May 19,1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
401 
few comments upon them, but their attention was principally 
occupied by larger game. The first attempt at a thorough exami¬ 
nation of their structure, habits, and affinities was made by Sir 
John Lubbock about fourteen years ago. He divided what had 
previously been considered one group into two, based on the pos 
session or a' sence of a leaping organ, but the species assimilate 
so greatly in many points that I think we must deem them all 
‘‘ Thysanura.” Above I have referred to them as “ creatures,” for 
it is really uncertain whether one should call them insects, though 
they will doubtless hear that name in popular phraseology. By 
some entomologists they are considered to form what is styled a 
‘•degraded” division of insects, since they are wingless and pass 
tlirough no distinct changes. Others liave annexed them to mites, 
spiders, or the crab tribe ; on the whole, they appear to me to come 
nearest to the mites. It is of the springtails or leapers amongst 
them I wish to speak, leaving their slow-moving relatives for the 
present. 
The Collembola, for so are the leapers named, differ to some 
extent in habit from the other half of the Thysanura, inasmuch as 
they can only thrive where there is plenty of moisture, but cold 
does not affect them injuriously. Their relatives, non-jumpers, 
prefer warm and dry places, yet both are occasionally found in 
company, and on this point they agree—viz., a strong objection to 
light, except one or two species which run about on the surface of 
standing water, yet these generally choose shady ditches or pools. 
To the ordinary observer the Collembola are much Jike mites, but 
some are globular, some elongated, and in colour variable, greyish, 
reddish brown, or nearly black. Their bodies are covered with 
scales, which are interesting objects under the microscope, and, 
indeed, furnish admirable tests. The eyes are simple and the head 
is provided with a biting, not a sucking, apparatus. Under the 
abdomen is the singular forked organ by means of which the leaps 
are made. The power of leaping, on examination, has been found 
to depend, not chiefly on the strength of the muscles attached, but 
on an elastic force possessed by tho spring. When a party is sud¬ 
denly exposed to view it is amusing to see how they leap hither and 
thither in alarm. Probably they are eaten by some birds, though I 
liave not had ocular evidence of this, as their eggs have been dis¬ 
covered under the bark of trees ; it has been suggested that they 
may at times migrate to a distance from their usual haunts on or 
near the ground. 
The question of importance to the gardener is, What is the 
usual food of the Collembola ? For, though several species have 
been detected in cellars or damp rooms, and one or two occur on 
the leaves of grasses and allied plants, the majority have been re¬ 
ported from kitchen gardens, where they occur frequently in large 
numbers. It is, however, generally on or near boards that they are 
seen, the moister the better ; Cucumber frames have occasionally 
furnished an abundant supply. That the bulk of them feed on 
decaying vegetable substances is highly probable, hence they are 
found amongst leaf mould, and in manures composed of animal and 
vegetable matter commingled. It has been suggested that some of 
them devour the mites or Acari that are often in their company, 
but I have not yet been able to ascertain that such is the fact. If 
so, it would be the young mites that afford them food, for the jaws 
of the Collembola are weak, and therefore scarcely equal to the 
task of seizing mites fully developed, the integument then in many 
species being somewhat tough. So far as we know at present there 
is only one direction in which they are likely to give us trouble, in 
other respects they occupy a neutral position ; possibly, indeed, we 
may prove that most of them are beneficial to horticulture. But 
there are a few species which feed (not perhaps exclusively) upon 
the spores and mycelium of fungi, and two or three of these have 
been taken in Mushroom beds. It appears difficult to apportion 
the harm done between them and the Acari that are their 
usual associates. Several of the Collembola are partially kept 
in check by a minute foe or parasite, which clings to their bodies.— 
Entomologist. 
BURCHELLIA CAPENSIS. 
lx reference to the extremely hard character of the wood the Dutch 
settlers in South Africa gave this plant a name equivalent to Buffaloe 
Horn in English, and by that title it has long been known at the Cape 
of Good Hope. A popular name more expressive of its beauty would, 
however, be desirable for general use here. Though one of the oldest 
Cape plants grown, it must be classed amongst those that are neglected, 
for it is comparatively seldom seen in modern gardens. In a few 
establishments it is still a favourite, and recently at Messrs. J. Veitch 
and Sons, Chelsea Nursery, we saw some plants of this Burchellia that 
were remarkably beautiful, bearing numerous heads of its brilliant 
Scarlet tubular flowers. It can be grown in a greenhouse, hut it is much 
more satisfactory in an intermediate temperature, a warm conservatory, 
or the cool end of a stove, as it grows more freely and flowers more 
abundantly than in a cold house. A compost of light turfy loam and 
peat with good drainage meets its requirements ; and when growing 
frequent syringing is beneficial. Under ordinary treatment the plants 
flower in March, when their bright flowers and fresh green foliage have 
a most pleasing appearance. 
TOE NEWCASTLE JUBILEE EXHIBITION. 
The above Exhibition was opened on Wednesday,, the 11th inst., by 
the Duke of Cambridge ; Earl Ravensworth, the Duke of Northum¬ 
berland, Sir William Armstrong, and all the local gentry and nobility 
being present. The proceedings were of an enthusiastic character, 
the weather was most favourable, and the whole passed off with great 
eclat. The entrance of the Exhibition, where the Duke of Cambridge 
was received, was decorated by Mr. John Wardle, nurseryman, Colling- 
wood Street, Newcastle, with a very choice collection of Palms, Tree 
Ferns, &c. There are four courts, and between these is a quadrangular 
Fig. 70.—Burchellia capcusla. 
piece of ground laid out as an ornamental garden ; this is divided 
into eight segments. On entering the visitor will be at once 
struck with the display of Coniferas exhibited by Messrs. Wm. 
Fell & Co., Wentworth Nurseries, Hexham. They have decorated 
two segments; one is evenly planted with Cupressus Lawsoniana 
erecta viridis, in diamond fashion, Retinospora obtusa compacta, Abies 
Douglasi glauca, Retinospora aurea, Thujopsis dolabrata, and several 
others were employed, these were mixed with silver and golden 
Hollies, all well blended together, as well as deciduous flowering shrubs 
and early flowering Rhododendrons. Towards the edge of this segment 
hardy carpet bedding was carried out with Veronica repens, Antennaria 
tomentosa, Dactylis elegantissima aurea, Saxifrages, Aubrietia#, and 
the firm’s name worked out in white spar. This segment was most 
pleasing, and will have a fine effect during summer. The other segment 
opposite was divided into beds, including a Pear, crescent, a Shamrock, 
and a circle ; these were planted with New Golden Weeping Ash, 
Standard Purple Beech, Abclc Poplars, early blooming Rhododendrons, 
and sown with Fell’s lawn grass seeds. 
Mr. Jos. Watson, nurseryman, Fenham, has also planted a segment 
with much good taste, similar to Mr. Fell’s, but scarcely such large plants 
were employed. The Japanese Maple was used with good effect, and the 
hardy carpet bedding is very good. Messrs. Richard Smith & Co., Wor¬ 
cester, have a group different from the rest, and will, no doubt, receive 
much attention ; including fine examples of Thujopsis dolabrata, Picea 
