September iG, 1880. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
267 
pre-eminent amongst several larvie so named; the Pea and the 
Pear weevil, instances out of a group of garden infesters ; the 
Asparagus beetle, the cocktail, and the ladybird. Beetles there 
are that have not been so designated in popular phrase, like the 
Turnip flea (Haltica nemorum), one of the many species that are 
able to leap and skip as well as walk or fly ; and other insects, of 
which the cockroach (Blatta orientalis) is a well-known instance, 
are called beetles, though really belonging to decidedly different 
groups. To the word “ beetle,” it might be added, belongs a 
fragment of antique history, for some think our Saxon ancestors 
thus named certain insects because of their hard or tough exterior ; 
but it is more probable that bill, its first form, came from betan, 
to bite, suggested by the destructive operations of the insects as 
seen in the fields or woods. 
Coleoptera have, however, taken their scientific name from the 
fact that the fore wings are horny and leathery, covering the hind 
wings entirely in most species when the insect is not in flight. 
These fore wings do not help a beetle when it is in the air, except 
so far as they may steady its movements ; the whole work of 
flying is performed by the hind pair, which are large, and contain 
strong nervures. A few beetles are incapable of flight, and some 
of the water beetles, though able to fly, seldom take excursions in 
the air. The mouth of a beetle when examined shows the usual 
upper and lower lip, of a horny nature in this order, a formidable 
pair of jaws or mandibles, and a second and more delicately con¬ 
structed second pair below the first, which are called maxillse, and 
furnished with two feelers or palpi. The legs of beetles in their 
jointing give important characters, by which groups are dis¬ 
tinguished, as also do the antennm, which are sometimes thread¬ 
like, sometimes knobbed, sometimes resembling a saw, a comb, or 
a fan, or a necklace, and other variations. Occasionally the shape 
of the antennae is associated with certain habits ; thus most of the 
beetles with slender antennae prey upon living insects. 
Anyone who has picked up, as most probably have, a specimen 
of that frequent visitant to gardens at dusk, the dor or watchman 
beetle, must have discovered that this beetle has a remarkable 
strength of muscle for its size. M. Plateau experimented with an 
apparatus so contrived as to test how much a beetle could pull 
along. While one of the ground beetles could draw seven times 
its own weight a cockchafer could draw fifteen times, and the 
species called Trichius fasciatus about forty times. The larvae of 
beetles, familiarly known by the vague term “grub,” are also 
muscular in body and limb, usually six-footed, though a few 
almost lack these useful appendages. Some are feeders in pro¬ 
minent positions upon animal and vegetable substances, but in 
the general way beetle larvse prefer to conceal themselves, hence 
it happens that many common species are unknown in their early 
stages of life. The pupa state is passed in quiescence, and the 
outline of the future imago is traceable more or less clearly on 
the exterior of the pupa skin. It is not requisite that we should 
enter here into minute particulars about those divisions amongst 
the beetles which serve for scientific classification ; but every 
gardener ought to know the distinctions which separate the _ prin¬ 
cipal tribes from each other as a help towards the recognition of 
individual species that may be hostile, favourable, or neutral. 
Speaking broadly, we might say that mankind derive a number of 
benefits °from the race of beetles that overbalance the injuries 
done by some, and in the narrower range of horticulture it is 
almost probable though not proveable that our beetle friends and 
foes are about on an equality with each other. Thus we start, 
when taking a closer survey of the Coleoptera, with the tribe or 
section of the Adephaga, which have long slender antennae, and 
maxillae furnished with two palpi or feelers. These are all pre¬ 
dacious, and again divided into land and water beetles, one 
having the legs formed for running, the other for swimming. The 
tiger beetles of the first genus Cicindela are of elegant shape and 
bright colours ; it is their habit to expose themselves to view fear¬ 
lessly during daylight. C. campestris, the common tiger beetle or 
“ sparkler ” (fig. 54), is frequent on sandy b banks and heaths in the 
summer, and is occasionally seen in gardens. They kill numerous 
insects less than themselves, or even larger ; the larvae also live 
upon various “small fry,” which they catch by means of a tunnel 
excavated to at least the depth of a foot. The earth that has to 
be removed is carried out by the larva in loads, which are dex¬ 
terously rested upon the broad flat head. Instead of lurking at 
the bottom of its tunnel, as does the larva of the ant-lion, the 
larva of a tiger beetle lodges itself just below the mouth by means 
of a hump upon the back which has two curved hooks. When 
some insect slips into the opening the larva rushes forward, and 
seizing its prey glides down with it to the end of the burrow, 
where the capture can be eaten up at its leisure. Supposing a 
colony of these larvae could be established in a garden they might 
be of some use in destroying insects. Their habit, however, leads 
them to prefer open and sandy places, though one species, C. syl- 
vatica, is presumed to have a liking for woods. The larva life in 
these, as in many beetles, endures much longer than that of the 
perfect insect. 
Some beetles belonging to this tribe exemplify the fact, that an 
erroneous idea concerning the habits of an insect is apt to be 
formed owing to the circumstances under which it is found. We 
have nine British species of the genus Dromius, small beetles with 
slim flattened bodies, and which, though occasionally seen under 
stones, are usually resident under the bark of trees. Hence it has 
been imagined that they perforate the bark or wood, which is not 
the case, their object in life being to devour various insects that 
hide between the bark and wood, from whose proceedings mischief 
actually does arise. But when clearing off loosened bark from 
the trees that have been attacked by insects, it is difficult to 
separate the species that may be brought to light. Clivina fossor 
is an instance of a predacious beetle that deposits its eggs upon 
rotten wood, in which the larvae construct burrows. The beetle 
varies much in colour, being black, brown, or red, and the darker 
specimens are those, it is noticed, that live partly exposed, as 
amongst heaps of decaying leaves.—J. It. S. C. 
WOKKjoflT HE WEEK,. 
IK*LI 
HARDY FRUIT GARDEX. 
Little requires to be done in this department at the present time 
except attending carefully to ripening fruit. Trees against walls 
should be examined every morning when the dew is off, and all 
Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, Pigs, &c., should be removed as soon as 
ripe, and their flavour is improved by keeping them a few days on 
shelves in a well-ventilated fruit room. Fruit that is to remain upon 
the trees for some time longer—such as Morello Cherries, Coe’s 
Golden Drop Plum, and other late varieties—must be protected 
against wasps by hexagon netting. The finer varieties of Plums 
may be enclosed in muslin bags, and Peaches, Nectarines, and Pigs 
may be secured by similar means. Gather the early Apples and 
Pears as they become ripe, placing them carefully on shelves in the 
fruit room. Considerable judgment is requisite in gathering the 
fruit, for if taken too soon they will shrivel; and if allowed to 
remain too long upon the trees the flavour is deteriorated, besides 
not keeping so long or well, which also occurs when the fruit is 
bruised or injured. Examine all espalier, cordon, bush, and pyramid 
fruit trees, as well as trees against walls, and remove unnecessary 
shoots, nailing or tying-in the growths, so as to afford the young wood 
and spurs the full influence of sun and air. Autumnal Baspberries 
will soon begin to ripen their fruit, and will require to be carefully 
protected from birds. This crop in most establishments is exceed¬ 
ingly useful, and it is surprising that they are not more generally 
grown. The plantation should be formed in an open situation, the 
ground liberally enriched, and as soon as the crop is gathered the 
canes should all be cut down close to the surface of the soil. In the 
spring carefully select from four to six of the strongest canes to each 
stool, cutting away the others. Strawberry plants that were turned 
out of pots after being forced will be about setting an autumn crop, 
and the fruit will soon require the protection of nets ; and if span- 
roofed frames are available they may be placed over the plants, air 
being freely admitted, and this will improve the quality of the fruit- 
Plants that have been retained in pots for autumn fruiting should, as 
soon as the fruit is fairly set, be transferred to frames or positions 
near the glass in a light well-ventilated house to ripen the fruit, 
whilst later batches should be moved to frames or houses, and have 
air freely night and day until the fruit is set; but it swells better in 
a rather closer atmosphere and a temperature of 55° to 65° artificially, 
and as the fruit changes colour a lessened supply of water at the 
roots with a drier atmosphere will be necessary to secure flavour. 
FRUIT HOUSES. 
Melons .—Plants swelling their fruit will require considerable atten¬ 
tion to guard against canker. The remedy that has been frequently 
pointed out is freshly slaked lime pressed well into the affected parts, 
