JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
364 
[ May 4, 1882. 
if there are plenty of queens there will be no nests probably,” 
feeling assured that if such a theory could stand the test of 
examination it would not apply to wasps alone : and I might begin 
to console myself that, as the Gooseberry fly was already abun¬ 
dant there would be no caterpillars, also if there were plenty of 
Carrot, Turnip, and Onion fly in the spring our roots would be 
secure through the summer. And possibly, as we know that the 
great laws of Nature correspond more or less in all her works, the 
rule laid down by “ Duckwing ” would reach even beyond the 
animal kingdom, and we might flatter ourselves that when the 
germs of vegetable parasites were very numerous there would 
be little or no danger to be apprehended from them. As your 
correspondent remarks that a “ note of any half dozen consecu¬ 
tive years would prove (his theory) to anyone who kept his eyes 
open,” I append such a note, and your readers can judge for them¬ 
selves. As for myself, I shall continue the fallacy and reiterate 
a former statement, “ That every wasp appearing in spring is 
presumably a fertilised queen and capable of becoming a mother 
of ten thousand other wasps.” Supposing a wet or a frosty season 
should destroy the wasps as well as the fruit we are not much 
the gainers.” 
With respect to “ Duckwing's ” other statement, that “ if there 
were a nest for every queen that escaped in an abundant year 
there would be enough to leave nothing of his fruit but stones and 
stalks,” I may remark that we who have fruit to save and flatter 
ourselves that we sometimes know how to do it, have not finished 
when we have destroyed all the queens which we find flying about 
in spring ; and that in the year 1880, for instance, which was a 
remarkably pleasant one for the wasps in the neighbourhood of 
those who are of the same creed as “ Duckwing ” we managed 
to save our crops by destroying the enemy, although it was a very 
hard task to perform, and visitors remarked on seeing our Goose¬ 
berries hanging without any covering at the end of September 
and even a month later, “ Oh 1 you have had no wasps, our fruit 
was gone months ago.” My friends in the neighbouring town of 
Warminster will be able to tell you that in the year named, the 
fruit being quite insufficient to supply the wasps with the neces¬ 
sities of existence, they attacked the shops of the grocers and 
butchers with considerable success. 
The plan of destroying nests must remain for another paper ; 
meanwhile I recommend all who have fruit to save to destroy 
every queen it is possible to catch, and not reckon on the weather 
helping them as it did in 1879 and last year :— 
Queen Wasps 
Nests paid 
Year. 
paid for. 
for. 
1874 . 
. 1615 . 
.. 108 
1875 . 
. 6178 . 
.. 152 
1876 . 
. 408 . 
.. 169 
1877 . 
. 1S50 . 
.. 109 
1878 . 
. 1183 . 
.. 88 
1879 . 
. 598 . 
.. 28 
1880 . 
. 1192 . 
. 190 
1881 . 
. 3184 .. 
. 71 
—Wm. Taylob. 
CHINESE PRIMULAS. 
These have been brought to such a high state of excellence 
within the last few years, that it might be almost imagined 
nothing further need be desired. In the form of the flowers there 
is not much room for advancement, though possibly some strains 
may be improved in habit, and we may have many fresh tints or 
combinations of colour. 
Though these plants are quite easy to grow, yet many culti¬ 
vators fail in attaining the best results, and for the sake of those 
who may be ignorant of the chief points necessary to secure 
success I will describe as plainly and as fully as possible my 
mode of cultivation, which, after many years’ experience, I have 
found most suitable. 
It is too late in the season to say much as to the treatment re¬ 
quired to grow strong plants for autumn flowering. I have not 
grown Primulas for this purpose for several years past, but it may 
be stated that the seed should be sown in February, and the plants 
so obtained kept growing in warm houses until the end of May, 
after which their treatment would be the same as for those we 
specially refer to in the following notes. 
To obtain plants for flowering in winter and spring, in which 
seasons these Primulas are found most useful, seed is sown in May, 
or even as late as June, but I prefer May. I prefer an ordinary 
cutting box in which to raise the seedlings rather than pots, as an 
equable moisture can be preserved with much more certainty in 
the boxes than with pots. A compost of rather fine soil, mode¬ 
rately coarse sand, and finely broken Mushroom-bed refuse, in equal 
proportions, is used. Over the drainage of finely broken potsherds 
a thin layer of moss is placed, and the soil is pressed in rather 
firmly. The seed is sown thinly, then pressed lightly with a 
board ; a gentle but sufficient watering is given, a square of glass 
placed over the box, and on the glass a thick layer of moss to in¬ 
sure darkness. A structure where a temperature of 60° is assured 
is a good one in which to stand the box. In about a fortnight 
many of the seeds will germinate ; the moss must then be removed 
and a piece of brown paper substituted. The glass may also be 
slightly raised until it can be dispensed with. Should the surface 
of the soil appear dry, take the box and dip it for a sufficient time 
in a tank of water. When the second rough leaf is forming the 
seedlings are removed from the box. Again, I prefer a cutting 
box to placing them singly in small pots. Under ordinary treat¬ 
ment much more rapid progress is made when grown thinly in 
boxes than when in pots. A similar compost may again be used. 
A cold frame shaded from the sun is best to grow the plants in 
through the summer months. When well established after five or 
six weeks’ growth in boxes, prick them off singly into pots 24 or 
3 inches in diameter. In lifting the plants employ a handfork to 
loosen the soil throughly, when, if the soil has been allowed to 
become moderately dry, the plants can be lifted with abundance 
of roots. I have grown and flowered good plants repeatedly in a 
compost such as recommended above, but at this potting and 
onwards one of three parts loam to one of Mushroom dung and a 
good dash of coarse sand added may be substituted. Press the 
soil in moderately firm and return the plants to the same position, 
keeping the frame close for a few days, afterwards admitting air 
freely, and in dull weather remove the lights. 
In August shift the plants into 5-inch pots, making the drainage 
good. At this time keep the ball low enough in the pot to allow 
the base of the lower leaves to rest on the surface of the soil. 
This will keep the plants firm, and in due time roots will be 
emitted at the base of stem. If larger pots are to be used the 
plants may be again shifted in September, but I have grown quite 
as large plants as are of general use in pots 4 and 5 inches in 
diameter. These plants when at their best were 15 to 18 inches 
across, with two and three crowns from which the trusses of 
flowers are produced. About the third week of September place the 
plants in a pit where a temperature of 50° to G0° can be secured. 
We have an old pit in which our stock is placed during winter on 
a bed of coal ashes, and the plants are about 9 inches from the 
glass. With attention to the supply of water, with weak liquid 
manure occasionally when the plants are well established, and a 
temperature such as that recommended, these grow very fast. 
Damping does not cause any trouble if the plants are growing 
freely. The soil should never be allowed to become dry. 
The stronger plants begin flowering about the time they are 
placed in winter quarters, and by February we generally have 
them in full beauty. They do not last well in rooms, but in a cut 
state the blooms are of great service. As a rule we employ them 
alone with their foliage. Instead of cutting indiscriminately, a 
few plants are set apart for that purpose, and the others kept for 
greenhouse decoration. 
A little seed is generally saved from the best flowers. Those 
selected are planted out in May at the base of a south wall, and 
as the seed ripens it is gathered. I strongly recommend those 
who only require a few plants that they should obtain strong 
seedlings in June or July from tradesmen. A small number can 
thus be obtained cheaply.—B. 
is 
TO? 
\} 
MES-GLEP 
m. 
The Pelargonium Society’s Schedule for the Exhibition 
to be held on the 27th of June contains two entries, to which 
it appears attention may be directed with advantage. Two 
prizes, each of £5, are offered for the best hybrids of Geranium 
pratense or G. sanguineum, and of Pelargonium oblongatum, 
We have heard of a hybrid of Geranium pratense, and it would 
be a matter of considerable interest were the invitation of the 
schedule before us to prove the means of bringing it under 
critical inspection. The object of the Pelargonium Society in 
offering these prizes is obviously to encourage the raising of 
plants with blue and yellow flowers. 
- On Saturday last, the 29th ult., A gale of great violence 
