69 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 21 1890. 
the inside of the petals being striped with deep purple lines, and 
the beauty of the flower is much enhanced bv the rich orange 
coloured stigmas. The species is a native of the Caucasus and 
Transylvania, differing but slightly from each other. The flow T ers 
are very large, and when fully expanded by the rays of the sun 
a clump presents a most beautiful object. 
Another species less valuable, but distinct enough to have a 
place, is C. nudiflorus, the Naked-flowered Crocus, which is a native 
of South-western Europe, but has become abundantly naturalised 
in meadows near Nottingham and in other localities in central 
England. It has fine, pale, but bright purple long tubed flowers, 
with orange coloured stigmas. 
A very beautiful Crocus, and one which is, in my opinion, inter¬ 
mediate in beauty between C. speciosus and C. nudiflorus, is 
•C. longiflorus, known also as C. cdorus, which is, I understand, a 
native of Italy, and has beautiful rose-lilac flowers appearing 
shortly after those of C. speciosus. This is one of the most beau¬ 
tiful among the species. 
C. sativus, the true Saffron, although at one time largely cul¬ 
tivated in England for profit, is comparatively rare in our gardens, 
a circumstance probably due to the shyness of its flowering in 
many places. The flowers of this are purple, and it is readily dis¬ 
tinguished by the orange coloured stigmas hanging over one side of 
the flower. This sluuld have a warm sunny position. 
C. pulchellus is a beautiful Crocus, said to be a native of Mount 
Atlas and Belgrade, and the east side of the Bosphorus. This 
species has large bluish pearl flowers, veined with a darker colour, 
and with white anthers. 
There are some very beautiful white or whitish coloured kinds 
among these autumn floweiing members of the genu<\ C. Boryanus 
or Boryi is one of the finest of these. It was originally found by 
Bory near Navarino, but appears to be pretty widely distributed 
over some parts of Asia Minor, the Morea, and the Greek Islands. 
According to Dean Herbert C. Ionicus and C. Yeneris are identical 
with Boryanus, and Mr. Wooster says C. caspicus of Fischer is the 
same. The flowers appear late in autumn, and are of a fine creamy 
white with orange yellow throat, the anthers white, and stigmas 
orange yellow. I do not find C. Boryanus very free flowering, but 
have not yet been able to give it as sunny a position as it should 
have. C. ochroleucus, creamy white and yellow, and C. Hadriati- 
cus, pure white, are also very beautiful kinds, which do well here ; 
but I regret that I have no information as to the native habitats of 
these fine species. There are several other autumn Crocuses in 
commerce which I have not yet grown, and with which I am not 
sufficiently acquainted to venture to write of. Some of these are 
C. asturicus, purple lilac ; C. cancellatus, white, and purple at the 
base ; C. c. cilicicus and C. c. lilacinus, vaiieties of this ; C. Cl’tsi, 
purple ; C. byzantinus, purple ; C. serotinus, lavender ; C. Tourne- 
forti, delicate rose lilac ; and C. Thomasi, -white and lavender blue. 
I have purposely left until the close of these notes my favourite 
among all I have grown—C. zonatus, which has been appropriately 
called exquisite,” and I know no other adjective more applicable 
to its most beautiful rose-lilac flowers, with a fine yellow zone at 
the base of the inside of the petals. This species should be grown 
everywhere, and I feel sure none who can admire the delicate 
beautv of these flowers will have cause to regret adding this to his 
collection. 
As “ there’s ne’er a Rose without a thorn,” so there is still a 
shortcoming in the autumn Crocus—a yellow. There may be one 
which I know not of, and Nature is so prodigal of her bounties that 
in all probability this colour will turn up somewhere in Asia, and 
who knows what Stanley’s Mountains of the Moon may yield to 
enrich our gardens ? Could an autumn-flowerirg yellow Crocus 
only be added to our gains the late season garden might glow with 
the brilliancy our spring gardens now possess, and a fresh charm 
be added to that most fascinating pursuit—hardy plant growing. 
—S. Arnott. 
INSECTS OF THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
C Continued from page 399, last rol .) 
We come now to consider two important though not large 
groups of species, which from their peculiarities seem to stand 
aloof from the other orders of insects, but are slightly related on 
one side to the beetles, and on the other to the crickets and grass¬ 
hoppers. Hence, by most of our entomologists they a’e considered 
to form two small and distinct orders. Both of these are brought 
particularly under the notice of gardeners, owing to the majority 
of the insects frequenting cultivated plants and shrubs both 
indoors and out, flowers as well as fruit suffering from their 
attacks, the foliage, too, being sometimes injured. Their mode of 
procedure is such that killing or removing them is often a trouble¬ 
some and tedious business. Trapping some of them is a plan that 
has its advocates. We could hardly miss the fact that the earwig 
season is nearing us, since so many cottage and suburban gardens 
exhibit the inverted flower pots or the scooped out lobster claws 
designed to ensnare these insects, and which, though unsightly, do 
answer the purpose. As most gardeners know, the ingenuity 
with which earwigs discover places of concealment is remarkable. 
They will hide in the folds of a label or in a strip of matting. A 
very common trick of theirs is to lurk amongst what are termed 
amplexicaul leaves, or within leaves that are expanding. Many- 
petalled flowers also afford them special gratification. Earw’igs are 
occasionally to be found in conservatories, and they can stand a 
good amount of moist (not dry) heat, but they are more abundant 
in garden ground. During the last few years complaints have been 
made of their infesting plants in the kitchen garden, this arising, 
I presume, from their being more numerous than formerly, so 
not limiting themselves to the fruit and flowers. Indeed, there 
were places in 1886 and 1887 that suffered from an earwig plague-, 
the insects entering dwellings, hiding in beds, garments, &c., and 
regaling themselves upon various articles of food. Still they 
doubtless prefer flowers to anything else, and of these Roses,. 
Pinks, Carnations, and Dahlias contain most earwigs. 
In the order Dermaptera, aptly named from the soft wing-cases- 
of the insects, which are a contrast to those of beetles, though the 
biting apparatus of the mouth is alike in both groups, the two 
species best known are the one above referred to—viz., Forficula 
auricularia. and the lesser earwig, Labia minor. Both Latin and 
English names have a significance which requires explanation, for 
there are still people who are afraid that earwigs may crawl into their 
ears, and those engaged in garden work run greater risks than other 
folk. Apprehensions of any serious injury from such an event 
are, I am convinced, needless, since the insect could not penetrate 
the drum of the ear. It is a thing that seldom happens. I have,, 
on inquiry, only heard of a single instance, and then the person 
that was thus “earwiged” had been lying upon grass. Some have 
suggested that the name was originally earwing,” in allusion to the- 
beautiful wings of the species, the foldings of which have been 
likened to the convolutions of the ear, but I do not see much 
resemblance myself. It is a curious fact that though possessed of 
ample wings the common earwig is very seldom noticed to use- 
them, not even to help itself in making a jump. The forceps at 
the extremity of the body is chiefly used by these insects in¬ 
doubling up or extending the wings, and is not of the nature of a 
weapon—certainly it does not secrete a poison. One entomologist,, 
however, tells us that he observed an earwig bearing along by its 
forceps a small beetle ; but they rarely meddle with other insects,, 
though occasionally guilty of cannibalism if any die in a retreat 
where several have hidden together. 
Probably one chief cause of earwigs proving so troublesome, 
next to their nocturnal aud secluded habits, is the comparative- 
safety they enjoy while in their early stage of growth. The larva 
or grub of the earwig lives either under ground or beneath stones^ 
and in other places where it is unnoticed. What the food is we- 
are not certain about, mod likely it is of a vegetable nature. A 
very singular fact is that the mother earwig watches over her 
progeny while they are small, and guards the eggs till hatched.. 
She has been caught in the act of removing them from one place- 
to another. As many earwigs live through the winter months- 
under loose bark, amongst dead leaves, &c., the destruction of 
them at that time will tend to reduce the spring brood. Some- 
gardeners have killed quantities of these insects by putting about 
flower beds small tubes, as suggested by the late Mr. Wood, made- 
from the hollow stems of plants, or brown paper, plugged at one 
end, and placed with the open end downwards, which should be 
examined every morning and the earwigs shaken out. 
The lesser earwig, Labia minor, does not unfrequently fly, and 
parties of these insects have been seen travelling rapidly during 
twilight, or later, in search of a new feeding place. It is of a 
lighter colour, and is principally found in hotbeds or amongst 
manure. Only now and then does a specimen appear on a flower 
or within a folded leaf, and from our little knowledge of its habits 
we assume that it is not notably injurious to our gardens. 
The Thysanoptera or tassel-winged insects, so called from the 
hairs which fringe their tiny wings, are terrible pests to our 
flowers, and their number is beyond all calculation. A single bloom- 
may contain scores, many a one being carried from a flower to the 
nose of the person inhaling its perfume rather too closely. This is 
only a part of the annoyance they cause, for when we handle 
flowers, or even walk only amongst the beds, these insects manage 
to transfer themselves to the hands, the face, and other parts of 
the human body. The irritation they give to some people is most? 
painful indeed, far worse than a straightforward bite or sting ; it? 
arises from their rapid and peculiar movements over the skin, 
connected also probably with the fringed wings. I have known 
them to drive a party of excursionists almost to the verge of 
