December 20, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
561 
indoors aphides often select the highly scented species, perhaps because 
they are n>ore succulent. It is so with the Pelargoniutrs, where the old 
Nutmeg, the Lemon, the Oak-leaf, and the Ivy-leaved varieties are 
notably attacked. Several plants almost escape them, for instance they 
rarely touch any Iris nor one of the Gentians. 
The author of the “ Letters of Rusticus ” recorded, in his jocose 
style, his astonishment at discovering aphides securely lodged within an 
Apple. He cut open Codlin after Codlin, and found troops of them 
garrisoning the pips, but much disconcerted when daylight was admitted. 
With a similar surprise a gardener occasionally digs up at the root of 
some plant scores or even hundreds of them, not uncommonly attended 
by a party of ants, between which and aphides exist a singular friend¬ 
ship, though it is possible the stronger insect may not always be satisfied 
with aphis milk, but may kill and devour its feebler companions. A 
familiar example of an underground aphis is furnished by that of the 
Lettuce aphis (A. lactucae), a species like the green fly of the Plum, but 
smaller, and which damages many plants unsuspected. They have, like 
others, a time of emergence in the winged state. From cold and damp 
most subterranean aphides are defended by a peculiar substance 
resembling silk, which is exuded from special glandular organs. Two 
or three species strip themselves of this coating in order to protect their 
eggs. 'Sometimes this lacks the fibrous character, and takes the form of 
meal, which gives the insect a hoary appearance. Another fact is, that 
the bodies of many of them are largely stored with a fatty matter which 
they develop from their food, which no doubt helps to keep them warm 
in the winter. So abundant is this oil that it occasionally falls in drops 
from their bodies, and it may be noticed in the Elm aphis during July. 
This is quite distinct from the honeydew, a sugary secretion, which has 
been proved to come from them, though it was once supposed to be 
exuded by the leaves they infest.— Entomologist. 
Cheistmas Week. —The Journal of Horticulture will be published 
on Friday morning next week instead of on the usual day—Thursday. 
Communications for insertion should reach this office not later than 
Saturday this week, or Friday where practicable. 
- The Weather in London. —The weather has been very 
changeable in the metropolis during the past week, cold and mild days 
alternating. Much rain, too, has fallen since publishing our last issue. 
Sunday was dull, rain falling in the morning, though it proved fine later 
in the day. Monday also opened tolerably fine, but on Tuesday it rained 
heavily, and it was likewise wet on Wednesday morning, though it 
became clear as the day advanced. 
- The Weather in the North. —The weather for the last 
week has been very unsettled, with a good deal of rain, and high wind 
from the south-west during two nights. There have been also slight 
frosts on a few mornings. In the end of last week the north hills 
were again white with snow. A shower fell on the low grounds on 
the morning of Monday, but thaw followed, and in the evening the 
thermometer stood at 43®. Tuesday morning was dull and showery, 
with a falling barometer.—B. D., S. Perthshire. 
- The Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. —At the recent 
monthly meeting of the Committee of this fund the Secretary announced 
the purchase of an additional £500 worth of stock. The special 
receipts included the following :—The Reigate Chrysanthemum Society, 
£10; the Rugby Chrysanthemum Society (per Mr. W. Bryant, Secre¬ 
tary), £5 ; the Croydon Chrysanthemum Society (per Mr.W. B, Beckett), 
£3 3s. 6d. ; and the Market Harborough Horticultural Society (per Mr. 
Green, Secretary), £2 23. The annual meeting and election will be 
held on Friday, February 8th, when six children will be elected on the 
fund. 
- Death op Mr. Peter Campbell. —This gentleman, whose 
name is well known to growers of the Auricula, died at his residence, 
Graham’s Road, Falkirk, early in the morning of Sunday last. He 
was the raiser of, with others. Admiral Napier, Lord Palmerston, 
Confidence, Robert Burns, Duke of Argyle, Lord of Lome, Onward, and 
Pizarro Auriculas, most of which still keep their place in collections in the 
country. He had considerably passed the “allotted span,” and had 
for many years, from failing health and other causes, discontinued the 
cultivation of the flower.—A Northern Amateur. 
- Horticultural Club. —At the usual [monthly dinner and 
conversazione, which took place at their rooms in the Hotel Windsor, 
the chair was occupied by the Vice-President, Mr. Harry J. Veitch. 
Amongst those present were Sir Alex. Arbuthnot, Messrs. G. Bunyard, A. 
Moss, James H. Veitch, D. T. Fish, Peter Veitch, B. Ironside, C. Pearson, 
and Harrison Weir. The discussion was on the odour of Roses, and was 
opened in an exhaustive paper by Mr. D. T. Fish. Many of the 
members present afterwards joined in the discussion, and a hearty vote 
of thanks was given to Mr. Fish for his able paper. 
- Catapult Guns for Gardeners.—H aving tried one of 
these I can scarcely recommend your correspondent “ Catapult ’’ (page 
540) to do the same. If we are to have anything in this way, which I 
hope to see some day, it will have to be by means of a strong spring 
enclosed in a gun barrel. Who will supply the want at a small cost ?— 
A Gardener. 
-Olearia dentata.—I n your issue of the 6th inst., page 519, 
Mr. Divers stated that the above shrub was flowering at Bel voir Castle for 
the first time. Such cannot be the case, as the late Mr. W. Ingram pointed 
it out to me when in full flower in 1890, and it flowered again the 
following year. I was led to write this note as I thought many persons 
may be deterred planting this free-flowering shrub.—H. W. D. 
- Kitchen Garden Walks. —“ Kentish Man ’’ (page 534) has 
not mentioned what I consider is the best edging obtainable—viz., 
concrete strips 2 inches thick by 7 or 8 inches deep, made in 2 feet 
or 2 feet 6 inch lengths. They are practically indestructible, and 
always present a neat appearance, and besides, the corners can be made 
to any radius, thus preserving the proper outline at a slightly advanced 
cost. They look very well in position, being very light in colour.— 
C. Foxon. 
- Bees and Colchicums. —I hope it is not too late to ask your 
readers who grow the Meadow Saffrons if they have frequently 
observed dead bees in these flowers. Not being a bee-keeper myself 
I might forget to mention it at the proper season, and I may perhaps be 
allowed to do ao now. Last autumn I frequently found dead bees in 
the flowers of all the species and varieties I grow, with the exception of 
the double forms. When I first observed this I thought the bees might 
have become chilled ; but on examining the autumn Crocuses in flower 
at the same time, and also largely frequented by these industrious 
insects, I found no dead ones. So far as I understand the active poison 
in the Colchicum is veratria, and that in human beings large doses 
have the effect of narcotic poisons. Is it possible that the bees become 
stupefied while collecting honey or pollen from the Colchicums?— 
S. Arnott, 
- Brassicas.—M arket growers are having a bad time of it with 
all the Brassica family. There is such a glut of it, and the continued 
soft open weather conduces to its rapid development. Hence we see 
Savoys big and bursting, Coleworts the same. Cauliflowers holding out 
much longer than usual because of the absence of frost. Although that 
is all round a matter for congratulation, still their existence serves to 
keep other produce low-priced. As for Brussels Sprouts they can hardly 
be kept pace with, the sprouts swell and turn in so fast; and even 
Scotch Kales are almost bolting. Nothing can be done to remedy all 
this trouble ; it is not the product of human agency, although there are 
those foolish people who ascribed it all to foreign competition. We 
must bear with it. Should a spell of hard frost come the havoc wrought 
will be tremendous, because everything is so succulent. Then the 
lament will be all the other way. Better things should continue as 
they are than that such general destruction should ensue.—D. 
- Well Cooked Potatoes. —“ E. K,’’ (page 547) is rather hard 
on the cooks in relation to vegetables. The fault lies perhaps far more 
in the general ignorance as to proper methods of cooking, of which those 
who set up to be cook’s mistresses are as much to blame as anyone, 
simply because the young lady of the age regards golf, tennis, and dress 
as the chief aims of life, rather than the acquiring of a knowledge of 
domestic duties. But there are some vegetables which if not good or 
matured no cooking can make perfect. That is particularly the case 
with Potatoes, the bulk of tbe tubers being in these days the product of 
plants that have lost their leafage unduly early through the attacks 
of the disease, hence tubers never can be in such case matured. 
Recently I had cooked samples of Sirius and Maincrop Potato, grown 
under the Bouillie Bordelaise dressings, so that the leafage was some 
three or four weeks longer retained, and tbe flesh in each case was 
starchy, flaky, mealy, and 6rst rate. When we denounce the cooking of 
Potatoes these facts should be borne in mind.—A. D. 
