112 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ February 1 > 1884. 
From Mr. RICHARD GORTON, Eccles. 
CARNATIONS. 
Scarlet Bizarres. 
Admiral Curzou 
Robert Lord 
Fred 
Crimson Bizarres. 
Master Fred 
J. D. Hextall 
E. S. Dodwell 
Pink and Purple Bizarres. 
William Skirving 
Sarah Fayne 
Squire Llewelyn 
Purple F’akes. 
Dr. Foster 
James Douglas 
Squire Whitbourne 
Scarlet Flakes. 
Sportsman 
James Cbeetham 
Clipper 
Rose Flakes. 
Jessica 
Rob Roy 
John Keek 
FICOTEES. 
Heavy Parple-edged. 
Zerlina 
Mrs. Summers 
Alliance 
Light Purple-edged. 
Ann Lord 
Clara reason 
Her Majesty 
Heavy Red-edged. 
John Smith 
J. B. Bryant 
Prince s of Wales 
Light Red-edged. 
Mrs. Gorton 
Thomas William 
F. D. Horner 
Heavy Rose-edged. 
Mrs. Payne 
Miss Horner 
Royal Visit 
Light Rose-edged. 
Mrs. Allcioft 
Airs. Nichol 
Fairy Queen 
From Mr. TnoMAS Bower, Little Horton Green, Bradford. 
CARNATIONS. 
Scarlet Bizarres. 
Admiral Curzon 
Fred 
Arthur Mcdhurst 
George 
Robert Lord 
Edward Adams 
Crimson Bizarres. 
Master Fred 
Harrison Weir 
J. D. Hextall 
Thomas Moore 
Lord Milton 
Rifleman 
Scarlet Flakes. 
Clipper 
Sportsman 
Anniliilator 
Dan Godfrey 
John Ball 
Henry Cannell 
Purple Flakes. 
Dr. Foster 
James Douglas 
Squire Meynell 
Squire Whitbourne 
Juno 
Lord Derby 
Pink and Purple Bizarres. 
Jame3 Taylor 
Falconbridge 
Sarah Payne 
Squire Llewelyn 
Mrs. Barlow 
William Skirving 
Rose Flakes. 
Sibyl 
John Keet 
James Merry weather 
Mrs. Dodwell 
Rob Roy 
Maid of Athens 
FKO-EES, 
Heavy Red-edged. 
John Smith 
J. B. Bry; nt 
Brunette 
Mrs. Dodwell 
Mrs. Fullrr 
Winifred Esther 
Light F.ed-edjed. 
Thomas William 
Elsie Grace 
Violet Douglas 
Mrs. Bower 
Clara 
William Summers 
Heavy Purple-edged. 
Zerlina 
Alliance 
Mre. A. Chancellor 
Muriel 
Tinnie 
Lizzie Tomes 
Light Purple-edged. 
Ann Lord 
Minnie 
Mary 
Nymph 
Master Nichols 
Her Majesty 
Heavy Rose or Scarlet-edged. 
Airs. Payne 
Miss Horner 
Airs. Rudd 
Fanny Helen 
Edith Dombrain 
Lady Holmesdale 
Light Rose or Scarlet-edged. 
Airs. Alicroft 
Aliss Wood 
Bertha 
L’Elegant 
Nellie 
THE INSECT ENEMIES OF OUR GARDEN CROPS. 
THE ASPARAGUS AND THE CELERY. 
It is somewhat amusing to notice how surprised many 
persons are who have but a small knowledge of either botany 
or gardening when the Asparagus in its summer growth is 
pointed out to them, and they are told this is the plant of which 
they have eaten the heads during the spring. Their looks 
probably convey the impression that they had fancied Aspa¬ 
ragus grew in Mushroom fashion, throwing up the tops which 
are cut for the table, but dying off soon or directly after these 
are cut. The plant when in its full foliage is certainly a pretty 
sight, and to a lorer of Nature perhaps its beauty is rather 
increased by the numerous beetles that may be seen enjoying 
themselves, seemingly, amongst its feathery tufts; but these 
little objects noticeable upon the plants in July, August, or 
later, do not convey pleasure to the gardener’s mind. They tell 
of fast mischief done to the Asparagus, and foretell further 
damage should they be left unmolested. The presence of the 
beetles, however, would not necessarily imply neglect, for they 
will occasionally travel from garden to garden, also it might 
happen that the grubs which lurk insidiously upon the shoo s 
have escaped notice owing to the jositions they have occupied 
whilst feeding: and the species appears to be more common 
some years than others, much depending upon the weather m 
the early part of the season, I suspect, for should the spring 
brood be checked the later broods will be few in number. 
The Asparagus beetle, Crioceris Asparagi, has a resemblance 
to the familiar “ladybirds.” The head is black, the thorax 
reddish brown dotted with black, and similar colours appear on 
the wing-cases, which, in addition to spots, have tw r o black bars 
crossing each other, hence some have called the insert the “cross¬ 
bearer” (fig. 21). It feeds a little upon the 
leaves, hut the principal mischief is caused 
by the grub or larva. To remove and destroy 
the beetles is therefore important, as checking 
the deposition of eggs. These may he now 
and then seen in rows upon the shoots, though 
very small, or on the llower-buds. They fall 
readily from the plants, so they can he shaken 
off into cloths or trays below. Some advise 
strewing lime freely over the plants after ra n, 
as this will kill them. 
But the grub is not easy to he dislodged, 
for it holds firmly to the shoots by its short 
legs and curved tail. This is of a greyish 
brown colour, the head being black ; if alarmed 
it discharges a liquid from the mouth. We 
seldom detect it upon Asparagus till June, 
but the larval life is short, about two or three 
weeks, and when full-fed it descends to the 
earth, making a cocoon just upon the surface. 
The June brood of grubs is followed by at 
least one or two more. If these are not killed 
off, the application of soot mixed with a little salt to the 
ground when they have gone down will prevent their emer¬ 
gence as beetles, or the grubs may be dealt with on Miss 
Ormerod’s plan, soot being laid down to receive them, and 
the Asparagus plants syringed with water warm enough to 
loosen the insects from the shoots. These may also be gently 
tapped. Syringing with a solution of paraffin has been suc¬ 
cessful. and in very bad cases it may be necessary to dust the 
plants once or twice with powdered white hellebore. Of course 
neither of these applications could be used during the catting 
season. 
The eaters of Celery, as well as its cultivators, are well aware 
of the fact that it has an insect enemy which devours the stems, 
or at least makes tracks and passages through these, the surfaces 
bitten by the maggot turning to an unpleasant red colour. It 
also mines in the leafstalks, being very noticeable upon the 
Celery from the end of autumn until spring. If we pull up a 
plant that we suspect is infested, there are usually signs that the 
maggots have commenced opei’ations below and worked upwards. 
On examining a maggot it is seen to be legless and of a yellowish 
colour, with a horny head that can be withdrawn into the body 
at times. It is full-grown in spring, and the fly appears during 
May. This lias a black head and body. Upon the latter are 
fine golden hairs, the wings colourless, excepting the veins. In 
size it nearly resembles the Celery leaf-miner next to be men¬ 
tioned, being about half an inch across the wings when these are 
expanded. No means have proved very efficacious in warding off 
attacks from this fly. The prompt removal and destruction of 
all infected stems seems the only plan to diminish their numbers. 
The fly of the Celery leaf-miuer, Tephritis onopordinis 
(fig. 22), has also transparent wings, but with tiny brown patches 
upon them. The head and body in this species are brownish, eyes 
dark green. May appears to be the month when it is particu¬ 
larly abundant, though there is a later brood, or possibly two ; 
the maggots growing rapidly when the summer is of average 
warmth. Towards the autumn a few linger on in the leaves, but 
most of them descend to the earth before the cold nights of 
autumn, remaining there as pupae through the winter months. 
This maggot or larva, which is legless, whitish green, blunt at 
the tail, with sharp retractile head, shows itself by producing 
blisters upon the Celery leaves. These patches, first white and 
afterwards brown, are sufficiently visible for children to be 
employed in pinching the leaves infected, and hundreds or thou¬ 
sands may be thus killed. If the operation, however, is per¬ 
formed carelessly or hastily, the plants are likely to be as much 
injured almost as if the maggots had been left untouched. In 
some cases the plants are positively killed by this pest, especially 
Fig. 21. 
