May 2, 1889. ] 
JOURNAL of horticulture and cottage gardener. 
3G3 
item in this report is that which tells us the much-dreaded Hessian fly 
has made no progress, being only noticed in ten localities of very limited 
extent, whereas in 1887 about a hundred reports were sent in, so that we 
may hope the insect will not be a permanent British pest. 
Two new insect enemies are reported ; at least, they are presumed to 
have been unknown here as injurious till last year, though native 
species ; the first of these is the corn ground beetle (Zabrus gibbus), 
long noted on the Continent as a foe of Wheat. The attack is made 
upon the roots of cereals from January to April, the injury bearing 
some resemblance to the effects of wirevvorm. This grub is long and 
narrow, six-legged, and brown in colour. It is supposed to live two or 
possibly three years. When the species is mature the beetles are also 
mischievous, as they crawl up the stems of Wheat at dusk and eat the 
green ears. Considerable mischief was aohe by the grub or larva on 
several farms in the west of England, and it was discovered besides in 
Suffolk and Hertfordshire. Miss Ormerod states the only way of dealing 
with it is to thoroughly plough the infected crop. The second instance 
is more curious. In the group of carrion beetles, so called—their habit 
being to feed upon dead animals—a common species is that named by 
entomologists Silpha opaca, a dusky brown flattened insect, the grub of 
which is not very unlike the beetle, and the food of both is similar. 
Since 1850 the French have found the grub occasionally on the leaves of 
the Beet, but it has lately shown itself as an enemy of the Mangold in 
three English localities, and in Ireland over a large extent of country. 
Of course, some persons suggested that this beetle was brought to the 
crops by farm manure, as it is attracted to decaying animal matter. 
But in several instances it was proved superphosphate and other arti¬ 
ficial manures had alone been used. The Mangolds were found to be 
attacked in June and July, but there were reasons for supposing the 
beetle grubs had begun proceedings in May. During the day, as a rule, 
they hide under the soil, emerging at night, or occasionally in a shower, 
to nibble the young leaves. Many plants die, but a proportion recover. 
The later sown Mangolds suffer least. The beetles come out during 
August, live through the winter, and lay eggs in spring. 
Many correspondents of this Journal reported last year that much 
harm had been done in orchards by caterpillars which appeared by 
thousands during the spring or early summer, and Miss Ormerod’s 
summary of observations show that such was the case almost through¬ 
out Britain. These caterpillars, however, received a notable check in 
several counties by the ungenial weather of June. It was found that 
while they occurred on Apples, Plums, Cherries, Pears, and Nuts, the 
Pear trees on the whole came off best. But several gentlemen remarked 
the circumstance, that with the Plum sometimes there would be a line 
of trees swarming with caterpillars, and next it another line almost un¬ 
touched. In Gloucestershire, where a cluster of orchards had a severe 
attack, a number of the young trees were actually killed by the cater¬ 
pillars, an event that seldom occurs. Another unusual circumstance 
was that in some instances where the trees were defoliated the cater¬ 
pillars gnawed the unripe fruit. The principal offenders were the 
moths known as the winter moth (Cheimatobia brumata), and the 
ermines (Yponomeuta padella and Y. malivorella), but the lackey 
(Bombyx neustria), and the mottled umber (Hybernia defoliaria) were 
also abundant. With the first three species there is an additional 
annoyance caused by the webs which the insects spread over the 
branches, though in the case of the ermines they enable us to destroy 
them very easily, either as caterpillars or as chrysalids. Another cater¬ 
pillar complained of was that of the figure-of-8 moth (Diloba cferuleo- 
cephala), known in Germany as the “ blue-head,” a largish species. We 
had ourselves observed it feeding on Apples in Kent, but it is seldom 
abundant, and generally with us confines itself to the Hawthorn and 
Sloe. Miss Ormerod again calls attention to the great advantage arising 
from smearing, during autumn, some sticky substance round the trunks 
of the trees, thus preventing the female moths of the wingless kinds 
from crawling up to deposit their eggs. 
In addition to the damage attributed to caterpillars, much harm was 
done in some districts by the small weevil, Anthonomus pomorum. 
which eats into Apple blossoms. Some years ago it was reported that 
a very tiny insect of the mite sort, called Phytoptus Ribis, was injuring 
Black Currants by burying itself in the buds ; this insect multiplies 
rapidly, and the attack appears to be spreading. A letter received by 
Miss Ormerod from a German friend informs us that this, or a nearly 
allied species, also infests the Red Currant; it is therefore needful to 
deal with it promptly wherever it is noticed. A wash, composed of 
4 ozs. of sulphuret of lime and 2 ozs. of softsoap to a gallon of water 
is recommended, but where the buds are extensively injured Miss 
Ormerod believes the bushes must be uprooted and burnt, gaslime being 
then applied to the soil in order to kill any mites that may have 
descended. 
Cabbages and Turnips suffered to some extent from the weevils, 
which produce gall-like growths on the roots or base of the stalk, and 
in this particular instance the moisture of last summer did harm, and 
not the good, which in other insect troubles it seems to have effected. 
These galls produce cracks, in which the rain lodges, and thus the decay 
of the injured plant is hastened. A case illustrating the benefits of 
moisture is given by Miss Ormerod, where Carrots had been attacked 
by the small fly, Psila Rosae, which produces what is known as “ rust,” 
there would probably have been more complaints of this insect than 
we heard had not the season been a wet one. The Bean beetle, the 
maggot of which infests the seeds of Broad Beans, was found last 
spring to have damaged large quantities in some places. A consider¬ 
able portion of the report is taken up with a subject of interest to 
some readers of this Journal, the extensive prevalence of warble,, 
caused by the fly named Hypoderma bovis, which occasions loss in 
two directions —to some degree by causing the illness or death of 
cattle, and to a much greater, by the injury produced to hides, esti¬ 
mated at millions of pounds yearly. To ignorance or carelessness- 
this must be attributed, for the warble maggot, as is shown, can be 
quickly killed by applying to the places when the tail of the maggot 
becomes visible, either a little of McDjugall’s dip or some cart-grease 
and sulphur. 
ROYAL BOTANICAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
OF MANCHESTER. 
National Auricula Show (Northern Section). 
A meeting of this Society took place in the Town Hall on the- 
30th ult., and in connection with it was held the annual Exhibition of 
the northern section of the National Auricula Society. The northern. 
Show was decidedly better in all respects than the one in London. Not 
only were a greater number of plants staged, but the grey edges- 
especially, which were weak in London, and the white edges also, were 
in strong force, while seifs and green edges were seen in excellent con¬ 
dition. There was a heavy competition in the leading classes, and 
while the flowers evidenced the effects of the untoward season, the 
average of refinement was higher than in London. 
Slum) Auriculas. —In the class for six dissimilar varieties there were 
ten collections, and the Rev. F. D. Horner, Kirkby Lonsdale, was placed 
first with some very fine flowers, consisting of green edges The Rev. F. Dj 
H orner, Attraction, and Green Plover; grey edge, George Lightbody ; 
white edge, Mrs. Dodwell ; and self, Mrs. Potts, very fine. Second, Mrs. 
Kyrke-Penson, Ludlow, with green edge, Rev. F. D. Horner ; grey edge, 
George Lightbody ; white edges, Heather Bell, Conservative, and John 
Simonite; and self, Sapphire. Tnird, W. Brockbank, Esq., Didsbury, 
who had Mrs. Heap, a pretty blue self ; George Lightbody and Acme, in 
good condition. Fourth, Mr. B. Simonite, Sheffield. In the class for 
four varieties, Mr. T. Lord, Todmorden, was first with a superb Prince of 
Greens, with eleven pips ; grey, George Lightbody ; white edge, Acme ; 
and self, Mrs. Potts. Second, Miss Woodhead, Halifax, with green edge 
Prince of Greens ; grey edge, George Rudd ; white edge, Conservative - r 
and self Black Bess. Third, Mr. H. Wilson, Halifax, with green edge 
Rev. F. D. Horner ; grey edge, Rachel ; white edge, John Simonite, in 
very fine character; and self, Heroine. Fourth, the Rev. F. D. Horner. 
There were also ten competitors in this class. In that for a pair of 
plants there were thirteen exhibitors. Mr. E. Shaw, Mostyn, was first 
with grey edge, George Lightbody and white edge, Acme. Second, 
exhibitor’s name unknown, with grey edge, Lancashire Hero and white 
edge, Acme. Third, Mr. J. Beswick, Middleton, with green edge, Lovely 
Ann and white edge, Acme. Fourth, Mr. G. Middleton. In the class 
for maiden growers three pairs competed, and Mr. G. Middleton was first 
with self, Lord of Lome and white edge, Beauty. Second. Mr. E. Walker 
with green edge, Rev. F. D. Horner and white edge, Beauty. Third, name 
unknown, with grey edge, Privateer and white edge, Beauty. 
The Turner Memorial prizes were awarded in two classes, one for four 
show Auriculas; and here the Rev. F. D. Horner was first with green 
edge, Rev. F. D. Horner, grey edge, George Lightbody, white edge, Magpie-, 
and self, Dimple, in the way of but rather redder than Heroine. Second, 
Miss Woodhead, Halifax, with green edge, Prince of Greens, grey edge, 
George Rudd, white edge, Acme, and self, Black Bess. Third, Mr. B. 
Simonite, Rough Bank, Sheffield, with green edge, Mr. Hannaford, grey 
edge, seedling, white edge, Heather Bell,and self, seedling. Single speci¬ 
mens—The premier green edge was Orion, from the Rev. F. D. Horner, 
a strong flower, fine in tube and paste, black body colour and good green 
edge. First, Mr. Samuel Barlow, J.P., Stake Hill House, with President 
Royds, with a very fine seedling also, the pip large and symmetrical, 
very large indeed for a flower in this class, and highly promising. Second, 
Mr. W. Taylor, with Mayflower, very bright on the edge. Third, Rev. 
F. D. Horner, with Green Globe. Fourth, Mr. W. Taylor, with Talis¬ 
man. Fifth, Mr. J. Shaw, with Lancashire Hero. Sixth, Mrs. Kyrke- 
Penson, with Lancashire Hero. The premier green edge was George 
Lightbody in its best form, from Mrs. Kyrke-Penson. First, Mr. J’. 
Woodhead, with George Rudd, a bright looking green edge of good parts. 
Third, the Rev. F. D. Horner, with Rachel, and fourth, with George 
Lightbody. Fifth, Mr. W. Brockbank, with Tom Mellor, and sixth with 
W. Brockbank. White edges : The premier plant was Miranda, from 
the Rev. F. D. Horner, which was also seen in London last week. First, 
Mrs. Kyrke-Penson, with John Simonite. Second, name unknown, with 
Conservative. Third, Miss Woodhead, with Acme. Fourth, Mrs. Kyrke- 
Penson, with Beauty, and fifth, Mr. E. Shaw, with Reliance. The 
premier self was Heroine, from Mr. W. Clements. First, the Rev. F. D. 
Horner, with Dulcie, a good dark variety. Second, Mr. W. Brockbank, 
with a seedling. Third, Mr. H. Wilson, with Black Bess. Fourth, Mr. B. 
Simonite, with Sir W. Hewett. Fifth, the Rev. F. D. Horner, with Laura. 
The premier Auricula was Prince of Greens, staged by Mr. Tom 
Lord in Class B, and seen in its very best form, full of life and very 
symmetrical. 
Alpine Auriculas. —Turner Memorial prizes were offered for four 
varieties, and here Mr. J. Beswick, Middleton, was first with Diadem 
Racer, a charming light variety ; Queen Victoria, and a seedling. Second 
Mr. Samuel Barlow, with one of his own seedlings named Charles 
Needham, full of promise ; Vesuvius, Mrs. Dodwell, and a seedling. 
Third, Mr. W. Brockbank, with Diadem, Mrs. Ball, Mrs. Dodwell, and 
a seedling. In the class for four varieties there were seven competitors, 
and Mr. T. Butterworth, Middleton, was first with Unique, Mrs. Doth 
