October 31, 1889. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
375 
same treatment. Assuming that “ W. S.” will concede the point 
so far, the real difference that, exists between us on this subject is 
only of a comparative nature, and in drawing attention to the 
sterling qualities of Valencia and Miss Joliffe I wished to point 
out how much superior they were to many varieties of great 
beauty, but which, if compared with those indicated, are found 
wanting in floriferousness during the two months of the year when 
these lovely and deliciously scented flowers are especially valued. 
Take for instance the following varieties, the flowers of which are 
always esteemed when they can be had—Oscar and Empress of 
Germany. True they produce flowers occasionally before Christmas, 
but it is not till the turn of the year that they will bear comparison 
with Valencia and Miss Joliffe for yielding quantities of flowers 
from a 5 or 6-inch pot. Still they are valuable for supplying their 
finely marked blooms during the early spring months, and I quite 
agree with W. S.” that Carnations are appreciated at any time of 
the year ; but to all who require a good supply of blooms from the 
present time till Christmas, I say, Do not depend on these, but 
select those varieties that have a natural tendency to flower 
profusely during that period. “ W. S.” does well to attach great 
importance to early propagation and liberal treatment, as without 
these aids good results can never be obtained ; but given the same 
favourable treatment some varieties flower much better from 
November to January than others do. What say other readers of 
the Journal ? — H. Dunkin. 
STORING ROOTS. 
Where vegetable roots are required in variety and quantity all 
the year round it is imperative that as little loss through decay 
should be sustained as possible. Having tried various expedients 
to preserve roots, more especially Carrots, during the late winter 
and spring months with more or less success, I find freshly gathered 
or collected leaves the best of all material for this purpose. Any¬ 
one who may have experienced failure through using sand, ashes, 
mould, hay, or other unsuitable covering would do well to spread a 
slight layer of 2 or 3 inches of Oak, Beech, or Chestnut leaves (if 
mixed all the better) underneath the roots, and after leaving the 
latter a few days to dry partially cover with 3 or 4 inches of the 
same mixture, and in anticipation of severe weather setting in a 
few inches more may be added later on in the season. Since 
adopting the above simple plan we have had little less comparatively 
amongst a quantity of Carrots, Beetroot, Turnips, and Parsnips 
stored away at this season for several years past. Believing the 
above hint might be useful to some inexperienced grower of 
either one or all of those very necessary vegetables is my only 
excuse for desiring a small space for so simple a subject in the 
pages of this important horticultural work, “ the Journal.”— 
W. H. Chisholm. 
[No excuse is needed for communicating useful hints, and those 
on so-called “ simple ” matters are often of substantial service to 
many readers.] 
INSECTS OF THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
C Continued from page 265.') 
If we examine the walls of tool houses and garden sheds in the 
autumn and winter months, especially those that are but dimly 
lighted, we often find moths of various sizes at rest, awaiting the 
approach of a brighter season, when they may deposit their eggs. 
It would hardly be fair to condemn these to death indiscriminately, 
as some of them are not likely to be the parents of destructive 
caterpillars, but others may be, hence the advantage of gardeners 
having sufficient entomological knowledge to enable them to re¬ 
cognise the commoner insects in any of their stages. One of these 
hybernating moths not unusual on palings or under cover is the 
Hebrew character (Toeniocampa gothica), which gets its familiar 
name from a peculiar mark on the fore wings, which are purple 
brown tinged with grey, and remarkable for having scales which 
seem raised above the surface. Its caterpillar is found in June, 
being rather conspicuous for its markings of yellow and white upon 
the pale green ground colour. It occurs both in shrubberies and 
flower gardens. Mr. Doubleday found it eating the Laurel or 
Sweet Bay, which most caterpillars avoid. It would probably be 
a much more abundant species were it not for the exertions of 
insect eating birds. Those that escape all two-legged and parasitic 
foes bury in the earth to transform themselves to chrysalide 0 , 
emerging in the autumn just in time to regale on the sweets of Ivy 
bloom ere they repose. 
The very variable moth called the dun bar (not Dunbar), also 
Cosmia trapezina, is only occasionally seen in gardens, nor is its 
caterpillar a frequent visitant, but it must be regarded as a useful 
pecies, and one to be protected. Indeed, it would be an advantage 
to introduce the caterpillar in gardens, for thousrh it eats the leaves 
of some trees, such as the Oak and Hornbeam, its chief food is the 
juices of other caterpillars, which it hunts eagerly. One of its 
favourite objects of attack is the caterpillar of the winter moth, so 
michievous to our fruit trees during May and June; of these it 
destroys large numbers some seasons. Possibly the abundance of 
this caterpillar in 1889 is partly attributable to a scarcity of its 
insect enemies such as the above. The dun bar caterpillar, how¬ 
ever, is no wise particular, and chases any other it can get near 
unless it be hairy, but as its movements are not very rapid some 
escape by crawling rapidly or dropping. This caterpillar has a 
small head and plump body of dusky green, distinctly marked 
with five whitish stripes running from head to tail, and scattered 
over the surface are rows of black warts, each surrounded by a 
white ring. It appears to pass the winter in the caterpillar state. 
The caterpillar of the angle shades moth (Phlogophora meticu- 
losa) is one of those which I have taken on Chrysanthemums, 
plants not generally attractive to caterpillars. It prefers, seem¬ 
ingly, other composites more succulent and less aromatic, and also 
feeds on Primulas and various low plants in gardens, continuing to 
nibble the leaves through the winter when the weather is mild. 
In form this caterpillar is rather leech-like, and if alarmed it coils 
into an imperfect ring ; the colour is green or greenish brown, a 
white line runs down the back, and one upon each side of the body. 
Upon the thorax of the moth are long tufts of hair, and the wings, 
which are grey, have angulated markings of brown or green, which, 
suggested the English name. Some years ago a nurseryman at 
Norwood, Surrey, called my attention to his China Asters which 
had been disfigured by the pretty caterpillar of the star-wort moth 
(Cucullia asteris). It is sometimes seen in gardens, and occurs also 
in woods upon the wild Golden Rod, to which it is partial. This 
is a slender caterpillar, each extremity being narrowed, the general 
colour green, with three yellow and two blue stripes. It is, I 
suppose, from the appearance of the caterpillars that the moths of 
this genus have as a group received the name of “ sharks.” One of 
the larger species feeds on the leaves of the wild and the garden 
Lettuce, concealing itself by day amongst the loose soil. 
In both the kitchen and the flower garden the moth called the 
Silver Y, and also the Gamma (Plusia Gamma), is often to be seen 
flying about in broad daylight, but it is also to be observed at dusk, 
and later, nor should I be surprised to see a specimen on the wing 
at midnight or early morning, for it is a restless species. As the 
moth is about all through the summer months most years there 
must be a succession of the caterpillars, which feed upon a variety 
of plants, preferring culinary vegetables ; but owing to the attrac¬ 
tion fragrant honey-yielding flowers have for the moths they 
resort to the beds and borders, as a consequence sometimes deposit¬ 
ing eggs there upon Dahlias and Hollyhocks or on humbler plants. 
Hovering over flowers, the gammas vibrate their wings so rapidly 
that they are hardly noticeable, and when it is dark their eyes shine¬ 
like tiny stars. Since a single moth will visit many flowers in one- 
day this must be one of the species that assist in the fertilisation 
of plants. It is a moth remarkable for the silvery mark, compared 
to the English Y or the Greek letter Gamma, placed in the centre of 
a deep brown patch upon the forewings, the general colour of which 
is a glossy grey. The caterpillar producing it has the habit of 
looping up the middle of the body like those of the Geometrine 
moths ; the head is smallish and the tail thickened, the colour 
lightish green striped with white and yellow ; it is commonest in 
the early summer, but also occurs towards autumn. A remarkable 
fact in its history is the alarm caused by its appearance amongst pot 
herbs in some continental countries, the people being under the 
delusion that it imparted a poisonous quality to any leaves it 
touched. The mouse (Amphipyra Tragopogonis) has received its 
odd English appellation from the peculiar way in which, when 
alarmed, it runs along any flat surface very much as a mouse would. 
It is a dull-coloured moth with no particular markings, appearing 
about July. The caterpillar feeds in May and June, when it is not 
uncommon in some flower gardens, eating the leaves of a variety of 
plants, but showing a special liking for Larkspurs. It is one of 
those caterpillars that is best got rid of by examining the plants at 
an early hour, as it hides during the heat of the day. The head is 
almost hidden by the next segment of the body, which is velvety 
and smooth throughout, sometimes light green, or it may be 
greenish brown. Specimens of the first sort have yellowish stripes, 
but the darker ones have them white. * 
The caterpillars of the moth called the Gothic (Narnia typiett) 
are just about this time preparing to lay up for the winter, seeking 
out nooks amongst Box edging or in some corner of a rockery, or 
any partially sheltered spot. They are as yet small, making the 
chief of their growth in the spring months, but they feed in little 
companies during part of September and October upon herbaceous 
plants along the borders. I have more than once found them 
infesting the lower leaves of the Chrysanthemum, but I think this 
