144 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. { A «gmt u, isso. 
is different from the ordinary red spider. Two large Camellias 
that were infested with this spider were placed in the vinery, and 
from them it got on to the Vines. It seems to attack the upper 
surface of the leaf instead of the under, and it increases very 
rapidly. However, from Camellias sponging and syringing will 
banish it. The inexperienced may not hare noticed that it is a 
spider that attacks Camellias when the foliage of the plant on the 
upper surface appears unsightly—browned as if by thrips—and 
when the under surface is quite clean.—R. M. A. 
NEW AND CHOICE PLANTS.—No. 3. 
Adiantum: Bausei (Wills).—Of the large genus Adiantum 
there is perhaps scarcely a more remarkable form than this one, 
with which the majority of readers of the horticultural periodicals 
are now well acquainted. Numerous commendatory notices of it 
have appeared from time to time, but the following observations 
may be admissible. It is reasonably regarded as a hybrid, and I am 
not aware that any critical pteridologist has ventured to publicly 
dispute the facts advanced in support of that view, notwithstanding 
the peculiar opinions that still exist upon the subject of cross¬ 
fertilisation in Ferns. So far as I can learn, the mode in which it 
was obtained was very simple : Spores of Adiantum trapeziforme 
and A. decorum were sown together in one pot or pan, and among 
the numerous young plants produced of the two species was one 
that appeared intermediate in character. This was carefully 
attended, grew rapidly, still preserving its distinct appearance, 
and ultimately produced an abundance of spores. These were 
sown and, strangely enough, reproduced the parent exactly. This 
is peculiar, for few true hybrids, we are told by the scientists, are 
fertile, and when they are the offspring usually approaches more 
closely in resemblance to one of the parents. However that may 
be I know not, but the fact remains that this Fern, which is as 
much entitled to be called a hybrid as any flowering plant of 
which the parentage is known, is yet more fertile than many 
Ferns that are commonly regarded as species. These are matters 
of considerable interest, and notwithstanding the great advances 
that have been made in recent years there is undoubtedly much 
more to be investigated. 
When specimens of Adiantum Bausei were first exhibited at one 
of the Royal Horticultural Society’s meetings I did not form a 
very favourable opinion of it as a decorative plant, although it was 
honoured with a first-class certificate. The fronds and pinnules 
were drooping so much that the plants appeared to be either 
suffering from recent potting or from being insufficiently supplied 
with water, but since then I have seen it in much better condition. 
The fronds have a graceful bending or drooping habit, and the 
pinnules are also slightly deflexed. The plant resembles A. 
decorum in habit, but in size it is intermediate between that and 
A. trapeziforme. Its very distinct and elegant appearance can be 
seen to the best advantage in the General Horticultural Company’s 
Melbourne Nursery, Anerley, where one house is now partially 
filled with young plants. It is very free in growth, but, notwith¬ 
standing that, it is advertised as suitable for the greenhouse ; 
judging from my experience of it I think a stove temperature 
suits it better. 
It bears the name of its raiser, Mr. Bause, who has so great a 
reputation as a skilful hybridiser.—E. L. 
CHAPTERS ON INSECTS FOR GARDENERS.—No. 9. 
NEW SERIES. 
We now come to the order Neuroptera, also named familiarly 
the order of the Netwings, from the nervures, which are so well 
defined in the wings of most of the species, appearing netted or 
interlaced. Here, as in the preceding Hymenopterous order, we 
have insects furnished with four wings and capable generally of 
flying with much rapidity ; but there is an absence of the armed 
tail which distinguishes many groups of the bees and sawfiies, the 
only exception in this order being amongst the scorpion flies. 
Their tail weapon, however, has not the character of a sting. 
Dragonflies, it is true, which form a conspicuous section of the 
order, are popularly reputed to be “ horse-stingers,” and on this 
account some persons endeavour to beep clear of these insects. 
They have no wish or intention to interfere with either human 
beings or horses or any domestic animals ; other insects are their 
special game, and upon these the dragonflies operate, not by a 
sting but by powerful jaws. The order Neuroptera is the only 
order of insects, we believe, that includes no species that work 
mischief in the garden or upon the farm ; but, on the other hand, 
there are several genera that occur in or about gardens that by 
their proceedings help to reduce the numbers of destructive insects. 
In hotter countries than ours Neuropterous insects cannot receive 
unmixed praise, for amongst them is reckoned the much-dreaded 
white ants or termites, species that occur not only in Africa and 
America but also in some parts of Europe. Fortunately it does 
not seem probable that any of them will establish colonies on 
these shores. The termites, let us note in passing, are chiefly 
remarkable as destroyers of wood in the south of France. T. flavi- 
collis has done much damage to the Olive and other choice trees ; 
and in some towns of Spain, where the houses are chiefly of wood, 
the mines of these creatures have actually caused the downfall of 
old buildings. In diligence and sagacity the termites are little 
inferior to the ants that belong to the Hymenopterous order, while 
they are even more prolific. 
The difficulty of forming an arrangement of insects upon the 
transformations they undergo is curiously exemplified by the habits 
of the Neuroptera. The mature insects are associated by a well- 
marked resemblance they bear to each other, but in some of the 
groups both larvae and pupae are aquatic, and in some they live 
upon the leaves or branches of trees, though in both the larvae are 
mostly predacious. Then the aquatic species have pupae that are 
active like the larvae until the eve of their change, while the 
terrestrial species become quiescent for a time after throwing off 
the larva skin. This difference, however, serves to break the 
Neuroptera into two sections. The Ephemeridae or mayflies are 
the first family, distinguishable by the inequality of their wings 
from the dragonflies. They have the hind wings so much less 
than the fore wing that they are scarcely noticeable ; the body is 
very slender, and the tail is furnished with two or three long 
bristles. It is an insect that has sometimes been called the day- 
fly, on the supposition that as a fly it only exists for a day, and 
actually in the case of some of the Ephemera), the life of the fly 
seldom lasts more than a day or two ; but then it must be re¬ 
membered that previously the insect existed in its preparatory 
state for nearly a year ; some estimate the aquatic life as longer 
than that in several species. Amongst the dragonflies there may 
possibly be two years occupied by the larva and pupa stage. The 
grub or larva of mayflies is not unlike the fly, lacking wings ; on 
the sides are a singular row of gills by which the insect breathes 
and rows. Some of these larvae are in the habit of rowing after 
their prey, but many of them live principally in the mud, where 
they feed upon decaying animal or vegetable matter. The common 
mayfly (E. vulgata) is a favourite bait for certain fish, and it is 
asserted that in some districts on the continent the flies of this 
group are occasionally swept up in such quantities that the 
gardeners make use of them for manure. 
Dragonflies are not particularly garden insects, but they are 
often to be seen performing their rapid evolutions above the 
paths where a garden is not far distant from a stream or pond. 
Sometimes these flies may be noticed in places a mile or two 
from any spot where they could have been bred. The many 
insects that haunt gardens are an attraction to dragonflies, and 
the number that one of the large individuals will seize and kill is 
considerable. These are not all of them eaten “ clean up ; ” it 
appears as if a large proportion of the captures are only tasted 
and then dropped. It is likely that dragonflies received the name 
of “ horse-stingers,” because when they were seen hovering about 
horses intent upon catching flies that were persecuting the quad¬ 
rupeds, persons hastily supposed these were the objects of attack 
and not the insects. The large dragonflies pounce upon insects 
of all sorts, they will also seize spiders and centipedes if they have 
an opportunity ; and since their life is not, like that of the may¬ 
flies, of very brief duration, they clear off some of the insects that 
are hurtful to vegetation amongst other species. They are much 
aided in their hunts by the peculiar structure of the wings, by 
which they are able to fly either backwards or forwards without 
turning round. The small dragonflies that are placed in the 
genus Agrion, Colepteryx, Sec., and which repose with the wings 
raised over the back, although they too are predacious, have a 
feeble flight, and confine themselves to small prey. These are 
seldom noticed at any great distance from the rivulets or ditches 
in which the larvae lived, and above which the flies obtain their 
food. To the dragonflies of this family it is that the French have 
given the appellation of “ Demoiselles ” from their elegant move¬ 
ments, and in the sunshine a party of them exhibiting various 
tints of blue, green, and gold are very pleasing to the eye. 
The Libellulidse are distinguished from the Agrion id jc by the 
shape of the head, which is rounded and not hammer-shaped; 
these also when they have settled place their wings horizontally. 
In most species the eyes are of extraordinary dimensions, seeming 
to occupy nearly the whole of the head. The genus Libellula in 
its L. depressa, one of our common insects, offers a good example 
of the middle-sized dragonflies. The sexes of this species differ 
in colour, the female being golden brown and the male a dull 
blue tint. The monsters of the race chiefly belong to the genus 
