December G, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
529 
spraying apparatus on a fine day while the trees are quite dormant. 
This wash will kill lichen, moss, scale, and eggs of almost any insect. It 
is a very old preparation, and English (not American, as generally 
credited), having been used at least a century for the destruction of 
scale, sometimes with and sometimes without the soda. Summer Wash ; 
Softsoap 16 lbs. ; dissolve by boiling in 30 gallons of water. Caustic 
soda 1^ lb., and flowers of sulphur 3 lbs.; boil the soda and sulphur 
together in 1 gallon of water until dissolved, when it is a dark liquid, 
or sulphide of soda. Mix the soap solution and sulphide together, and 
allow the mixture to gently boil for half an hour. Dilute to 120 gallons 
for use early in the season, and to 100 gallons after the foliage becomes 
firm, applying warm (90° to 100°). Phenyle is sometimes used over the 
foliage, a teaspoonful being sufficient for 1 gallon of water. For general 
purposes you could not have anything better than the advertised insec¬ 
ticides. All solutions that contain caustic soda should be employed in 
a spray. 
A Plague of Millipedes (IF. L.'). —We think you can make short 
work of the pests in crevices where there are no roots to injure by 
forcing petroleum into the fissures with a syringe, or even “ boiling hot ” 
water, muffling your hand for holding the syringe. If you have been 
applying lime, soot, or nitrate of soda to the border you are perhaps 
driving them out of it, in which case the fissures will be convenient for 
you to “settle ” the pests. If you find the hot water does this it would 
have the further advantage of not making the haunts distasteful to 
other detachments of the retreating foe, as petroleum might. Pieces of 
Mangold Wurtzel buried in the soil will act as “ traps ” for the “ worms,” 
and in this way many can be caught and cleared away. You ask, “ how 
they came in the first instance ? ” They came from eggs introduced 
with manure or decaying vegetable matter, and they would certainly be 
encouraged by old boards long resting on the soil as “ standage ” for 
plants. This is bad practice—bad for the borders and not good for the 
boards. If they must be used cannot you support them on bricks ? The 
old surface soil should be removed, and sweet loam added free from 
decaying animal or vegetable matter. By thoughtful and persevering 
action you ought to be able to banish this plague of millipedes. 
“Molyneux ’’(ing-wirer).—You ask why the “x” is dropped in 
sounding this well-known name ? It is not dropped by all the families 
of the name, but it is by some, and it is only courteous to adopt the 
pronunciation of the bearers of the name in each ccse. In one dis¬ 
trict of England there are many families of this name, and it is 
pronounced by all of them “ Molynoo.” The family to which Mr. 
Molyneux of Swanmore belongs sound the “ x,” and it is therefore 
proper that others should do so in this case, though we suspect the 
owner of it whom you have in mind is not very particular, and it 
is credibly stated that if anyone remarks to him, “ Your name is 
pronounced Molynoo, is it not?” he is apt to reply, “ Yts, that will 
do for me very well.” This, perhaps, is the justification for the 
following lines which appeared in print, and written, we believe, by 
a personal friend of Mr. E. Molyneux. Referring to the name his 
“ Poet ” wrote :— 
Some people think it rhymes with Jukes, 
That’s Molynewks; 
But M. himself, who ought to know. 
Says Molyno. 
All the same, if you wish to be strictly correct in this case, you will 
follow the method of the family, of Mr. W. H. Myers, M.P., the owner 
of Swanmore, also of Dr. Hogg of the Journal of Horticulture, and let 
the “ X ” be heard in the pronunciation of the name. We are informed 
that the name is of Norman origin, and when used in France the “ x ” 
is never sounded. 
The Goat Moth Caterpillar (^F. A. 31 .').—The caterpillar to which 
you allude as burrowing in the wood is the larva of the goat moth (Cossus 
ligniperda). As is stated in Miss Ormerod’s “ Manual of Injurious 
Insects,” the moth lays her eggs in crevices in the bark commonly at the 
lowest part of the tree, and the caterpillars which hatch from these 
eggs feed at first in the bark, or between the bark and the wood ; as they 
grow stronger they eat their way into the wood, and fcrm chambers and 
galleries of various size and width, some as large as a man’s finger. The 
caterpillar has the power of exuding an oily fluid from its mouth with 
a remarkably pungent goat-like smell, whence the name of the moth. 
Infested trees may often be known by this disagreeable smell, and some¬ 
times by heaps of dirt or wood-dust thrown out by the caterpillars lying 
below the entrance of their burrows. During the winter they lie quiet, 
otherwise they feed for a period of three years, and when ready to change 
form cocoons of little bits of wood roughly spun together just inside the 
entrance of their burrows, in which they turn to a reddish-brown 
chrysalis. Shortly before the moth is ready to emerge the chrysalis 
forces itself partly through the cocoon, where the empty case remains 
sticking out from the tree, and is a useful guide as to infested timber. 
The moths are heavy and sluggish, and may be taken easily by hand as 
they rest quietly during the day on the bark of the tree out of which 
they hatched. The caterpillars sometimes leave the trees, and may be 
found straying about in May and in the autumn, and in such case they 
should always be destroyed ; but generally (as above mentioned) they 
change to chrysalids at the entrance of their burrows, and where trees 
are known to be infested these reddish chrysalids should be looked for 
during June or early in July. Any mixture that can be laid on the 
tree so as to prevent the moth laying her eggs on the bark is useful, 
and a thick coating of clay and owdung has been found to answer 
well. The caterpillars may be diminished in number by crushing them 
in their holes with thick strong wire ; a glance at the state of the end 
of the wire when it is withdrawn from the hole will show whether the 
caterpillar has been reached or not. If the direction of the hole admits 
of the caterpillar being dragged out by a finer wire doubled at the end, 
so as to form a kind of hook, this plan is also serviceable. Paraffin 
injected by a sharp-nozzled syringe with as much force as possible into 
the holes where the caterpillars are working is a good remedy, and any 
fluid poisonous to the caterpillar, or which would make the wood of its 
hole poisonous or distasteful to it for food, would be serviceable, such as 
tobacco water or a solution of softsoap. The fumes of sulphur blown 
into the hole are also effective. 
Straw Skeps (^F. J. IF.).—In provincial towns straw skeps can 
usually be obtained from basket makers and ironmongers, who are 
often agents for bee-keeping sundries. Try Messrs. Geo. Neighbour 
and Sons, 127, High Holborn, W.C. We shall publish an article on the 
subject in an early issue. 
iTames of Fruits. — Notice. —We have pleasure in naming good 
typical fruits (when the names are discoverable) for the convenience of 
regular subscribers, who are the growers of such fruit, and not col¬ 
lectors of specimens from non-subscribers. This latter procedure is 
wholly irregular, and we trust that none of our readers will allow 
themselves to be made the mediums in infringing our rules. Special 
attention is directed to the following decision, the object of which is 
to discourage the growth of inferior and promote the culture of superior 
varieties. In consequence of the large number of worthless Apples and 
Pears sent to this office to he named, it has been decided to name only 
specimens and varieties of approved merit, and to reject the inferior, 
which are not worth sending or growing. The names and addresses of 
senders of fruit to be named must in all cases be enclosed with the 
specimens, whether letters referring to the fruit are sent by post or 
not. The names are not necessarily required for publication, initials 
sufficing for that. Only six specimens can be named at once, and any 
beyond that number cannot be preserved. They should be sent on the 
first indication of change towards ripening. Dessert Pears cannot be 
named in a hard green state. (P, C.). —Doyenn6 du Comice. (Zf. F,),— 
Cellini. (C. 31). —1, Beurrd d’Aremberg ; 2, Easter Beurrd. 
Uames of Plants. — We only undertake to name species of plants, 
not varieties that have originated from seed and termed florists’ flowers. 
Flowering specimens are necessary of flowering plants, and Fern fronds 
should bear spores. Specimens should arrive in a fresh state in firm 
boxes. Slightly damp moss, soft green grass, or leaves form the best 
packing, dry wool the worst. Not more than six specimens can be named 
at once, and the numbers should be visible without untying the ligatures, 
it being often difficult to separate them when the paper is damp. 
(P. U. R .).—Pittosporum Tobira ; doubtful if hardy. (P. T.). —We 
have many times stated that Chrysanthemums are florists’ flowers which 
we do not undertake to name. See the above note to that effect. The 
same applies to Zonal Pelargoniums. {C. P.). —1, Odontoglossum 
crispum ; 2, Cypripedium barbatum. 
OOVENT GARDEN MARKET. —December 5th. 
N 0 alteration. 
FRUIT 
8. 
d. 
b. d. 
3. 
d. 
s. 
d- 
Apples, per half sieve 
1 
6 to 4 6 
Lemons, case . 
10 
0 to 15 
0 
„ Nova Scotia, per 
Peaches, per doz. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
barrel. 
10 
0 
15 0 
Plums, half sieve .. .. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Grapes, per lb. 
0 
6 
1 6 
St. Michael Pines, each .. 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Cobs per 100 lbs. 
22 
6 
23 0 
Strawberries per lb. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
VEGETABLES. 
8. 
d. 
8. d. 
9. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Beans, Kidney, per lb. . . 
0 
6 
to 0 0 
Mustard and Cress, punnet 
0 
2 to 
0 
0 
Beet, Red, dozen . 
1 
0 
0 0 
Onions, bushel . 
3 
6 
4 
0 
Carrots, bunch . 
0 
3 
0 4 
Parsley, dozen bunches . , 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Cauliflowers, dozen .. .. 
1 
6 
3 0 
Parsnips, dozen. 
1 
0 
0 
H 
Celery, bundle . 
1 
0 
1 3 
Potatoes, per cwt. 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Coleworts, dozen bunches 
2 
0 
4 0 
Salsafy, bundle. 
1 
0 
X 
h 
Cucumbers, dozen .. .. 
2 
0 
6 0 
Seakale, per basket .. ... 
1 
3 
1 
9 
Endive, dozen . 
1 
3 
1 6 
Scorzonera, bundle .. 
1 
u 
U 
Herbs, bunch .. 
0 
3 
0 0 
Shallots, per lb. ., .. .. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Leeks, bunch . 
0 
2 
0 0 
Spinach, bushel. 
1 
6 
3 
0 
Lettuce, dozen. 
0 
9 
1 0 
Tomatoes.per lb. .. ,. 
0 
2 
0 
6 
Mushrooms, punnet .. .. 
0 
9 
1 0 
Turnips, bunch. 
0 
3 
0 
4 
AVERAGE WHOLESALE 
PRICES.—CUT FLOWERS.—Orchid Blooms in variety. 
B. 
d. 
s. d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Arum Lilies. 12 blooms .. 
6 
0 
to 8 0 
Poinsettia, dozen blooms .. 
3 
0 to 
6 
0 
Azalea, dozen sprays .. .. 
0 
6 
1 3 
Pyrethrum, dozen bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Asparagus Fern, per bunch 
1 
0 
2 0 
Roses (indoor), dozen 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Bouvardias, bunch .. .. 
0 
6 
1 0 
„ Tea, white, dozen 
0 
6 
2 
0 
Carnations, 12 blooms 
1 
6 
3 0 
„ Yellow, dozen .. .. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Chrysanthemums,doz.bohs. 
4 
0 
12 0 
„ Safrano (English),doz. 
1 
0 
2 
U 
„ doz. blooms 
1 
0 
4 0 
., Mardohal Niel, doz. .. 
3 
0 
6 
0 
Euoharis, dozen. 
3 
G 
4 6 
„ (French), yellow, doz. 
Gardenias, per dozen 
2 
0 
4 0 
blooms. 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Geranium, scarlet, doz. 
„ (French), Red, dozen 
bunches. 
4 
0 
6 0 
blooms . 
2 
0 
6 
lac (French') per bunch 5 
lium longiflorum, per 
iozen . 
irguerites, 12 bunches .. 
lidenhair Fern, doien 
ounches. 
gnonette, 12 bunches .. 
chids, per dozen blooms 
largouiums, 12 bunches 
imula (double), dozen 
iprays . 
G 0 
1 6 
0 6 
6 0 
9 0 
3 0 
6 0 
4 0 
12 0 
9 0 
1 0 
Smilax, per bunch .. .. 
Stephanotis, dozen sprays 
Tuberoses. 12 blooms.. 
Violets (English), dozen 
bunches. 
Violets (French), Parme, 
per bunch . 
Violets (French), Czar, per 
bunch . 
Violets (French), Victoria, 
dozen bunches. 
1 6 
4 0 
1 9 
1 6 
4 'I 
5 0 
0 6 
2 6 
5 0 
2 0 
2 « 
