538 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
December 13, 1894. 
not for the exertions of certain insect-eating birds, especially rooks and 
starlings, for they are not only diligent hunters for the grubs of Tipulae, 
but they chase the flies, which, from their feeble flight, are an easy prey. 
As the rook, in particular, has been seen to swallow them at the rate of 
three or four a minute, it must be deemed a valuable friend. In 
anticipation of the autumn sowing, the flies lay upon land that has no 
crop just then, and if subsequently this is ploughed deeply, no doubt the 
eggs may be carried, most of them, to such a depth under, that when 
they hatch the young brood will be unable to obtain any food. Also, as 
Miss Ormerod suggests, a dressing of gas lime in its fresh state would 
positively prevent the flies laying eggs by its powerful smell, and 
exposure to the air makes it in time a safe manure, which can then be 
worked into the soil. Other odorous substances might be distributed 
in fluid with the same object, such as petroleum or carbolic acid mixed in 
water; but then these things may not only disgust the flies, it is 
possible they would keep off bird help. 
A great deal depends on promptitude in action in dealing with 
this enemy, for, as it is with most larvae, the young brood can be killed 
by applications to which the grubs are comparatively insensible when 
they have become of some size. It is not certain if the eggs hatch 
speedily; those of many flies do. Probably the grubs are out during 
October, and continue to feed through the winter, unless the frost 
is severe. Miss Ormerod gives two instances where crops of Turnips 
and Strawberries were infected owing to the use of farmyard manure, in 
which these grubs not unfrequently lurk. But there is much in favour 
of the application of suitable manure to young plants; by it their 
growth is hastened, and they are also strengthened to resist this enemy. 
Guano, with a little salt, has been found advantageous, and the various 
chemical manures. Salt is not. however, fatal to the grubs, nor does 
diluted carbolic acid, and the eflEect of the latter upon plants is some¬ 
times injurious. There can be no objection to soluble phenyle, which, 
in the proportion of a quarter of a pint to four gallons of water (or it 
might in some cases be made a little stronger), is beneficial also to 
the soil. Bolling the ground has this advantage, when it can be done, 
that it greatly checks the movements of the grubs, and if it is done at 
night while they are on or near the surface, many will be killed. Hand- 
hoeing among plants that are attacked is an effective but costly remedy. 
Miss Ormerod, in her last entomological report, calls attention to some 
experiments made in killing Tipulse by means of rape cake, fragments 
of it being scattered over the ground infected. In several instances they 
died by hundreds, in others they seemed to eat it and be none the worse. 
The larvEe may also be trapped by burying slices of Carrot or Potato, 
though not so successfully as are the wireworms.— Entomologist. 
The Weather in London. —Mild weather continues to prevail 
in the metropolis. Sunday last was damp and foggy, and though Monday 
was clearer it rained slightly towards the evening. Tuesday was fine 
and very mild, but much rain fell during the night. Wednesday 
opened fine though dull, and very warm for the time of year. Zonal 
Pelargoniums and similar summer bedding plants remain fresh in many 
suburban gardens, an unusual sight for the second week in December. 
- The Weather in the North. —During the past fortnight 
the weather has for the most part been dull and wet, with the wind 
generally from the east. On three mornings there have been frosts of from 
2°, to 5° on the 9th. The 7th was one of the gloomiest days we have 
had ; the 8th was bright and frosty throughout; thaw followed on the 
afternoon of Sunday, and has continued till Tuesday morning, when 
the thermometer stood at 48°. In the garden pickings of Mignonette, 
East Lothian Stock, Chrysanthemums, Violas, and Wallflowers may 
still be had. Furze is reported to be in bloom in some districts. 
—B. D., S. PenlisMre. 
- The Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution—A 
Wolverhampton Auxiliary. —The Committee of the Wolverhampton 
Gardeners’ Association and Chrysanthemum Society have decided to 
establish an auxiliary of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution, 
to be called “ The Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Auxiliary ” of the 
Institution. To inaugurate this they held a general meeting of 
gardeners. The Mayor (Alderman C. T. Mander, J.P.) presided over an 
attendance of about eighty, which included Messrs. H. J. Veitch and 
G. J. Ingram (Treasurer and Secretary of the Gardeners’ Royal 
Benevolent Institution), G. A. Bishop, and J. H. Wheeler. We under¬ 
stand that the Miyor of W’'olverhampton has started the subscription 
list with a donation of ten guineas, and Mr. G. A. Bishop intends 
holding a floral fair, from which he hopes to raise a sum of £200. 
- Royal Botanic Society.— At a meeting of this Society, held 
on Saturday last at the Gardens, Regent’s Park (Mr. Granville R. Ryder 
in the chair), a ripe fruit of Carludovica palmata, from a plant 
growing in the gardens, was shown. The plant, which is a native 
of Central America and bears a most striking resemblance to the 
Palm family, is noticeable as furnishing the “ chip plat,” from which 
Panama hats are made. 
- Flowers in Lincolnshire. —Owing to the mildness of the 
season Primula vulgaris and Viola odorata are in bloom in the garden 
here. I also observed Primula veris and Spiisea Ulmaria in bloom by 
the wayside a short time since.—H. Charman, Mablctliorpe. 
- Mr. Charles Warden. —We are informed that Sir F. P. 
Bathurst, Bart., Clarendon Park, Salisbury, has added the manage¬ 
ment of the home farm and woods to the duties of his head gardener, 
Mr. Charles Warden, who has ably filled that post during the last 
thirteen or fourteen years. We wish him success in his extended duties. 
- The “ Kew Bulletin.” —We have received copies of 
Appendix III., 1894, of the “ Kew Bulletin,” which contains a list of 
staffs in botanical departments at home, in India, and the colonies ; 
also Appendix I,, 1895, containing a list of seeds of hardy herbaceous 
plants, trees and shrubs available for exchange with the regular corre¬ 
spondents of the Royal Gardens, Kew. 
- Olearia Haasti. —Mr. Herbert May, Markree Castle, Sligo, 
writes :—“ My experience with Olearia Haasti in the West of Ireland is, 
it is a precocious shrub, and the wood being of soft sappy nature, it is 
liable to sudden death at any time during a spell of sharp frost unless 
well protected. We have plants of it in a very healthy condition, but 
they are planted where shelter is afforded by other taller-growing 
shrubs. We have had fine specimens disfigured by a partial collapse of 
8 ome of the branches. It is well to have a few of the lower branches 
layered, thereby securing a young stock of dwarf plants.” 
- Eurybia Gunni. — The same correspondent observes : — 
“ Eurybia Gunni is not to be depended on when planted in the 
shrubbery, but if afforded shelter near to a wall it will thrive and last 
for a number of years. It is a plant I take special care of by protecting 
it with Spruce branches, and I keep a stock of young plants under 
cover during the winter months, ready for planting out in the spring.” 
- Lawn Troubles.—C an any of your numerous readers give 
their experience in ridding Daisies from lawns ? Our lawns are literally 
full of the roots. I have lately engaged two lads to dig them up with 
a garden trowel, but it seems endless work. After digging them up 
they are swept together and taken away. Also our lawns are very 
mossy and very thin with grass in places, almost bare under the trees. 
My employer and myself are anxious to get the lawns in good condi¬ 
tion, and, therefore, any advice would be gladly received on the subject. 
Our lawns are about 1 acre in extent, the soil gravelly, and clay in 
places.— Lawns. 
- Forest Hill and Catford District Horticultural 
Society. —From the preliminary Report of the first year of the Society 
we are glad to see that a success has been attained. The Show held on 
July 20th and 2l8t received high encomiums from competent judges; 
70 exhibits in flowers and 110 in vegetables were staged. It was 
generally felt, and expressed, that for so short a time a notable success 
had been achieved, and that the Society should go forward to even 
greater results in succeeding years. We notice that there is a balance of 
upwards of £15 in hand—a credit to all concerned. A general meeting 
of the Society will be held on Monday, December 17th, at St. James’ 
small hall, Stanstead Road, at 8 30 p.m., for the Committee to render 
their report and for the election of officers for the coming season. 
- Wood Green Horticultural Society. —At a meeting of 
this Society held at Wood Green on Tuesday evening last, Mr. R. Dean 
gave an excellent lecture on “The Florists’ Tulip.” As was generally 
anticipated, Mr. Dean dealt with his subject in an interesting manner, 
delivering a most instructive discourse. After referring to the history 
of the Tulip, he detailed the various forms, elucidating his remarks by 
the aid of coloured diagrams. Mr. Dean called attention to the florists’ 
devotion to the Tulip in some northern districts, and deplored the fact 
that a greater number of younger men did not take up its cultivation. 
He could remember seeing beds of florists’ Tulips in the south-eastern 
districts of London about thirty years ago, but these had all disappeared. 
A short discussion followed, and the usual vote of thanks was accorded 
Mr. Dean for his lecturei 
