1870 ] 
THE AMATEUE GARDENER’S CALENDAR. 
61 
tinds of grubs allied to tbe wireworm frequently met witb, but these (shown at 
figs, j and g) differ in the terminal section of the body, which in the true wire- 
worm is furnished on the under-side with a large fleshy retractile tubercle (fig. h) 
which it uses as a seventh leg when needful. The under-side of the head is shown 
at c. The perfect insects are not injurious, but the larvae are dreaded by culti¬ 
vators. These receive their popular name of Wireworm from their very hard 
external integument and long cylindrical form. Mr. Mechi holds that salt and 
water will destroy these pests :—“ I have some land subject to this pest, but for 
several years having used salt, I have prevented their ravages. ‘ Oh, but,’ say or 
WTite many farmers to me, ‘ I have placed Wireworms in salt, and they continued 
as lively as grigs, and, therefore, it is clear that salt will not kill them I’ My reply 
has been, 'Did you put water with the salt?’ This soon changed their opinion.” 
Amongst the modern topics introduced by Mr. Eobinson, and which embrace 
cordon training, orchard houses, ground vineries, and such-like things, which had 
not been heard of when the book was first published, one of the most useful for 
small gardens, is perhaps that relating to the employment of the French Cloche 
or Bell-glass, represented in the accompanying woodcuts. It is an article as yet 
but little known here, but it is one of great and varied utility. It may be used for 
winter-salad culture, for raising seedlings, for striking cuttings, or even for 
keeping clean and fresh during -svinter such small-growing subjects as parsley. It 
is simply a large cheap bell-glass, and by its aid the French gardener is enabled 
to excel all others in the growth of winter and spring salads. Each bell-glass is 
about 16 in. high, and the same in diameter at the base, and it may be bought 
at from lOd. to Is., according to the quantity purchased. Bearing on the utility 
of these cloches or bell-glasses, it has been recently observed by M. Schlosing, in 
the Corrggtes Rendus^ that the power of absorbing mineral ingredients in solution 
from the soil is diminished, by cultivating plants under glass in such a way as to 
diminish the amount of evaporation from their surface. A tobacco plant so 
grown absorbed 17 per cent, of mineral matter, instead of 20 per cent., as it would 
do under ordinary circumstances. The production of vegetable acids was found 
to be diminished by one-half, that of resin and cellulose to a less extent, while 
the nitrogenous ingredients were not materially decreased. Starch was present 
to the extent of 20 per cent., instead of to 100th per cent. only. Thus when 
