September 11, 1890. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
223 
is accessible they will enter that and gnaw the stems of young 
plants. Owing to the nocturnal habits of the species they may 
escape detection, concealing themselves in nooks and corners t i 11 
they return to the kitchen or laundry. This insect is not truly 
British, but a native of the Levant, and far surpasses in size our 
own species of the same tribe. I have received specimens of one 
of these taken in some border, sent on the supposition that it had 
been doing mischief. It bears the name of B. germanica, given to 
it, probably, because it is so abundant in many parts of Prussia, 
also in Russia. This is of a pale brown colour, about half an inch 
long, and, like its larger relative, fond of keeping out of view by 
day. From its being usually observed amongst heaps of dead or 
decaying leaves I should consider it is an insect almost harmless. 
Where there are ponds near flower gardens dragon flies are 
likely to be seen during the summer and autumn flying over the 
flowers, intent upon capturing some of the numerous insects that 
are attracted to the plants. Mostly it is only the dragon flies of 
size and strength that occur in gardens ; the small and more 
delicately formed “demoiselles” of brilliant colours, with other 
species akin to them, are only now and then found on the wing at 
any distance from the stream or pond in which their larval life has 
been spent. It is to the larger species, those we usually see about 
gardens, that the popular name of “ horsestinger ” belongs, certainly 
inappropriate, as they make no attacks upon horses or animals ; 
nor can they sting at all, though the tail in some of them has a 
curious appendage that might pass for a sting. These flies, indeed, 
seldom try to bite the hand if they are grasped, and, like the rest 
of the species in the order Neuroptera, or the net-winged insects, 
they are either serviceable to man or not injurious to plants he 
cultivates. It is a pretty sight to see one of these “ dragons of the 
air,” as they may well be called, careering above our garden paths 
and beds, both wings and body glittering in the sunshine. They 
possess the power owned by no other winged insect, of flying back¬ 
wards, forwards, and sideways without turning ; this enables them 
to chase their prey rapidly whenever it happens to double. Of 
course, among the insects they capture there are some that are 
harmless, butterflies for instance, but they kill many that are 
mischievous ; thus a dragon fly will tackle a wasp bravely enough, 
and it now and then happens that in the conflict the dragon fly is 
worsted. A much smaller, very pretty, and decidedly useful insect 
of this order, which we may often see crawling on herbaceous 
plants and on Pelargoniums, is the lace-winged fly (Chrysopa 
vulgaris), and whenever one of these is observed displaying its thin 
greenish-pink wings and eyes of gold, it should be left unmolested. 
If a female insect, it is probably engaged in the work of depositing 
eggs upon the leaves ; these eggs are placed upon footstalks some 
lines in length, and would not at first be taken for the eggs of any 
insect. The larva of this fly devours enormous quantities of 
aphides, yet it is supposed to have no eyes, therefore it must hunt 
them by the sense of touch, and it is remarkably agile in its move¬ 
ments.— Entomologist. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
September 0th. 
The exhibits were not numerous at this meeting, but comprised fine 
representative collections of Dahlias, Gladioli, trees, and shrubs. In the 
afternoon the paper by M. Lemoine on Gladioli attracted a good 
audience. 
Fruit Committee. —Present : John Lee, Esq., in the chair, and 
Messrs. F. Jamm, R. D. Blackmore, P. Crowley, Harrison Weir, A. H. 
Pearson, G. Bunyard, J. Smith, G. Norman, J. Hudson, F. Q. Lane, 
A. Watkins, and J. Cheal. 
Messrs. J. Carter & Co., Holborn, sent fruits of Market Favourite 
Tomato and large Melon named Holborn Favourite. Mr. R. Maher, 
Yattendon Court, Newbury, sent samples of two seedling Grapes from 
Black Alicante crossed with Black Hamburgh, and the “ Early White 
Hamburgh ” from the Red Sweetwater. The Committee desired to see 
the former again ; the latter w r as passed without comment. The Rev. 
W. Wilks, Shirley, Croydon, sent two fruits of a Pear named Marguerite 
Marrellat, thought to resemble Souvenir du Congres. Mr. A. Selby, 
Radcliffe-on-Trent, show r ed seven dishes of fine Potatoes. (Cultural 
commendation.)) 
Mr. J. Walker, Ham, exhibited twenty-three dishes of Apples, com¬ 
prising good examples of Lord Grosvenor, New Hawthornden, Grenadier, 
Lord Suffield, Stirling Castle, Lane’s Prince Albert, and others (silver 
Banksian medal). Mr. T. H. Crasp showed a collection of fruits— 
Apples, Pears, Figs, Peaches, and Nectarine?, all good specimens 
(cultural commendation). Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, showed ten 
varieties of Nuts, Red and White Filberts, Cut-leaved Nut, Pearson’s 
Prolific, Kentish Cobs, Princess Royal, Purple-leaved Filberts, Frizzled 
Nuts, Cosford, and Merveille de Bollwyller. (Vote of thanks.) 
Melon Ely's Seedling (Mr. Ely, Joyce Grove, Henley-on-Thames).— 
A green-flesh Melon of good flavour, the flesh deep, and the skin well 
netted. 
Floral Committee. —Present : W. Marshall, Esq., in the chair ; 
and Messrs. R. Dean, H. B. May, H. Cannell, C. T. Druery, Shirley 
Hibberd, F. Moore, G. Paul, J. Fraser, C. Noble, W. Holmes, j. 
Walker, J. O’Brien, Lewis Castle, Dr. M. T. Masters, and Rev. H. H. 
D’Ombrain. f wj» y 
Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, had a most attractive group of 
Cactus Dahlias, amongst which the following varieties were noteworthy : 
—Lacineata aurea, bright yellow ; Lewis Castle, rich bluish purple 
Empress of India, deep maroon; Dr. Peters, orange red ; Cannell’s 
Favourite, deep orange ; and Maid of Kent, maroon-tipped white, fo.v 
most of which awards of merit w r ere adjudged. 
Messrs. Kelway & Son, Langport, had a wonderful collection of 
Gladioli spikes. (Silver-gilt medal.) 
MM. V. Lemoine et fils, Nancy, contributed an interesting collec¬ 
tion of Gladioli of the Lemoinei and Nancianus types (silver Banksiacr 
medal), Gladiolus Nancianus Le Grand Carnot (M. Y. Lemoine et fils), 
spike long, flowers large for the type, salmon red, creamy white in the 
centre. (Award of merit.) 
Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt, had an exceedingly interesting and 
extensive collection of specimens of finely variegated and ornamental 
trees and shrubs (silver Banksian medal.) Specimens of Acer Van 
Volxemi were shown by Dr. Masters to illustrate the rapid growth of 
the tree at Ealing. (Vote of thanks.) 
Mr. T. H. Crasp, Canford Manor Gardens, Wimborne, secured the. 
medal offered by Messrs. Kelway & Son for twelve varieties of Gladioli 
with well-developed spikes and flowers. 
Orchid Committee.— Present : Harry J. Veitch, Esq., in the 
chair, and Messrs. J. O’Brien, S. Courtaul'd, Lewis Castle, F. Sander, 
J. Douglas, E. Hill, J. Dominy, C. P. Pilcher, and Dr. M. T. Masters. 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., Burford Lodge, Dorking (gardener, 
Mr. W. White), exhibited seven remarkably well-grown plants of 
Habenaria militaris bearing large heads of its peculiar bright reif 
flowers. See fig. 28. (Silver Banksian medal.) A plant of Cypripedium 
glanduliferum was sent that was considered to be identical wittx 
C. prasstans. 
