514 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 16, 1886. 
are to do well and flower freely. Another point worthy of note with 
these plants is that they require very little material about their roots ; 
there was scarcely any about the plants in question, and they were root¬ 
ing freely. In a large span-roofed house devoted to Orchids Oncidium 
Jonesianum was in grand condition and very effective with its white lip 
and beautifully spotted sepals and petals. The plants were growing on 
blocks and could not be doing better. O. Rogersi was also at home in 
baskets and upon blocks, the majority having been recently imported ; 
but strong growth had been made, and flower spikes in abundance were 
ready for expanding their showy yellow flowers. Noticeable were some 
large pans of Ccelogyne cristata in grand condition, having made bold 
plump pseudo-bulbs that will be certain to flower well. Zygopetalum 
Gauteri was m bloom, and Cymbidium ebumeum, large plants, were in 
perfect health. The difference between the old and now foliage conveyed 
at a glance the better condition of the plants since they have been in 
Mr. Swan’s charge. 
_ The favourite Miltonia Clowesi was displaying its beauty with strong 
spikes and large well-coloured flowers. Cattleyas, principally C. Moasiae 
and C. Trianas, filled the remainder of this large house, which were im¬ 
ported last winter, and the growths the plants have made in so short a 
space of time is remarkable, and shows what can be done by good care 
and treatment. Many of the pseudo-bulbs are as stout and strong as if 
they had been imported some years, and the majority have bold flower 
sheaths that will in spring produce a gorgeous effect. The Cattleyas are 
thoroughly ripened, but a little yellow in appearance, owing to little or 
no shade having been employed. The next house, a large span-Toofed 
structure with a bed in the centre and stages round the side—in fact the 
whole are constructed on this principle—contained many plants of 
Cattleya Mossite imported the same time as those mentioned above, and 
in equally good condition; C. Skinneri was in superb condition, with 
thirty-five growths ; C. bicolor, many plants in bloom, and amongst them 
a variety named C. b. Wrigleana with a very dark lip; another C. b. 
Measuresiana was in darkness and colour between the last and'C. bicolor. 
Dendrobium Deari, with its pure white flowers, was in bloom, and doing 
well without shade, except that supplied with a little whiting syringed 
on to the glass ; D. bigibbum was at home under the same treatment, and 
the same may be said of D. crassinode, D. heteroearpum, and D. Goldie- 
anum, which had made a remarkable growth from the top of an old 
pseudo-bulb. D. Wardianum was miserable, thus showing that while 
such Orchids as those enumerated flourish, this fails to grow, and finally 
dies when subjected to too much light during its season of growth. D. 
giganteum was in fine condition under this treatment, while D. chrysan- 
thum was in full beauty, and small plants of Yanda teres were all .that 
could be desired, and had been flowering freely. It will perhaps b 9 
remembered that Mr. Swan grew this plant well at Fallowfield, and 
showed fine plants on more than one occasion nearly covered with bloom 
at the Whit-wtek Shows at Manchester. 
Another large house similar to the last was full of Cattleya Trianse 
that had flowered twice in excellent condition ; C. crispa was good ; 
Lmlia Perrini, C. Dowiana, C. Gaskelliana, several plauts in flower, and 
some of the spikes were carrying four large flowers each. C. Sanderiana 
was doing well grown close to the glass ; C. Mendelli, C. Percivaliana, 
were also in the same excellent condition. A light form of 0. Lawren- 
ciana has flowered, being white shaded with pink, while the others 
imported at the same time that have flowered are true to the dark 
striking character of this variety. Lselia Dayana and Percivaliana 
were doing well in this house. In another smaller house a good stock of 
Odontoglossum grande was in flower, while large quantities of Pleiones 
were ripening on the opposite stage in this house. Crotons, Dracrenas, 
and such plants of a decorative size were grown. East Indian Orchids are 
not grown on a large scale; nevertheless, Phalsenopses, Vandas, Aerides, 
Cypripediums, and others have a place accorded them. The Cattleyas are 
the chief feature, for they are cultivated on a large scale. Some 2000 
imported plants have been potted during the past twelve or eighteen 
months. Since Mr. Swan has had the care of these gardens no plants 
could be doing better for the time they have been potted. 
It must not be concluded that because Mr. Swan has again charge of a 
collection of Orchids that he is only a specialist, for such is not the case, 
for m addition to his ability as an Orchid grower he is a good general 
gardener, and does well all that he takes in charge. A large house jutt 
filled with Chrysanthemums displayed at a glance that the culture of 
these favourite plants are well understood. The majority of the plants 
are bushes that have been disbudded, and carry from three to twelve 
large flowers. The plants are grown on the Manchester principle—dwarf, 
w l f°liage t° the rim of the pots. Mr. Swan’s plants, taking them 
all through, are the best specimens that I have had the pleasure of seeing 
for some years. The conservatory is attached to the mansion, and was 
gay with a general assortment of flowering and foliage plants. In a large 
span-roofed house a strong healthy plant if Marshal Niel Rose and 
another of Cheshunt Hybrid covered the roof. In the house devoted to 
herns in pots Adiantum Capillus-Veneris magnificum, large plants, was 
most conspicuous. This is a beautiful Fern, much better than the old 
form, and should find a place in every garden. Mr. Swan’s ability as an 
Orchid grower and gardener are too well known to need further comment, 
and therefore I shall conclude these notes by thanking him for escorting 
me round the gardens over which he presides.—B. 
The Cattleyas, in common with all other plants in this famous col- 
ecrion, are evidently enjoying the treatment they receive at Mr. Swan’s 
r antis ^ I heyaie in ruperb health, and promising well for the coming 
season s display. Mr. Swan informed me that he has coun'ed upwards 
of 500 flower sheaths on C. Mossiae alone, which, at a very low estimate, 
means 1000 flowers; more than 300 on C. Trianae, besides hosts of C. 
Mendeli, and other varieties. It is noticeable that during the present 
year they have never been without Cattleyas in bloom. 
Odontoglossums are also a feature there, and an importation of several 
hundreds of these lately arrived prove that Mr. Wrigley’s interest in 
Orchid-growing is not diminishing. In bloom were several excellent 
forms of Odontoglossum Rossi majus, and amongst other good plants in 
flower were Dendrobium bigibbum, D. superbiens, and D. Dearei. The 
latter I c nsider one of the most desirable Dendrobes, on account of its 
free-flowering and lasting qualities. 
A very fine plant and good form of Cvpripedium Spicerianum was 
well flowered, and I noticed also a plant of AHranthus Leonis bearing the 
largest flower I have seen of this chas’e but perhaps over-praised repre¬ 
sentative of a beautiful family.—B bADWEN. 
THE INSECT ENEMIES OF OUR GARDEN CROPS. 
THE PLUM. 
Since several of the insects that are more or less injurious to 
the varieties of Plum have been described in connection with 
other fruit trees, our observations upon these may be compressed 
into one article. It must be premised that of late years at least 
no very serious amount of damage has been inflicted upon the 
Plum by insect foes, though the cultiva'ion of this fruit, in spite 
of the large foreign supplies, has certainly increased, owing to 
the number of those who now take up horticulture for pleasure 
or profit. The abundance of Plums in 1886 proved that if insects 
had had their share of flowers and fruit, they left a large yield 
for humanity. Unfortunately, it happens sometimes that the food 
is in one place, but the people in another, and they are not 
brought together. Thus, while in the metropolis there are 
always plenty of hungry folk, in some Kentish orchards Plums 
were allowed to drop from the trees and decay, or given promis¬ 
cuously to children, so much yet is wrong in our methods. 
Smallest of the pests of the Plum is a mite which is, however, 
only a disfigurer of the leaves. The little galls they produce 
usually occur on the edges of the upper surface; from these as 
they mature springs a crop of whitish hairs. These galls are 
noticeable as early as May, but the mites, by whose punctures 
they are produced, are very seldom to be seen crawling from 
their place of concealment. In Germany, besides this species 
(Phytoptus Pruni) they have found another nearly akin, which 
haunts young trees some seasons, and by its exhaustive effect 
upon the twigs which it attacks has caused, the death of the 
plant. The red spider, so-called, otherwise Tetranychus telarius, 
a spinning mite, a visitor to fruit trees both under glass and 
in the open, must be treated with sulphur washes when it appears 
upon the Plum, for it is hard to kill. Some report it has been 
easily eradicated if taken in time by quassia liquor, mixed with 
softsoap. 
Next in size and a worse trouble to the cultivator than the 
mites are the Plum aphides, for this fruit tree has not only its 
special aphis, but has visitations from several species. Thus the 
green fly of the Hop, A. Humuli or Malaheb, often infests the 
Plum dui’ing early summer, multiplying very rapidly. After¬ 
wards they may migrate to the Hop, and possibly when the 
brood emerges in late autumn to deposit eggs they may do so on 
low-growing plants. The black fly of the Cherry now and then 
appears on the Plum, but the particular aphis is a dull green or 
light brown insect called A. Pruni, which when left to pursue its 
course rolls up the leaves extensively, and exuding a greyish 
powder as a kind of protection seems to escape those foes which 
kill some aphides. It is a strong argument for using timely 
remedies, that when the trees have been suffered to get into a 
weakly state applications potent enough to kill the fly are likely 
to hurt the Plum. Also it is not a pleasant reflection to think 
that during the winter the germs of our next year’s pests are 
reposing undioturbed on the trees, whereas if in the autumn we 
carefully clear away all needless suckers and straggling shoots, 
we may be sure that with them we have disposed of a good per¬ 
centage of aphis eggs, 
Aphides are always a source of trouble, specially so in some 
dry seasons, yet on the average we have most to complain of the 
numerous insects of the Lepidopterous order that occur upon the 
Plum. Though less common on this than on some fruit trees, 
we find within its wood the tough insidious larvae of the leopard 
moth (Zeuzera iEsculi), which by its channels in the tranches 
leads to their snapping off during the spring gales. Sulphur 
blown into any holes that may be noticed is serviceable, or the 
caterpillars can sometimes be kited by inserting a wire. Then 
two species of weevil, the stem borer (Rbynchites alliariai) and 
the copper weevil (R. cupreus) in their round amongst the fruit 
trees in spring do not overlook the Plum, piercing its shoots to 
deposit eggs therein, with the result that the shoots collapse, the 
