JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June 7, 1883. ] 
471 
medicinal plants are also dealt with at length, many interesting 
facts being mentioned in connection with them. 
-In reference to the Orchella Weed in the above report 
Dr. Trimen observes—“ This figured as a rather large export from 
Ceylon, the amount in the year ending September, 1882, being no 
less than 1157 cwt. The plant is a Lichen, and grows in the hot 
dry districts of Ceylon close to the coast. Its favourite localities 
are seashore rocks, where on the east coast it is frequent ; but it 
is also commonly found on old tree trunks near the coast about 
Jaffna. The species appear to be Roccella Montagnei only, no 
other member occurring on the island. It is a pale greenish-grey 
Lichen, with the fronds ribbon-like, much and irregularly cut, torn, 
and split up. The colouring matters litmus (solid), orchil (liquid), 
and cudbear (powder) are manufactured from this and other 
species.” 
- In the “ Publications of the Massachusetts Society for the 
Promotion of Agriculture ” Mr. S. H. Scudder has given an 
interesting account of the habits of a small moth (Retinia 
frustrana), and of the ravages caused by it on the Pitch Pine 
op Nantucket Island (Pinus bigida). Of late it has become 
so abundant as to threaten the total destruction of the Pines. 
Like its European congeners its larvae bore into the interior of 
the healthy young shoots and destroy them. The remedy re¬ 
commended is the radical one of taking off from every tree those 
shoots that show themselves to be infested, but the author is fully 
alive to the difficulties attendant upon such a recommendation, 
especially those of expense. The insect has not yet made its 
appearance on the adjoining mainland, but it seems to have 
been observed in other more distant parts of the eastern States. 
In Europe—and, indeed, in Britain—much damage is done to 
Conifers, especially Scotch Fir, by allied species, and they more 
especially infest quite young trees. Some of them principally 
affect the lateral shoots, and these, if not too numerous, cause 
no lasting injury to healthy young trees ; but one especially (R. 
turionella) attacks the leading shoot, and is far more serious ; 
in this case, if the tree be strong and healthy, a lateral shoot 
takes the place of the destroyed “leader,” and recovery is effected 
by this means. 
- The culture of vegetables in the Bermuda Islands, 
chiefly to afford an early supply for the American markets, has 
in recent years been greatly extended, and large quantities of 
Potatoes, Onions, and Cabbages are now grown there, together 
with Arrowroot. Strawberries are also being tried, and flower 
bulbs are being extensively grown by one enterprising individual 
for the New York Market. Cabbages, it is said, reach a height of 
4 feet or more, producing fresh heads as the others are removed. 
The Potato haulm, too, is wonderfully vigorous, as might be 
expected in a climate where the temperature between December 
and March ranges from 60° to 66° Fahrenheit. 
- Referring to these Islands the Avierican Cultivator 
states :—“ The proper time for planting Irish Potatoes in Bermuda 
is from January 1st to March 1st. Potatoes planted after Feb¬ 
ruary 25th are uncertain, on account of its being so late in the 
season. Arrowroot is planted in April, and early-planted Potatoes 
are ready to take up. Early Rose Potatoes are planted from the 
10th to the 20th of October, which crop comes to New York 
during winter. There is no better manure in Bermuda for Onions 
than seaweed. Land used for Onions every season must have a 
good manuring once in three years. Tomatoes are planted in 
January, also Carrots, Peas, Cabbages, Cauliflowers, Cucumbers, 
Beans, Turnips, and Sweet Potatoes. In February Corn is 
planted, also Oats, Lettuce, Squashes, and Melons. In April 
Onions are cultivated for the last time. In June Onions are 
taken up and Melons begin to ripen. In July Onion seed ii 
gathered. In September Potatoes are again planted for an early 
crop. In fact, other vegetables may be planted at this time. In 
December anything may be sown that our Boston or New York 
gardeners would sow in June. In short, it seems as though the 
Bermuda gardener may sow anything he pleases, at any time he 
pleases ; the only reason for having particular seasons for special 
crops is so that they may reach American markets at the right 
time to command the highest prices.” 
THE INSECT ENEMIES OF OUR GARDEN CROPS. 
No. 4. 
The Gooseberry Sawfly (Nematus Ribesii) has been recognised 
for a long period of years as a foe to that fruit, and one which 
must be watched against every season. Lately it has been 
specially troublesome in many localities, even to the extent of 
stripping the bushes of their leaves. The consequence was that 
in extreme cases the fruit dropped off or else refused to ripen, 
and so had to be picked green. Apart from the preventive and 
remedial measures that may have been adopted by gardeners 
during 1882, the excessive humidity and general mildness of the 
past winter render it highly probable, I think, that the spring 
brood of the grubs or caterpillars has appeared in smaU numbers. 
Occasionally the cocoons of the insect may be noticed upon the 
Fig. 103.—The Gooseberry Sawfly (Ne.uatu; Ribesii). 
twigs of its food plant, but in the usual way they are hidden 
under the ground, to which the caterpillars descend when they are 
adult; hence a moist winter is likely to cause some of these to 
perish, and also it enables birds to get them more readily from 
the soil. 
Although named from the Gooseberry, this pest is found also 
upon Currant bushes, but it seems to avoid the Black Currant. 
Some of the Sawflies—that of the Rose, for instance—set their 
eggs in grooves, cut by their saws upon the twigs or leaves. The 
fly of N. Ribesii (fig. 103), however, only places its eggs in rows 
along the veins of the leaves, doing this in April or early in May. 
This insect has four transparent wings, a head and thorax 
yellowish marked with black, abdomen orange, as are the legs, 
which have brown tips. About ten days after the deposition of 
eggs the young grubs appear, to feed at first in groups of from 
forty to seventy upon one leaf. Soon they disperse themselves 
over the bushes, grasping the leaves with then- forelegs, while 
the tail or hind extremity of the body is partly curled round in 
the wonted fashion of Sawfly grubs. Each has six true feet and 
fourteen sucker-feet. These are black, and the head also; the 
body is green or brownish, with black spots. These will be the 
parents of a second brood should they escape the gardener and 
become flies; indeed, in some seasons the second brood is the 
more numerous, appearing during July; and there is generally a 
third emergence, the last batch of grubs feeding-up to become 
chrysalids in autumn. Or there may even be as many as four 
successive broods. 
At that time of year when the Gooseberry bushes can be briskly 
shaken without injury to the crop, it is easy to remove the cater¬ 
pillars of the above fly by placing pieces of cloth or canvas 
beneath the bushes to catch them as they fall, when they can be 
speedily killed. In small gardens patient handpicking will remove 
a number of them, especially if the bushes have had then- 
branches so cut as to give them a cup-shape, a plan recommended 
by the Rev. J. G. Wood for this and other reasons. But there 
is seldom much trouble with the species if in the winter suitable 
operations are carried on where the caterpillars have been seen 
during the preceding summer. The surface soil may bo removed 
with the chrysalids in it, or it may be forked thoroughly, while 
