Jane 26,169(1. ] 
JOURXAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
627 
5 iDcbes in length, but at an early age it may be easily distinguished 
from the rest of the hawk-moth caterpillars by the horn, which is 
roughened or tubercled, and is bent down at the tip, then turns up 
again ; the ground colour is either pale green, with violet stripes, or a 
deeper green, and stripes of olive brown. The period of feeding seems 
to extend from July to September, and by general observation this 
caterpillar feeds chiefly at night. If low plants are its resort then it 
hides by day amongst the clods, or goes partly under the earth, or 
should its food be a shrub or hedge plant, then it will conceal itself 
amongst the foliage till after sunset. In some parts of England this 
caterpillar is called by the ridiculous name of “ lokus,” or Iccu't, when 
it is found hy the workers in Potato fields, and it is from these the 
insect is most frequently reported, though seldom discovered by ento¬ 
mologists, owing to the difliculty of carrying out a search. Labourers, 
of course, discover it sometimes while they are weeding or digging up 
the crop. Should the caterpillars be numerous in a small plot of course 
their presence is made manifest by the traces left after they have been 
feeding, but the species can scarcely be considered an enemy to the 
Potato, though it is evidently with us the chief food p'ant. It has been 
asked what was it before the Potato was introduced to this island, as 
the insect is undoubtedly native, and I conclude it was the Bitter-sweet 
or oody Nightshade of our hedges, upon which it is now sometimes 
found. Possibly it also fed on the Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum), 
a common plant of waste ground, and which is a garden weed frequently 
on some soils. Specimens, according to report, have been taken on 
the Snowberry and the Tea Tree ; I rather doubt its occurrence on 
Privet or Ash, though a friend noticed once on a hedge in a London 
square a large caterpillar which, by his description, corresponded with 
this species. That the Jasmine is visited by it has been asserted by 
both gardeners and entomologists, but I have never found it upon this 
plant, nor received a specimen taken therefrom. The moth has been 
taken hovering over Jasmine, attracted by the scent doubtless ; its 
tongue, however, is so short that it is unable to reach the honey in deep 
corollas as do the other hawk moths. 
I should be glad to hear (through the office) from any of our friends 
who may notice the death’s head caterpillar this year, and who will 
state upon what plant it has been found, also any particulars of interest. 
It is Mid to be able when it chooses to utter a sound, the only British 
caterpillar that can, but the few specimens I have handled were 
certainly silent. Some have compared this to the snapping of an 
electric spark, and others say it resembles the noise made by the moth. 
At present it remains a doubtful circumstance in its history. When 
adult the caterpillar descends to some depth in the earth to assume the 
chrysalis state, and those that have fed up most rapidly emerge as 
moths in the autumn about October, but none of these deposit eggs. 
The remainder sleep on until the next summer, appearing in June 
usually. 
To another mysterious circumstance in the moth’s history I ask the 
attention of bee-keepers. Though the statement has been questioned, 
many persons have declared that in South Europe this insect enters 
bee ’nives to feast upon the honey there stored, the presumption being 
that it is unable to extract much direct from flowers. On this account 
it has also been called the bee tiger moth, and the conjecture has been 
thrown out that its noise serves to paralyse the bees, making them 
retire before it in alarm. Its body is so encased in down that we might 
suppose it could not easily be stung, w’ere they inclined to attack it ; 
still it has been stated that dead moths have been found in hives 
embalmed with propolis by the bees. It would be hardly possible for 
a death’s head moth to enter any of the hives of modern construction, 
but the aroma of the honey might lead these insects to our bee hives in 
the hope of gaining access, as they might into those formerly employed. 
—EiJTOMOLOGIST. 
THE CUT FLOWER TRADE IN GLASGOW. 
Four or five years ago the demand for cut flowers in Glasgow 
was amply met by a few piounds’ worth, sent, perhaps, from the 
larger nurseries in England. Now the demand is something enormous, 
ami has to be met by large quantities sent daily all the year round 
from France, Belgium, Holland, the Channel and Scilly Islands, and 
the large nurseries across the border. The gentle balmy breezes 
of summer visit the sunny South first, and the wily continental 
gardener has his flowers in the market in this country about the 
time that ours are getting over the torpor of the winter. Cannes, 
Nice, and most of the fashionable watering-places on the Riviera 
are rich in early Daffodils, which are sent to Glasgow and other 
towns along with the mails—taking about three days for the journey. 
They receive the utmost care in transit, and, being packed in special 
cases, are little the worse when they arrive. The cultivation of flowers 
must yield considerable profit when continental gardeners can send 
the result of their labours to this city, pajing carriage of 203. a cwt. 
—roughly speaking, a litt’e over 2d. per lb.—and yet have a balance 
in pocket. The trade at the Scilly Islands, again, it is said, is fast 
beeximing the mainstay of the population, who are making them 
literally one large garden ; and Mr. Boyd, of Boyd, Barrow & Co., fruit 
brokers. South Albion Street, states that for the trade from these 
islands alone his firm requires over 2000 cases. English gardeners, how'- 
ever, make a speciality of a few varieties of flowers, which they force in 
glass houses in such quantities as to be able to meet the demand in most 
of the largest towns. All gardeners endeavour to have their blooms 
ready for sale about Christmas or New Year, when large prices are got, 
and in consequence the brokers have a busy time of it then. Around 
London there are many large nurseiies within as few miles as possible 
of the markets, and from one of these Mr. Boyd between the 2nd and 
flth of the present month received no fewer than 455 dozen of white 
Roses alone .—{^Glasgow Evening 
DEATH OF MR. B. S. WILLIAMS. 
JoST as we are going to press we learn with the deepest sorrow 
that the above great nurseryman passed quietly away, at Upper 
Holloway, at ten minutes to seven on Tuesday night this week, 
after a long and painful illness. Air. Williams was widely known 
and esteemed at home and abroad for his high character and 
genial kindness to all with whom he came in contact. We 
believe he was about sixty-six years of age, and his father is still 
living. The funeral of our lamented friend takes place at High- 
gate Cemetery on Monday next, June 30th, at 12.30 noon, and it 
may be expected that a considerable number of horticulturists will 
attend on the occasion, for no one was more popular with all 
classes connected with gardening than Mr. B. S. Williams. 
Events of the Week. —To-day (Thursday) the Royal Botanic 
Society’s second “ Floral Parade and Feast of Flowers ” will be held 
in the Regent’s Park Botanic Gardens from 2.30 to 7 p.m. A Royal prize 
of twenty guineas is offered for the best of all exhibits, gold, silver, and 
bronze medals being also offered for various forms of floral decorations. 
With fine weather there will no doubt be a large and fashionable 
attendance, as was the case last year. On Friday, June 27th, the Rose 
and Pink Show will be opened at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster, 
and on the same day the British Fruit Growers’ Association will hold a 
Conference on Strawberries at 5 p.m. Exhibits of Strawberries are ex¬ 
pected from some growers in the principal districts. The Twickenham 
Show will be held on Wednesday, July 2qJ, but is more fully noted 
in another paragraph. 
- The Weather in the London District has been quite 
summer-like as regards temperature during the past few days, but it 
has not been generally bright. The rain and heat together have 
advanced garden crops wonderfully. Peas especially, and Strawberries, 
though mostly late, are coming in rapidly. 
- Attendance at Flower Shows. — A correspondent, in 
directing attention to the number of visitors to the York Show, says it 
will be interesting to know if an attendance of 47,000 persons in two 
days has ever been exceeded at a flower show. 
- Mrs. AIuir Carnation. —A correspondent sends us blooms 
under the above name of a very beautiful pure white border Carnation. 
They are large, with very broad, smooth petals, and not the slightest 
sign of pod-splitting. The variety seems to be an acquisition, and we 
expect to publish something more about it. 
- The twenty-first annual Show of the Twickenham Horti¬ 
cultural Society will be held in the grounds of Orleans House, by 
permission of W. Cunard, Esq., on Wednesday, July 2nd next. The 
schedule enumeriates seventy-one classes for plants, cut flowers, table 
decorations, vegetables, and fruit, and a most varied display is usually 
provided. The district is a good one, the exhibits of remarkably uniform 
quality, and the competition keen. The Hon. Sec. is Air. J. J. G. Pugh, 
2, Heath Road, Twickenham. 
- Early Potatoes. —Air. B. Grist, gardener to La.dy llamond 
Groeme, Norlands, Great Y'armoath, dug Sutton’s Ringle.ader Potato on 
May 7th in the open border. 
