February :o, 1890 ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
151 
eccentricity is a failure of their natural food, which drives them 
to a substitute. If kept in boxes they will eat greedily cooked 
meat, and for want of other food will attack and devour each 
other. The ground beetles, as we entitle these carnivorous species 
taken as a group, kill many small caterpillars, also various insects 
in the pupa state and grubs of some of_their relatives that are root- 
eaters. A pretty and conspicuous species common in France is 
there known by the name of Le Jardinier (in science it is Carabus 
auratus), and it is the special foe of such species as the cock¬ 
chafer and the rose beetle. Its near ally the violet ground beetle 
(C. violaceus) is often brought up by the operation of digging beds, 
and it should always be spared, for though it buries during the day, 
after dark it comes forth and hunts other insects. Several of the 
ground beetles select for their food small snails and slugs, destroy¬ 
ing in their career a good number of these, for they appear in 
autumn, and after hybernation come forth early in the year and 
feed again. It is doubtful whether in the grub or larval state they 
all are carnivorous ; some of them are known to resort to heaps of 
dead leaves, decaying stems or fungi, and so they probably help to 
remove what might be offensive, or convert it into nutritive matter 
for the soil. In size the ground beetles vary from the Carabus, a 
full inch long, to a small Amara, hardly a quarter. Their colours are 
generally bright, though a few are dull green or black. Many 
species have the wing-cases covered with small punctures or rows 
of narrow streaks. 
Prom the ground or carnivorous beetles we pass to the Necro" 
phagfe, or “ carrion-eaters,” so-called from the habits of a majority 
of the species. The burying beetles, which occupy themselves 
in the work of interring dead birds, small quadrupeds, frogs, &c., 
are a familiar instance of the group, but these seldom occur in the 
precincts of the flower garden. A funny little beetle, not bigger 
than a good-sized pin’s head, which rejoices in the name of Eumi- 
crus tarsatus, occurs frequently amongst plants that have been 
kept through the winter in hotbeds, the larvae feeding on vege¬ 
table or animal matter, but it does no harm. In colour the beetle 
is chestnut and black, downy, and with prominent eyes. Next we 
reach other tiny beetles, too well known to every gardener, and 
which also inflict annoyance upon persons who are inhaling the 
perfume of a beautiful nosegay, and who may chance to find that 
in sniflBng at the flowers they have unawares drawn an insect into 
the nose. The beetles of the family Nititulidae have flattened 
bodies, depressed heads, and short antennae. Their shining aspect 
has given rise to the Latin name, nearly all being more or less 
glossy. They lurk amongst flowers, biting the petals, but tbeir 
exceedingly small size, as compared with that of many beetles, 
renders the mischief they do less observable. Still, when a dozen 
or two are found hiding in one Rose blossom, their united opera¬ 
tions cannot improve the flower. A very plentiful species is called 
Meligethes seneus. It is metallic or brassy, and creeps slowly out of 
the flower when it is shaken. Some kinds drop out, feigning 
death. While in the larval state these flower-lovers feed upon 
decaying substances, especially bark and wood. 
A prominent member of the family known as the rove beetles, or 
cocktails, often crosses the garden path, being an object of dislike 
naturally, sometimes also of alarm. The rove beetles generally are, 
as their name implies, of wandering habit, and run briskly ; they can 
fly, too, with speed, for they are provided with large wings. This 
particular species always indicates the appropriateness of the second 
name by the menacing way in which it raises the hinder part of 
body, at the same time opening its jaws. Should a stick be held 
towards one of these beetles it is not in the least frightened, but 
attempts to strike at this or any other object which may be directed 
towards it. In addition to its jaws the goerius has a means of 
defence at the tail, from which it can throw a fluid, the odour of 
which is as horrible as that of the skunk. In colour it is dull 
black, and from its repulsive aspect in some counties folks call 
it the “devil’s coach-horse.” Yet it is a useful insect, kilting 
other insects of various sizes, and as a larva it is predatory as 
well, feeding not uncommonly upon small worms and slugs it is 
stated. Some very small relatives of this species, with the like 
propensity for ejecting a pungent liquid, often fly about our 
gardens on summer evenings and make wild dashes at the human 
eye. Should one enter, as they will, the pain is often intense for 
a time, due probably to this liquid. 
We could hardly find two beetles offering a greater contrast in 
appearance than that just described, and the beautiful rose beetle 
or chafer (Cetonia aurata). Above the beetle is green shot with 
gold and marked with some whitish dots. Underneath the surface 
is bright copper. It has tolerably strong wings, and takes excur¬ 
sions in the sunshine, but it certainly commits some damage, being 
specially fond, as the name implies, of haunting the flowers of the 
Rose. Gardeners also tell me that they believe the rose beetle has 
a partiality for the blossom of the Strawberry, and biting them 
when expanding reduces the yield of fruit in some places. The 
fat clumsy grub or larva of this beetle feeds on rotten wood, but 
from the profusion in which I once met with the species in a 
market garden distant from trees, I think it possible that the food 
may occasionally be the roots of plants.— Entomologist. 
JAM FACTORIES. 
At the present time, when fruit tree planting is being pushed 
vigorously forward, something certainly should be done as a means 
of turning the industry to a profitable account. Many people with 
small means have been led to take to planting fruit trees as a 
means of increasing their income, and unless there are suitable 
jam factories for disposing of the fruit, I fear there will not be 
much profit for numbers of people who have been led to embark 
in the enterprise. As Mr. Wright truly says, growers must not 
rely upon Apples exclusively if they wish to reap reward, for if 
they do they certainly will not secure it. The small growers 
especially will find a difficulty in disposing of their fruit, but by estab¬ 
lishing jam factories in suitable districts, so that the fruit could 
be delivered fresh within an easy radius, I believe that fruit growing 
may be made a source of profit for small growers as well as for 
others. As I have previously stated, this is no new idea, for we 
have what Lord Sudeley has done at Toddington before us, and he, 
I believe, was the pioneer. Others are following, such as Lord 
Coventry at Pershore, another at Evesham, and in our own imme¬ 
diate neighbourhood a large farmer has carried one on successfully 
for the past four or five years. He grows quantities of fruit, and 
also buys what others have to dispose of. And this is what is 
required in every district where fruit growing is likely to be taken 
up. I think if something of this kind could be carried out we 
should be opening up a profitable industry. As Mr. Wright says, 
we have the cheapest sugar in the world, and also the world for a 
market. The fruit could be preserved in a whole and fresh state, 
and people would know what they are buying. Of course it would 
have to be turned out at a cheap rate. The price of the fresh 
fruit would have to be governed by the market. 
Strawberries, Gooseberries, Raspberries, and Currants would be 
the fruits to grow- for this purpose, with Apples and Plums as 
top fruit if desired. Those growers who may be fortunate enough 
to reside within an easy distance of a factory would not be burdened 
with heavy railway rates. Care would have to be taken with the 
gathering of the fruit so that it could be delivered in a whole and 
fresh condition. Strawberries particularly so. If the fruit were 
forthcoming no doubt the factories would soon be established, as 
without the certainty cf a full supply this would be useless. The 
same factories could also be used as agencies for buying up 
Apples. In many country districts cottagers find a difficulty in 
disposing of their Apples, even when good examples. But this 
should not be so, as they lose heart. The larger growers have the 
market more at their command, but even with these there may 
be a difficulty in disposing of their fruit in a raw state in the 
market a few years hence, so it behoves them to be on the look out. 
Small fruits so quickly perish after being ripe and gathered, 
that they are bound to be disposed of at some price, however small, 
or they would be useless. It is no new thing now, at least a year 
or two since, to see thousands of Damson trees full of fruit, and 
these allowed to drop and decay, as the market price would not 
pay even for the gathering.—A. Young, Ahhcrley Hall Gardens^ 
Stourport. 
NEW CLASS AT SUMMER SHOWS. 
Fkamees of prize schedules are often puzzled to discover something 
novel without in many instances adding seriously to the amount of 
prize money to be found. There is, and always will be, a certain 
amount of sameness about the best of shows, but much may be done by 
judiciously varying the arrangement of the various exhibits, and also by 
adding new classes occasionally, even if this necessitates cancelling 
some of the older ones. TUe cut flower classes are always among the 
most attractive of any, and it is among these where there is more scope 
for changes and improvements. My proposed addition to these is a 
very moderate one—viz., two classes at least for cut Begonias—one for 
double and the other single flowering varieties. If room or money is 
needed for these, then wipe out or reduce the number of those devoted 
to Verbenas, Marigolds, and even Asters, none of which are either so 
beautiful or popular as the Tuberous-rooted Begonia. Prizes are 
certainly provided for the latter, but seeing how very popular this 
class has become, and the ease with which everybody with a green’aouse 
can grow them, it ought to be the aim of framers of schedules to still 
further foster this love for a very useful flower. 
For several seasons past Begonias in a cut state have been exhibited 
at all the principal West of England and other shows by Mr. B. K. 
Davis, nurserymen, Yeovil, and I have frequently noted how attractive 
these proved to numerous visitors. They are not arranged on clumsy 
