880 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 7, 1885. 
patches from the top of the Pass to 5000 feet. C. spectabilis is very 
beautiful, the upper side of the leaf is a dark shining green, the under 
side creamy white ; the white blooms with yellow centres are freely pro¬ 
duced. This is the Cotton Plant of the shepherds. They peel off the 
cotton and use it to light their pipes with the aid of a lens. This variety 
is very common from 3 to 5000 feet. We found Gentiana pleurogynoides 
growing in the broken rock, between 4 and 7000 feet; but the leaves of 
the plant from the higher elevation were dark purple. The flowers of this 
Gentian are white, but a new species recently collected has white flowers 
beautifully striped with purple. Of Dracophyllum we found some fine 
young plants, and as it forms the chief scrub in the alpine regions, it is 
very useful for covering the floor of the tent, and for firing, as it will 
burn whilst green. It is found from 3500 to 4000 feet. Keeping a direc¬ 
tion north by west, we were now commencing the true ascent. The 
ground we were travelling over was of a brown colour, composed of old 
moraines much broken up. Myosotis Traversii was found growing in 
favourable spots. This is a beautiful mountain Forget-me-not, with long 
drooping spikes of citron-yellow blooms. Specimens in flower were 
obtained, also a few plants from 3 to 5000 feet. In damp places Myosotis 
antarctica was collected. It forms neat patches some 6 inches across, 
covering itself with solitary white flowers. The gaps between the clumps 
of Dracophyllum were getting wider, and the ground was of a looser 
character. It seemed as if the soil which originally covered the mountain 
side had been washed away, exposing the shingle except where it had 
been held together by the roots of Dracophyllum. In fact, it was around 
these clumps that most of our little alpines were collected. Drapetes 
Dieffenbachei next put in its appearance. It is a very neat little shrub, 
some 4 inches in height, of a dull green colour. We collected plants of it 
from 4 to 5000 feet. 
Keeping as near to our course as the nature of the ground would per¬ 
mit, we made but slow progress; the footing was bad, and the heat of 
the sun was very powerful, The little annual Eyebright (Euphrasia 
Monroi) was in full bloom, its snow-white flowers with yellow throat 
making it one of the brightest gems of the alpine flora. At 3900 feet the 
big Dracophyllum was very stunted, and in its place D. muscoide3 was 
occasionally seen. The colour of the rocks had changed from brown to 
grey, and the Mountain Totara, Podocarpus nivalis, was met with for the 
first time. This alpine Conifer at lower altitudes reaches 10 to 20 feet, hut 
here it never rises off the rocky soil in which it grows more than 6 or 
8 inches. Ligusticum aromaticum grew very luxuriantly cn the sides 
of shingle slips. Ranunculus pinguis was found in flower, and specimens 
collected. We were now entering the true alpine zone. Aciphylla Lyalli 
had disappeared, leaving the field to its relative A. Monroi, like a small 
Palm, with its fan-like leaves 2 or 3 inches long. It is an interesting 
plant when seen in bloom. Plants were got from 4 to 6000 feet. At 
4500 feet we detected the perfume of Celmisia discolor and C. viscosa. 
The leaves are covered with a scented gum. Specimens were collected 
up to 5000 feet. Stunted examples of Logania tetragonia were growing 
in the shingle, and Ligusticum filifolium, a beautiful plant, was found in 
similar situations from 4700 to 6000 feet. 
We made a short halt to put the specimens collected into the drying 
paper to preserve them from injury. Some clouds which had roiled up 
from the plains settled about the top peaks of the mountain, and the wind 
blew keenly. After a spell of ten minutes we resumed the ascent. 
Varieties of the Mountain Epacris were next seen, and if it can be induced 
to grow in gardens its neat foliage and habit will make it a desirable 
plant. Having reached the moving shingle, where we lost 6 or 8 inches at 
every step, the most difficult part of the climbing began—no shrubs to 
hold on by, nothing but an expanse of moving shingle at 5400 feet above 
the sea. Not a word spoken, for breath was too valuable to be wasted. 
In very steep places the shingle sometimes comes down in avalanches, 
sweeping ail plants and scrub away. We had now only 100 feet of steep 
climbing between us and a little plateau. The shingle here was larger 
than that previously crossed, very loose, and ready to hurl one down to 
the bottom, so we advanced carefully. From the plateau the course was 
downwards a short distance, then we had about 1000 feet of hard climb¬ 
ing between us and the top peak of Mt. Torlesse. On the shingle Veronica 
epacridea grew in patches 10 yards square. Most of the plant3 would 
now be taken for Mosses at first sight. Helophyllums covered pieces of 
rock with their bright green adpressed leaves sprinkled with small white 
blossoms. 
At 6100 feet we found patches of Celmisia laricifolia, the smallest of 
the Cotton Plants, 3 feet across and half an inch high. A few feet higher 
we met the first plants of the Edelweiss, Helichrysum grandiceps ; 
botanically, this plant differs considerably from the Swiss Edelweiss, but 
it bears a great resemblance in foliage and flower. It is at home in loose 
shingle or in the crevices of a cliff. The silvery tint of the foliage and 
the singular flowers make it a very interesting plant. We collected a 
good quantity of it, also specimens to dry. Aciphylla Monroi were still 
to be seen at this altitude. Climbing on the eastern side the first patch 
of the Pygmeas was met with, which showed that we were getting near 
the top. P. pulvinaris is like a Moss, the flowers are very small, about 
one-eighth of an inch, white, with purple stamens in the centre. Here 
some rare alpine Mosses were collected. Striking across to the nor’- 
western side we continued the ascent ; 300 feet of stones and broken rock 
to cross before the top was attained. Ligusticum filifolium was in full 
bloom in shingle, and a good specimen was obtained. A few feet higher 
we collected the curious Ranunculus Buchanani. The leaves are fleshy 
and of a lovely greenish-blue tint, the flowers we did not see. At 6100 
feet the choice alpine Fern Polystichum cystostegia was found in crevices 
of the rocks. Th : s Fern must be a very hardy one, as it is covered with 
snow six months in the year. On the top of a rock we collected Cotula 
atrata. The flowers are dark purple, and resemble the garden form of 
Senecio, but they are covered with yellow stamens, which add much to its 
beauty. Having reached the top of the lower peak we saw a patch of 
snow some 20 yards across, about 100 feet below the highest peak. 
Climbing more to the westward we passed over the broken rocks, which 
were very loose ; rocks, stones, plants, but no water. Tried to eat 
biscuits, but could not. We wanted water, so we made for the snow. An 
hour’s hard climbing brought us to it, and we got a lump apiece ; but as 
it increased our thirst we built a small fire of Dracophyllum muscoides, 
and soon had a pannikin full of melted snow. Feeling somewhat re¬ 
covered wa searched the margins of the snow, and discovered Foratera 
sedifolia, also some alpine Mosses. Leaving our bags on the rocks above 
the snow we commenced our final climb of some 100 feet, and reached the 
cairn on the top peak of Mt. Torlesse. We pulled down the cairn, ex¬ 
pecting to find some memorial of previous climbers, but as there was 
nothing we rebuilt it, and sat down to enjoy the view. There was a thick 
haze over the plains, but the sea was bright, and looked as if it would 
come over the plains at a moment’s notice. The Port Hills stood out 
clearly, and we could follow the winding course of the branches of the 
Kowai. To the west were Mt. Franklin and Mt. Rolleston, and down 
below u3 ran the Porter river. On the north the Waimakariri could be 
heard rolling ani bowling over its tortuous bed till it was lost in the 
haze. To the south was Ben More, and in the south-west we could see 
Lake Lyndon, surrounded by mountains. The course of the river Rakaia 
was plainly marked by the bush-covered mountains on the southern bank. 
Theplants found on the highest points were Pygmea pulvinaris, P. ciliolata, 
Helophyllums, Raoulia grandiflora, Cotula atrata, Dracophyllum mus¬ 
coides, Gentiana pleurogyoides, Ligusticum filifolium, and a few Mosses.— 
W. N. Adams. 
(To be continued.) 
THE GOOSEBERY AND CURRANT SAWFLY. 
The following extract i3 from Miss Ormerod’s Report on Injurious 
Insects recently noticed in these pages. 
Mr. W. J. Goodwin, of Winfield House, Crouch, Sevenoaks, notes that 
he considers “ the best remedy for Gooseberry caterpillars is to give a 
liberal sprinkling of fresh good soot early in the morning when the trees 
are damp, two or three large handfuls to a good-sized tree, so as to make it 
quite black with soot. It is of no use unless it is done when the trees are 
damp, so that it sticks on well. If it comes off by rain coming shortly after, 
it must be done again. It acts, of course, as a first-rate manure afterwards, 
causing the trees to make good wood for another year. 
“ The caterpillars always first appear on leaves in the middle and 
bottom of the trees, and may be detected first by a few small holes in a 
few of the leaves, resembling prick-holes of a pin. This is the best time 
to apply the soot.” 
Mr. Kay, Barone Cottage, Rothsay, N.B., mentions “ The caterpillar 
made considerable havoc not only amongst the Gooseberries, but amongst 
the Currant bushes, a thing that had not been seen before. I may state 
that I did not give the ground the usual coating of paraffin in the spring, 
and probably the grubs may have made headway on that account.” 
The attack of Sawfly caterpillars on Gooseberry leafage is one which 
appears certain to appear more or less every year, and often, and especially 
in bush-fruit-growing districts, causes great loss to the growers. As it 
has now been reported yearly since 1878 inclusive, with various methods 
of prevention and remedy found to answer for keeping it in check, it 
may be of use to give a list of the most serviceable of these under special 
headings. 
HAND-PICKING THE CATERPILLARS, OS SHAKING THEM DOWN AND 
DESTROYING THEM. 
“ Hand-picking, if taken in time, the best remedy.”— Alex. Forbes. 
“ Hand-picking found to be the mo3t satisfactory remedy.”—C. Grierson. 
.“On attack being observed put on hands at once, and cleared 
the garden ; and thus, although very numerous, the insect was checked.”— 
D. S. Scott. 
“ Had the caterpillars shaken from the bushes and crushed.”—J. Suther¬ 
land. 
.“Prevented serious injury by shaking down the caterpillars 
whilst quite small and crushing them on the ground, and by hand-picking 
later on.”—T. H. Hart. 
“ Trees found to be attacked were immediately well syringed and shaken, 
the caterpillars dropping on to the soil, where they were treated and burned 
with hot lime.”—W. Ward. 
“ The most serviceable, and, in the end, cheapest remedy, is considered 
to be to lay a piece of canvas sufficiently large to cover the surface of the 
ground under the trees attacked, and give the trees a good shake, thus dis¬ 
lodging the caterpillars, then have the canvas removed and the caterpillars 
destroyed.”—A. Smith. 
.“ Crop was only saved by hand-picking, and shaking the cater¬ 
pillars on to sheets placed under the bushes.”— Rev. F. Adams. 
DUSTING INFESTED BUSHES. 
The application which appears mo3t surely serviceable is dusting the 
caterpillars with powdered hellebore, but, without great care and washing 
of the fruit, this poisonous dressing is likely to prove so injurious to those 
who partake of the fruit afterwards that I cannot take on myself to advise 
the application. With regard to sulphur and soot, the advice given above 
by Mr. Goodwin at p. 39, and below by Mr. McCorquodale, as to applying 
them when the bushes are damp, so that the powder should adhere, should 
be particularly observed. 
“ Flowers of sulphur dusted on the leaves when the dew is on, or, if in dry 
weather, after watering ; only necessary to dust the lower part of the bushes 
if taken in time.”— W. McCorquodale. 
.“Used sulphur powder, as recommended above, and found it as 
