352 
[ October 25, 1883. 
JOURNAL OF H0R1ICUL1URE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
however, we need no longer speculate on this head. I will leave the 
accuracy of his assertions for the consideration of wiser entomologists 
than I. He says, if I recollect rightly :—“ On one occasion when I 
was visiting the vineyards in the south of Europe, the air suddenly 
as turned a j ellow tinge, and appeared like a yellow cloud overhead, 
which suddenly descended on the Vines and everything else in the 
shape of winged phylloxera.” If this be so it seems useless to specu¬ 
late as to its introduction into any locality, for what guarantee have 
we that a similar cloud may not descend upon us any day in the 
summer season? The same authority also says, I think, “ There are 
no less than half a dozen forms of this pest,” and the winged one is, 
I think, the last. Such being the case, how necessary is it that we 
should immediately destroy it when fouud, so as, if possible, to pre¬ 
vent it assuming the vdnged form. 
Since writing the above I have seen Mr. Ward’s articles on the 
subject, and shoidd like to make a few r remarks in respect to the sug¬ 
gestion he makes regarding the inspection of Vine nurseries. The 
scheme although good appears to be fraught with many difficulties, 
and yet, if earnestly carried out on a sufficiently broad principle, it 
might tend greatly to check the increase and spread of phylloxera. 
To be of any practical use, however, the inspection must extend to 
private establishments also, in which places, I fear, the enemy often 
finds a more secure retreat than even in the nurseries. Why not 
organise a “National Phylloxera Assurance Society,” whose province 
should be not only to provide the necessary men and means for 
judicious and efficient inspection, but also to guarantee a part or the 
whole loss sustained by the immediate destruction of phylloxera when 
found ? 
Every private person and every public body would unhesitatingly 
subscribe to such a purpose if properly organised and perfectly 
administered.—T. Challis. 
P.S.—Since posting the foregoing I regret to add that in making 
my periodical inspection of the borders 1 have again discovered the 
presence of this terrible Vine pest —not in the same houses as before, 
I am glad to say, but in an older range some little distance from 
them. 
As the roots of these Vines have been annually inspected with 
the rest, and as no new Vines have been introduced, I cannot in any 
way account for the present attack ; and it is not at all probable that 
they could have been on the older roots last autumn, while the fibrous 
roots near the surface were perfectly free from any signs of them. 
The Vines and borders are now being consigned to the fire as 
quickly as possible. In the meantime I am endeavouring to make 
such experiments with some of the infested roots as will, I trust, be 
of some practical value. One result already obtained induces me in 
a slight degree to modify my former impression respecting the effects 
of submersion. This result may be partly due to the somewhat 
earlier period of the year in which I have now experimented with 
the insects, when they are more active and probably more sensitive 
to injury ; but of this and the effects of other experiments I am 
attempting to make I will report at a future time.—T. C. 
NOTES ON HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 
Crassula alpestris .—In the corridor here is a large pan of this 
interesting plant. It somewhat resembles Sedum sarmentosum (S. 
carneum of gardens), but the leaves are more cylindrical and of a 
very lively green. Branches and flowering stems reddish brown, 
erect, or only slightly inclined, 4 to 5 inches in height. The flowers 
are pure white, and as freely produced as those of any common Stone- 
crop. Each cluster consists of twelve flowers, which stand erect, and 
are scarcely a quarter of an inch in diameter, and in miniature are very 
suggestive of the flowers of the common Bluebell or wild Hyacinth. 
The five stamens are furnished with chestnut-brown antheis, con¬ 
trasting with the five pure white petals. It is a South African species, 
and occurs at higher altitudes than most of its congeners. Our plant 
has been in bloom over two months, and two small clumps in bloom 
are represented on the rockery. It is said to be quite hardy, and if 
such proves the case it is a welcome addition to our alpines. As we 
only received it at the beginning of the present year we have not 
been able to test its constitution. We had, however, very severe and 
destructive weather during March, which it withstood. It is well 
known that many of the so-called hardy succulents disappear during 
winter months as much from the influences of damp, caused often by 
insufficient drainage, as from frost. It is intended to make special pre¬ 
paration for this plant on the rockery by taking out, the soil of one of 
the compartments to the depth of 12 inches and filling it with stones 
and broken bricks, on which to place some gritty or sandy soil. 
Houstoiiia ccerulca (Bluets of Americans).—This is one of the 
most desirable of all the low-growing rock plants, and was introduced 
into Britain long before any bold attempts at establishing rock gardens 
had been made. It is not an alpine in reality, but it is most fitted 
to associate with such plants on account of its dwarf compact habit 
and floriferousness. It is partial to wet situations, and when planted 
in such places it grows freely and bears full exposure to the sun with 
impunity. If grown on the rockery a compost mainly of peat and 
grit suits it well, and its position should be only sxpossd to early 
morning’s sun. If grown in pots it requires partial shade, or the pots 
should be plunged in very moist ground with small empty pots beneath. 
This insures good drainage and prevents worms getting in. It vanes 
in the colour of its flowers, these being blue, lilac, also white with the 
faintest tint of purple with a yellowish eye. The flowers, which aie 
scarcely half an inch in diameter, are solitary and borne on slender 
stems 3 inches in height, which are almost leafless and spring irom 
the centre of the dense rosettes of its small and rather succulent leaves. 
None of the varieties has originated under cultivation, but all exist in 
a wild state in North America, where it occurs in moist grounds from 
Florida to Canada, abundant in some provinces, and either local or 
unknown in others. It belongs to the same family as the Bouvaidia, 
and the flowers of the two genera in the cutting of the corolla bear a 
striking resemblance to each other. . 
Ceniaurea stricta .—The genus Centaurea is one of the largest of 
the r f histle-head Composites, and embraces upwards of 200 either 
critical or well-marked species, the great bulk of which on account of 
their wild and weedy appearance are of little or no regard as plants 
for general ornamental purposes, and this is doubtless the reason we 
rarely meet with more than a few under general cultivation. One 
that is most worthy of general appreciation is C. stricta. It is as yet 
rare, and belongs to the same section as the very familiar C. montana, 
both of which have their flower-heads made more showy than they 
otherwise would be by the presence of the conspicuous ray florets. It 
is these barren florets which tend most to make such Centaureas wmithy 
of merit. Did the common v T ild C. nigra, or Hard-heads of our pas¬ 
tures, only possess ray florets it would be no longer a neglected plant. 
C. stricta is of dwarf habit, only attaining a height of 1 foot, and is 
remarkable for its pleasing silvery foliage, which adds much to the 
beauty of the plant, and for some time after it has commenced to 
make growth it is an object of admiration, but as the leaves become 
old this silveryness gradually lessens. The fertile or disk florets are 
violet and purple, those of the ray a pleasing blue. 4he heads are 
2j to 3 inches across. The leaves are all simple and uncut, except 
those near the base, wdiich are lobed. It is a true alpine species, and 
is well adapted for the rockery. For the flower border it is better 
than C. montana, as its branches are not prostrate, but grow erect and 
support themselves without staking. The species^ comes from the 
Maritime Alps, vdiere it grows at an altitude of 7000 feet; it also 
occurs on some of the other European Alps, as those of Austria, the 
flowers are produced in July, but our plant is in bloom now, being the 
second time this year. It v r as originally growing in a pot plunged in 
one of the spaces on the rockery, and showed flower buds before.I 
lifted it to transfer to a warm greenhouse, with a view of getting it in 
bloom for the Manchester Whitsuntide Show. Several heads developed 
through the little stimulus afforded, and it was one of the thirty 
alpines exhibited. The grovffh ripened early and the plant rested earlj 
in July, commencing its second season of growth shortly afterwards. 
The specimen is now much more vigorous than before.—T. Entwistle, 
Wood Lawn, Didsbury. 
APPLES FOR PLANTING. 
As some intending planters of Apples may be at a loss to 
know what varieties to select, I herewith give a few particulars 
of some of the sorts which succeed best here (Hereford). 
Three } r ears since we formed a pyramid plantation comprising 
180 varieties. The following are a few of those which have 
succeeded best, all of which are woitby of a place in every 
collection. 
Early Julien .—A very heavy and constant bearer, invaluable 
on account of its earliness. Excellent for culinary purposes, 
and acceptable for dessert. The tree makes moderate but 
healthy growth. „ 
Osliv, or Summer Oslin.-—Early and an abundant bearer, ot 
delicious flavour. The tree is healthy and a good grower. 
Lord Grosvcnor. —Early, a grand culinary variety, and a most 
abundant and constant bearer. The tree makes .most healthy 
and vigorous growth, surpassing all other variet es in this 
respect. It bids fair to supersede Lord Suffield, which is much 
subject to canker in this neighbourhood. 
Stirling Castie is, without doubt, one of the very best culinary 
Apyples in cultivation. If it has a fault it is that it bears too 
freely, and in consequence does not make strong growth. At 
the same time, being a small grower, a great number of trees 
may be grown on a small space of ground. It will keep till 
Christmas, and the quality is excellent. 
EtklinviUe Seedling—A grand Apple, in use during bep* 
