2 
.JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Ju’y M889. 
having on a ground colour of black, scarlet warts, and white tufts 
of hair. 
There has been great diversity of opinion as the best mode of 
dealing with these caterpillars. The slow and simple plan of removing 
them by hand has its advantages, though manifestly inapplicable to 
tall trees, and too expensive for large orchards. Those caterpillars 
that are more or less coated with hairs disregard some washes, but 
they are not insensible to a wash containing soap and petroleum. One 
grower of fruit tells me he was very successful in killing his enemies 
by the application of dry sulphur. The process of dusting the trees 
is, however, somewhat tedious and expensive. Another said to me, 
“1 have been shooting my caterpillars,” a statement which seemed 
rather astonishing. I have read, I think, of a gentlemen who used 
to go into his orchard and amuse himself by picking out an Apple 
or Pear on a branch a good distance off, and aim at it to bring it 
down, but caterpillar shooting I never heard of before. On inquiry, 
I found the plan was to fire blank cartridges into the trees, which I 
am assured brought down the caterpillars in shoals, when they 
could be easily cleared away ; my friend was obliged to admit that 
it was not exactly a wholesome process for the trees just at that 
season.— Entomologist. 
LATHYRUS SIBTHORPT. 
Although this hardy herbaceous plant has probably been in 
cultivation in England for nearly a century, it is surprising that, 
considering its attractiveness, it has not been generally grown. 
The period of its flowering and its neat habit of growth, together 
with the profusion with which its richly coloured blooms are 
produced, would not fail to please even the most fastidious. In 
years when late spring frosts prevail it may have its first flowers 
destroyed, but as the season advances and more genial weather 
is experienced this Lathyrus soon presents its customary pretty 
appearance, and maintains it until the month of June is some¬ 
times far advanced. It being necessary to give the plant sup¬ 
port, and as it seldom attains a height of much more than 3 feet, 
ordinary Pea sticks may be used for this purpose, and by putting 
them around the clumps early in the year some protection from 
frost is thereby provided, and a double purpose served. To 
describe the flowers as being richly coloured magenta-red does 
not fully depict the exceptional colour they attain in their various 
stages of development. There is nothing in dyed dress fabrics 
that is identical in tone of colour, and in the silk pattern tints it 
may be sought for in vain. It is remarkable, too, that those gene¬ 
rally credited with being conversant with colours hesitate before 
pronouncing an opinion. This is occasioned by the degree of light 
or shade in which the flowers may be placed when viewed, as well 
as their age, state of expansion, and position. The standard of 
the flower is of magenta-cerise, passing to rosy-lilac ; the wings are 
more fully coloured with a tinge of carmine, excepting at their 
base, which is much paler, as is the keel. Frequently as many as 
nine or ten blossoms are borne in a well-disposed bunch on flower 
stalks sufficiently long to admit of their being available for the 
purposes for which cut flowers are mostly prized. 
The plant received its specific name in honour of Dr. Sibthorp, 
a native of Oxford, who was Professor of botany in that University 
from 1784 to 1795. It is probably this plant that is figured in the 
second series of Sweet’s “ British Flower Garden,” fol. 333, under 
the name of L. rotundifolius var. ellipticus. The plate, however, 
fails to represent the flowers in their true colours, but the interest¬ 
ing statement is made in the letterpress that “ Marschall von Bieber- 
stein gathered it on Mount Beschtan in Georgia.” In Maund’s 
“Botanic Garden,” vol. v., plate 128, fol. 511, under the name of 
L. rotundifolius this may be the one figured and referred to, but 
the portrayal of the plant is again defective. It is here described 
as “ a free-flowering perennial species, which is very little known 
(1834-5), nor is it quite certain through what channel it was intro¬ 
duced to this country. It has long been cultivated in the Oxford 
Botanic Garden, and there is much reason for supposing that it may 
have been originally introduced by Dr. Sibthorp.” In the “Wiener 
Illustrirte Garten-Zeitung,” 1888, it is mentioned as a new plant ; 
it has, however, been preserved at Oxford from the date of its 
introduction.—S. 
TINES AND VINERIES. 
In many gardening establishments Grapes are grown and expected 
to be well produced in bouses unworthy of the term vinery ; but men of 
tact and resource, even under very favourable conditions, grow excellent 
crops of Grapes that are creditable in a greater degree than when con¬ 
ditions of the most favourable kind are provided. Light and well- 
ventilated vineries are a desideratum with all gardeners, but unfor¬ 
tunately in numerous instances they are not to be found even in the- 
gardens of the wealthy. Grapes, above all fruits, appear to create 
enthusiasm among their owners and gardeners, but this is more note¬ 
worthy in districts where gardens are numerous and situate within a 
radius allowing of visiting and revisiting among employed and em¬ 
ployers alike. This is where the inequalities of circumstances occur, 
and it is with envy that the ill-provisioned looks upon his better-to-do 
opponent. Living within the environs of Frame are houses of the 
wealthiest business men, with their more or less well appointed gardens*, 
while extending to a much greater radius are the residences of county 
families. The latter places are often held as an example for townsmen’ 
to imitate, but this can only be done of course on a restricted principle,, 
as means and space do not allow the carrying out of their ideas to a 
large extent. For instance, the vineries of the upper classes are, during- 
the Grape-growing season, given up almost or exclusively to that crop, 
while with the smaller grower a vinery has to serve as a plant house 
as well, summer and winter. 
In writing of Vines and vineries, I am tempted to mention the ex¬ 
cellent condition of some Vines and crop. The vineries are the result of 
local enterprise, and highly commendable to the proprietor, Captain 
Tucker, Keyford House, Frame, and the culture to his gardener, Mr. 
Bull. In this garden is an example of mechanical skill, accompanied 
by good results in garden produce. Of the several houses two are de¬ 
voted to Grapes, which I have not seen equalled this season in any 
establishment of moderate dimensions. The Vines are in every instance 
characterised by vigorous yet short-jointed growth, the bunches being 
much above the average in size, and if a good finish is secured they 
will be of sufficient quality to do credit to the grower on any exhibition 
table. Foster’s Seedling is represented by very fine clusters, more re¬ 
sembling the Muscat of Alexandria in size of berry, and the examples 
of this latter sort, as well as the popular Madresfield Court, are very 
fine. Alicante and Gros Colman are good, while two out of the several 
bunches of that generally discarded Grape, Muscat Hamburgh, are 
among the best I have seen for a very long time. In constitution there 
is evidently a weakness in the Muscat Hamburgh, as this Vine was the 
only one that showed any signs of sun-scalding in the leaves, although 
these were, like the others, remarkable for size and strength. 
The borders, I am told, are only 2 feet in depth, which necessitates 
frequent watering, and although the Vines are in such a satisfactory- 
state no stimulant of any kind has been given this season, this 
speaking well for the quality of the soil, which is dug from an orchard 
adjoining the garden. What a boon it would be to thousands if such< 
material could be procured so close home ! 
The houses were built under the owner’s supervision, and are, as 
I said previously,highly commendable to him, for no expense was spared 
in building and providing convenient means for ventilating ; and it is 
a misfortune that others do not adopt the same measures, the labour 
saved in the adoption of efficient lever ventilation over the single light 
method is considerable. The houses are heated by two tubular boiler# 
connected, so that in the event of sharp weather they can both be 
applied at the same time, this being found more economical thau 
if one only is used and subjected to hard forcing. Mr. Bull in¬ 
formed me that if severe weather prevails the requisite heat can be 
maintained by applying both boilers with the dampers closed. This i3 
an item worthy of a more general adoption, as apart from economy 
there is relief in the fact that the boilers are not subjected to any strain, 
consequently a break-down is not in any way anticipated. The vineriis 
in this range are lean-to’s, and the plant structures span-roofed, and 
it would be difficult to imagine anything more convenient in every 
item.—W. S., Frame. __ 
Imported plants are invariably established in pots, ard be¬ 
ginners succeed well with them for a time. But after they need 
larger pots the plants often assume an unhealthy appearance, prin¬ 
cipally by crowding the roots and placing about them too much 
material. They can, however, be well grown in pots, but some- 
experience is needed in selecting varieties suitable for this mode of 
culture. Some, of which A. virens may be given as an example,, 
root so profusely and in such a manner that the roots are with 
difficulty induced to enter the material provided as a medium, 
for them. A. crispum and A. Lobbi root in a totally different- 
manner, and can be much more easily managed in pots ; but 
in spite of this they are better in baskets than pots, for they 
delight in exposing their fleshy roots in the moist shady atmosphere 
with which they should be provided during the growing season. 
The roots of A. virens will often go straight through the basket in 
which it is grown and extend fully 4 feet below it. Plants 
