166 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
February 21, 1895. 
crawl. Solitary eggs are seldom noticed, especially if pale in colour, 
nor those in twos or threes, such as those of the figure-of-eight 
moth, which are laid in the autumn on the Apple bark, and the blue¬ 
headed caterpillar begins to feed while the leaves are expanding. 
Their eggs may be artfully hidden. 1 have searched in vain on 
the Gooseberry for those of the V moth (Halia wavaria), which 
must be laid during the summer, which is the moth’s season ; and 
the caterpillar, a black-warted, variously coloured creature, joins 
that of the Gooseberry moth in attacking the early foliage. 
Probably it is lodged about the buds, and may be removed by 
syringing or spraying ; this is also effective for the destruction of a 
much smaller insect, the scale, which much infested Gooseberries 
in 1893 and 1894. With this, as with the other species of scale or 
coccus, there is usually the dried body of the parent serving as a 
shield to the eggs, so that some force of application or else friction 
is necessary to dislodge them. 
Miss Ormerod notes that the Gooseberry scale begins to be 
moving in February, its food being obtained by suction from the 
bark. No doubt, both indoors and out, the various scale insects 
are on the alert early ; hence the need of energetic measures now, 
if such have been delayed. That able entomologist recommends 
as effectual a mixture of equal parts of kerosene and softsoap, suit¬ 
ably diluted with water ; also, the sulphuret of lime dressing has 
been recommended for the eggs of scale, and indeed for any 
kind. It is possible these and similar dressings, compounded of 
petroleum or of gas tar, may permeate many eggs, and kill the 
germ they contain, even should they not be dislodged from the 
bark, or some destroyers may act by closing any minute pores that 
admit air to the interior. This is probably the efficacy of oils, such 
as whale and lemon oil, which some strongly recommend for Apple 
and Pear scale, insects that are slow to stir, since they are seldom 
moving till the end of April. 
Amongst the smaller moths of the Tortrix tribe we notice that 
the eggs of several injurious species are laid in the autumn on, or 
around the buds, and hatch during the spring. The species familiar 
to us as an early disfigurer of Rose leaves may be checked by 
syringing in the winter. If a petroleum liquor be used it should be 
of only half the strength that is employed for fruit trees, and washed 
off afterwards. Few gardeners take the trouble to spray that 
favourite shrub, the Lilac, yet this might be done to advantage 
about February, as the eggs would be removed of the troublesome 
little moth, Gracillaria syringella, which, in its larval stage, so 
greatly disfigures the Lilac by twisting and devouring the leaves. 
Even when they are of black hue it is seldom the eggs of aphides, 
which are placed singly, and of course minute, are noticeable to 
the eye, but they can be washed off trees and shrubs now. There 
is special reason for cleansing Plums and Damsons, since on them 
the first brood of the Hop aphis (Phorodon Humuli) generally feeds 
in the spring, performing a migration to the Lime at some date in 
early summer.— ENTOMOLoaisx. 
TOMATO HOUSES IN THE WINTER. 
I DO not know why “ A Perplexed One” should suggest the necessity 
of having something profitable to grow in Tomato houses in November, 
seeing that it is really not difficult to have June-sown plants fruiting more 
or less freely in gentle warmth up to Christmas, if only the blooms have 
been set up by the end of October. Of course no one would suggest that 
all houses should be so utilised, but at least some might be, and thus 
furnish Tomatoes for a much longer season. Then the earlier houses 
could be cleared of Tomatoes by the end of October as intimated, and 
having at hand a large extent of rough span stages that could be erected, 
on these could be stood as thickly as possible pots sown with some good 
early forcing dwarf Beans. If these stages would admit of access 
beneath them, such as is frequently seen in span Strawberry houses, a 
portion of the space below might be utilised for Mushroom beds, 
assuming that the drip from the Bean pots did no harm. Of course 1 
am assuming that the houses are broad spans, as depicted in the illustra¬ 
tion, but “ A Perplexed One” gives no information. 
If they be low narrow houses, and have stages fixed on each side, 
then no others would be needed. As the seedlings become strong 
the pots may be thinned out so far that two or more other houses may 
soon be filled, and if there be successional houses for other sowings then 
every house might be filled with dwarf Beans by Christmas, and once 
gatherings were started there would be good pickings all through the 
winter. la it probable there can be found any other product that can 
be so easily and so cheaply raised, and so comparatively easily grown 
during the winter that would be more profitable than Dwarf French 
Beans ? 
“ A Perplexed One” seems to regard flowerg as a forlorn hope. I do 
not find that such is the case generally with the professional grower, 
but here, as in so many other things, very much depends on marketing 
methods. But if in this particular case flowers be out of the question, 
and it must be so when flower culture for market is not the regular 
vocation, there seems to remain no other course open than to utilise 
Tomato houses by growing French Beans, It is quite possible to have 
young Tomato plants coming on in the months of February and March 
at the same time that Beans are podding, so that one crop in no case 
incommodes the other. 
The necessity which seems to exist for the filling of the houses with 
Tomatoes again early in the spring of course materially handicaps their 
free winter use, and for that reason it is not practicable to grow many 
things that otherwise might be suggested. I shall be pleased to learn of 
some other crops which may be thought as advantageous, or more so, 
as are Dwarf French Beans.— Inquirer, 
Nowadays such an “ one ” as “ Perplexed One ” has a numerous 
kindred, who would only be too glad to know for a certainty what to 
grow at any time in order to reap some benefit. As he confines himself 
to what may be termed off-season, he has evidently no fault to find with 
the in-season. His query, “ What to grow from the end of October to the 
end of February in order to reap a profit from Tomato houses ? ” is of an 
extremely interesting character, not only to the immediate parties con¬ 
cerned, but also to an ever-increasing and consuming public. We may 
all witness with delight the spread of horticultural knowledge, and we 
may safely say that that knowledge can never outstrip what lies hidden 
in the bosom of Flora ; and though some may lament the intrusion of 
outsiders into the pleasantries of horticulture, they need not be down¬ 
hearted on that account, the source is as yet abundantly in a primeval 
state, and not likely to be exhausted. 
It is quite true that last Christmas Chrysanthemums were a drug, 
but it must be remembered that was not the fault of the cultivator, nor 
yet of a purchasing public, but simply arose from the extraordinary 
mildness of the particular season, therefore “ Perplexed One” would act 
wisely not to discard the Chrysanthemum, for with his facilities of house 
room let but a sharpish frost fall about September 20th, Chrysanthemums, 
unless under cover, would be scarce enough by Christmas, and instead 
of being quoted at 2s. fid, per dozen bunches, would be more likely to be 
12s. or ISs. for the same number. Anyone who has attended Covent 
Garden flower market for the twenty years must be cognisant of the 
wonderful increase of produce now displayed in that emporium for sale. 
As a feature of that expansion it may be stated that in the seventies 
there was but one solitary continental representative who brought 
into the market the cut flowers in a few boxes strapped to his 
shoulders, but now the increase is of such dimensions that the tonnage 
has to be computed almost daily. Even our own home trade has 
increased and will increase, and it may be truly observed with all the 
expansiveness, good produce in the season will always command fairly 
remunerative returns. 
No doubt the prosperity of the profession is greatly influenced by the 
unhealthiness of commerce ; people must have bread and cheese, but 
they need not have flowers, and thus, naturally, the beautiful admi¬ 
nistration of Flora is curtailed and markets rule somewhat dull. 
Nevertheless, cultivators must ever try to be ready with what is wanted. 
It is not business to bring good produce late into the market; be in 
time, and secure the best custom.—A. M, 
[We shall be glad to publish any suggestions that may be possibly 
helpful on the subject under notice, apart from the offer we made last 
week of a silver medal for an essay that may be deemed worthy of the 
award, in accordance with stipulations that will in due time be furnished 
to Intending competitors.] 
PLANT NOTES. 
Statice profusa. 
This useful plant does not appear to be nearly so much appreciated 
as it deserves, consequently a few notes respecting its general qualities 
will not be out of place. It requires a warm or intermediate tempera¬ 
ture, and the purple and white flowers are produeed on erect, branching 
spikes. The successful cultivation of S. profusa may be briefly summed 
up as follows. Young plants are by far the best for general decora¬ 
tive purposes. A stock of these should, therefore, be raised annually, 
either from seeds or cuttings. 
If propagation be effected by means of cuttings they should be 
inserted singly in small pots, and placed under a hand-light till rooted. 
As soon as the roots have obtained full possession of the soil the plants 
must be removed to larger pots, as on no account should they be allowed 
to become root-bound, in case of which the plants would quickly present 
a sickly appearance. At all stages of their growth they are subject to 
the ravages of various insect pests, mealy bug and green fly being 
especially troublesome. Stringent measures should, therefore, be taken 
for their eradication, for if once allowed to become thoroughly estab¬ 
lished the plants rarely flourish. S. profusa delights in a rich 
loamy soil, with a little charcoal and sharp sand intermixed. 
Farfugium grande. 
This plant, which is synonymous with Senecio Kasmpferi aureo- 
maculata, stands unique amongst fine-foliaged plants either for green¬ 
house, conservatory, or general decorative purposes, lasting a very 
long time in perfection, especially if placed in a light airy position. 
The leaves, which are similar in shape to those of Peperomia reseda- 
flora, though much larger, are of a beautiful dark green colour, freely 
blotched with yellow. 
Propagation may easily be effected by means of division of the roots, 
which can take place at almost any season, but where practicable I 
should recommend doing it some time during the present month, just 
