genuine leaves, revealing the true nature 
of the former. 
Caterpillars .—Some living specimens of three species were 
received from Miss L. H. Paterson (Edinburgh) and forwarded 
to Mr. McLachlan, who reports as follows :—“ One of the 
caterpillars (brown) is the larva of one of the ‘ rove ’ beetles 
(Staphylinidae). They are mostly carnivorous, or feed upon 
decaying vegetable matter, so that they are generally beneficial. 
The other (a white one) is the larva of Hepialus sylvinus, one 
of the ‘ Swift moths.’ The ‘ ghost moth 1 is of the same genus. 
It is destructive to the roots of anything herbaceous. The third 
was the larva of one of the Noctua moths, probably Agrotis 
segetum. It is very destructive, and feeds chiefly at night. It 
has nothing whatever to do with the cockchafer, which it was 
thought to resemble. The above are all general feeders. It 
might be as well to lift the plants where they occur and supply 
fresh earth, charring the old. Insectivorous birds should be 
encouraged. A dressing of gas lime, repeated several times, 
might do good, but it should be used cautiously.” 
Apple-tree Diseased. —Mr. Bunyard sent a small branch 
curiously affected, with the following observations :—“ The 
branch was sent to me by Rev. A. Foster-Melliar, in whose 
garden the tree grows. When the branch was cut it was in a 
pappy floecose state: this appearance had suddenly broken out 
in a tree grafted two years ago. It probably arose from strong 
unmatured wood being over-fed with stimulants. The tree had 
made a very gross growth.” The specimen was forwarded to 
Dr. W. G\ Smith for further examination. 
