872 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 11, 1893. 
become diseased. One part of this estate—about 3 acres—on a sharp 
slope facing north was planted fourteen years since ; here but a 
few inches of soil was found overlaying the chalk. Not a single 
tree as yet shows the slightest sign of disease ; many of them are 
now 30 feet high. In that particular spot the air is dry, if cold ; 
spring frost does not affect the growth ; and no matter how cold 
the weather may be, if the atmosphere is fairly dry and there 
is no stagnation of water at the roots, this northern exposed 
situation is favourable to Larch. I do not find that the Larch bug 
(Chermes laricis) in any way affects the trees, either in growth or 
disease. 
Where the disease is present on trees that have not received a 
check, either by spring frost or insect ravages, my experience leads 
me to say it is owing in some way to the chalk foundation, as I 
cannot find any on trees that are growing in stiff soil in the same 
plantation. It is a common occurrence here to find trees the 
leaders of which make 3 feet of growth in one season, and one 
with a 4 foot shoot has been seen. This latter was on a tree 
growing in chalk on a northern slope. I also find that more time 
is required for trees to become well established when planted on a 
site where but a few inches of soil overlays the chalk than where 
the surface soil is heavy in character. 
From the fact of Abies Douglasi growing well with Mr. 
Williams I should judge that the soil is inclined to be sandy. 
Here in the natural soil this tree absolutely refuses to live, let 
alone flourish as a timber tree. We have now a few small trees in 
the shrubberies, but it is necessary to have their roots in a compost 
of peat and decayed leaves, if the natural lime-impregnated soil 
comes in contact with them them the colour of the trees change 
quickly, and they eventually turn quite yellow, and ultimately die. 
AV^e have had at least a dozen trees, in height ranging from 6 feet 
to 10 feet, go off entirely. It cannot be aught else beside the total 
unsuitability of the soil that compels this species to behave thus. 
The ordinary Spruce Fir makes rapid growth here. I am informed 
up to forty years of age it succeeds really well, after that the trees 
deteriorate. I cut down a few years since several fine specimens 
of Abies excelsa monstrosa seventy years old, quite firm in the 
wood, but the branches exhibited distinct signs of decay.— 
E. Molyxeux, Swtinmore Parle, Hants. 
WINGLESS INSECTS OF THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
The subject of insects is not wholly “ concluded,” as inad¬ 
vertently stated recently, for we have yet to briefly notice an 
important and very distinct group of wingless insects which are on 
the boundary line, forming a kind of link between these and the 
Crustaceous order. At one time, indeed, naturalists classed them 
with lobsters and crayfish, but modern science regards them as true 
insects, though they have no chrysalis state. There is a larval, or 
imperfect condition, in which changes of skin occur, and of appear¬ 
ance also, but the creature never ceases to eat during its progress to 
the adult stage. Our first division of these is the Myriapods, a 
general name which says too much, for no specimens have a thousand 
legs, even in the millepede division, the insects of which have, in 
some places, the popular name of “ raaggy-many-feet ; ” certainly 
counting them is not easy, ©wing to the quick movements of most 
species and the closeness of the segments. In the centipede 
division, however, some species have about a hundred legs, but 
most have a less number than that. Tough and slim-bodied, some 
of the centipedes have been mistaken for the larvm of a trouble¬ 
some beetle, and in consequence called “ wireworms,” the true 
wire worms being the progeny of one of the species of Elater. As 
foes to farmers and gardeners they are far more terrible than any 
of the Myriapods. 
Regarded from the horticulturist’s point of view, the jaws of 
these insects are much more important than their legs ; by them they 
are divided into two sections, one of which is no doubt capable of 
doing much mischief to plants, and the other but seldom feeds 
upon vegetables. Besides these leading groups, there is one small 
division of Myriapods, where the mouth is furnished with a sucking 
apparatus, and has no jaws. The Julidae, which are the millepedes 
of our gardens, haunters of roots, bulbs, and the crowns or under¬ 
ground stems of plants, have jaws of the usual kind, well suited 
for biting vegetable substances, though it has been repeatedly 
proved by observation that they vary their diet by sometimes eating 
soft insects and molluscs, such as slugs or little snails. But the 
Scolopendridce have an apparatus quite different, which affords 
proof that they are of carnivorous habit. Instead of the jaws or 
mandibles, these, the centipedes, have a sort of nipper more like a 
leg than a jaw, which has a sharp poi|^t and a tube that is con¬ 
nected with a poison gland. Hence it is that the bite of the large 
centipedes of hot countries is painful or even dangerous, and even 
the species of our own land are noticed to kill rapidly any insects 
they may seize. That the centipedes generally have an evil repute 
amongst gardeners is a positive fact, but the evidence of structure 
and habit goes to prove, that though they are often found upon the 
injured roots of plants, their presence is beneficial, since they come 
to prey upon the insects that have caused the damage. Some 
think that even when a centipede is found coiled up within a Plum 
or Apricot, having entered by the stalk, it is only in the fruit to 
devour aphides or mites that have previously entered owing to 
commencing decay. Curtis satisfactorily vindicated a species of 
centipedes from the accusation of being concerned in the Potato 
disease. Myriads of them did occur amongst the infected tubers 
in many places, but they had neither caused nor aggravated the 
disease. 
The millepedes, however, do feed upon some of our root crops, 
and in our beds and borders, also in conservatories, they attack 
bulbs, the stems of some herbaceous plants, and roots, especially 
those of a succulent nature. Like the woodlice, they show strong 
partiality for Orchids, eating eagerly the young fibrils of the roots. 
I Frequently the plump millepede Glomeris limbata is taken for the 
Armadillo woodlouse, and the two have a marked resemblance, but 
the woodlouse has a harder shell and longer antennae. Exotic 
specimens of these millepedes occasionally arrive in company with 
plants from Asia and Africa. When they infest hothouses it is a 
good plan to set traps for these, similar to those for woodlice, such 
as Apples and Potatoes with holes scooped in them, or small pots 
filled with partly dried horse droppings. Both offer much 
attraction to the insects, and scores may be captured and easily 
destroyed by shaking out the contents of the traps into boiling 
water. 
The snake millepedes offer a contrast to their stout brethren 
above mentioned, and as a matter of course they are more clever at 
concealing themselves ; few gardeners notice them in the juvenile 
stage, though they are not so slim then, and start life with only 
half a dozen legs. This moderate allowance of limbs is soon 
increased, for every new segment has another pair, till a total is 
reached of above a hundred. Owing to the form of millepedes they 
cannot put forth the muscular power many insects can, but they 
show much dexterity in enlarging any small holes they may find in 
hard tubers or stems, and they will manage to work into the 
interior of large pulpy roots, while the small fibres much delight 
them. Julus terrestris is our largest British species ; it is upwards 
of an inch in length when full grown, and is very like the next 
species in size, called J. londinensis, from its frequent occurrence 
in London gardens ; but the former species has a little spike at the 
tail, and longer antennae than its relative. Another species, 
J. latistriatus, is inclined to be sociable, and small parties of them 
appear unexpectedly sometimes when ground is being turned over. 
Some of the Juli haunt moss and decaying stumps of trees. 
Possibly, to some people, the name given to another well-known 
species, J. pulchellus, may seem inapplicable ; they may not connect 
the idea of beauty with a millepede. Yet it has not an objection¬ 
able appearance when examined by a magnifier, the slender and 
pale body being adorned by a double row of bright crimson spots. 
Many gardeners report this as one of the specially injurious snake 
millepedes, attacking plants in pots and in borders, often selecting 
those of the Liliaceous order ; it rivals the Eucharis mite in damaging 
that favourite flower. 
A connecting link between millepedes and centipedes is in the 
genus Polydesmus. These insects are flat-backed, and have the 
segments granulated, also they have a harder texture than the Juli, 
but the limbs break off with a slight touch. Our largest species is 
P. complanatus, which grows nearly to the length of an inch, and 
is of a whitish blue colour, frequently, like the Juli, family or 
friendly parties surround the roots of choice plants, rousing the ire 
of the cultivator. Pansies, Auriculas, and Anemones are injured 
by them, the cause of the mischief being sometimes unknown even 
if suspected. It is difficult to kill the insect without also risking 
farther injury to the plants. AVhen millepedes lurk in flower-pots 
watering with clear lime and soot water is found to be of some use, 
also a very weak solution of carbolic acid has been tried, not more 
than ten or twelve drops to a gallon of water. Some have com¬ 
mended hellebore solution, strength 2 ozs. to a gallon ; this certainly 
does no harm to plants, and will destroy many other insects besides 
millipedes which infest roots and stocks.— Entomologist. 
TOMATO GROWING. 
[By Mr. E. D. SMITH : read at a meeting of the Sheffield Chrysanthemum Society.] 
[Concluded from page 3Q01) 
Watering. 
It is possible by judicious attention to sprinkling the plants and 
soil daily for a time in bright weather to retain the soil moist without 
watering too freely. The supplying of water generally must be pro- 
