^ May 15, lt90. ] 
JOURN-AL OF HORTICULTURE AKD COTTAGE GARDENER. 
899 
mended for the destruction of this grub in pots or borders, a 
decoction of quassia with softsoap is fatal to it, and a solution of 
hellebore kills it ; but this cannot always be conveniently applied 
to infested plants. An application of petroleum diluted, strength 
1 oz. to 2 gallons of water, has been recommended. Happily, there 
:are two or three species of weevil that are quite difiEerent in habit 
from the rest of the group. These belong to the genus Anthribus, 
and in their larval state prey upon the scale insect or coccus of 
various kinds. Hence, so far as they can be recognised by the 
gardener, they should be left alone both in and ont of doors, for 
Nature’s parasites do a great work in preventing the rapid increase 
of species. The Anthribe are distinguished from their relatives 
by their clubbed antennae. The grubs are hairy, and appear to attack 
principally the female coccus, preventing the development of 
dier eggs. 
A not uncommon garden beetle of the long-horned family is 
that called the wasp beetle (Clytus arietis). When it is seen upon 
flowers most persons feel inclined to avoid it, for its aspect and 
movements suggest that it must belong to the wasp family. The 
head and thorax are black, the latter globular, and the body is 
yellow, ringed with brown. This insect can fly and also run 
rapidly, owing to its long legs. It is, in fact, a mischievous species, 
and we find out the harm it can do not unfrequently when we 
•examine into the state of garden palings. These may bo found 
reduced to a condition like tinder by the operations of the larvoe 
■of this species, sometimes living in parties of twenty or more, 
small, but with broad muscular bodies and horny heads. Another 
beetle that, like the preceding, is abroad in June is conspicuous, 
'but in a different way, and more directly troublesome to the horti¬ 
culturist ; but of late years it has been scarce fortunately. It is 
akin to the too plentiful Asparagus beetle (Crioceris asparagi), and 
bas been called the Lily beetle. In length it is about a third of an 
inch, and in colour bright scarlet. The squat grub feeds upon 
the leaves of Lilies, Daffodils, Gladioluses, and allied species. It 
received the name of C. merdigera from its peculiar habit of form¬ 
ing a protective cover of the excretions, beneath which it feeds 
securely, and is also sheltered from the sun. 
In leaving the great order of the beetles it is only needful to 
mention the abundant insects of the last division—the ladybird 
tribe. These, in their beetle or larva state, may be seen from 
March to September upon almost every plant, their object being 
a good one, the destruction of the aphides or flies, by which so 
many of our choice plants are infested and greatly weakened if not 
killed. —Entomologist. 
FORCING SWEET PEAS. 
In accordance with your request, it affords me much pleasure in 
relating the culture of the above practised here. In many places, where 
large quantities in succession of sweet scented cut flowers are in demand, 
I can recommend these as a good substitute. tVhen they are gently 
forced under glass in a temperature ranging from 60° to G0° Fahr., with 
abundant ventilation in favourable weather, they are among the most 
delicate and beautiful flowers ; especially as they need so little atten¬ 
tion, and give a good supply of flowers. They are grown in a compost 
■of turfy loam slightly enriched with decayed hotbed manure. The 
■first sowing is made the first week in June for late autumn supply, in 
■boxes or 10-inch pots, which size is most suitable for conservatory 
decoration, and grown outdoors in full exposure until the approach 
of frost, when they are taken inside, and, being full of flower buds, 
expand freely in the above-named temperature, and give a good supply 
•of flowers onwards to Christmas. 
A second sowing of the Sweet Peas is made early in August. When 
these are taken inside they are wintered in the vinery. Peach, or Fig 
houses at rest. When forcing commences in these houses early in 
January, they remain here until the night temperatures are raised to 
“110° Fahr., whence it becomes necessary to remove them to other 
succession houses at from 50° to 56° at night. If warmer than this I 
■find the growth becomes elongated, they refuse to flower freely, and 
■consequently they fall a prey to green fly. A moderately warm dry 
atmosphere, with abundant ventilation, suits them admirably. Plants 
from another sowing late in December in 5-inch pots are grown in cold 
frames until 5 or G inches high, when they are planted out on a warm 
■border, and ultimately form a good succession by the time the August 
■sowing is exhausted. Then with still further additional sowings out- 
■doors, there are few months when we are without them. There are 
times during hot dry weather, when they refuse to flower freely out¬ 
doors, owing to seed podding, but if denuded of these with the shears, 
accompani^ with a good watering, they break freely into growth, and 
'will well repay the trouble bestowed upon them. — J. T. Ebbutt. 
MARIANTHUS DRUMMONDIANUS. 
This charming little blue-flowered twining plant is but seldom 
seen, and is known by few cultivators, though it was introduced to 
public notice some twenty or thirty years ago. Early in the present 
season a specimen flowered extremely well in one of the houses at 
the Crystal Palace under the management of Mr. W. G. Head, and 
the freedom with which it produced its flowers, and the long periorl 
during which they lasted, amply proved the value of the plant. It 
succeeds in a compost of light loam, peat, and sand, in a greenhouse or 
any other cool structure. 
The plant has been thus described by Sir Joseph Hooker :— 
“ Marianthus of Huegel is a genus now, according to Mr. Bentham, 
including fourteen species, of which all, except two (M. procumbens 
of New South Wales and M. bignoniaceus from Victoria and South 
Australia), are natives of Western Australia, and chiefly from the 
Swan River settlement. The blue-flowered species are extremely 
FIG. 59.— MAEIANTIIU6 DRUMMONDIANUS. 
pretty, as may be seen by the present figure, and by that of a nearly 
allied species given at t. 3893, Marianthus cceruleo-punctatus. The 
M. Drummondianus is a more slender and graceful twiner than that, 
while the flowers are of a paler blue. Whole plant, except the petals, 
more or less villous or ciliated (in the leaves) with sofc patent hairs. 
Stem filiform, long twining, branched wdth short patent branches, the 
upper ones especially flowering copiously. Leaves 1 to 2 inches long, 
oblong or lanceolate, scarcely petiolate, rather acute, lower ones toothed 
or subpinnatifid, the rest entire at the margins, smaller upwards. 
Peduncles very slender, terminal and lateral subcorymbose; pedicels 
elongated, filiform, with a small bract at the base. Calyx of five linear, 
subulate, erect, distantly placed sepals. Petals spathulate, very acute, 
bright but pale blue, the claw-s erect, the lamina spreading. Stamens 
five, much shorter than the petals. Ovary cylindrical, stipitate, 
