ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES, 
FLOWER GARDEN PLOTTING, 
^loriculfurje 
Eiicmy of Colorado Potato Beetle. 
I send you si specimen of Colorado Po¬ 
tato Beetle, also a bug (but eats and destroys 
it. You will see that it has a long sucker 
or tube which, when not in use, is folded 
Under its thorax, and is nearly as long as its 
body. It kills the bugs before they gel their 
wings, anti while they are soft. There is 
also a fly here that destroys the eggs of the 
beetle.— George. F. Borden, Sauk Rapids , 
Minnesota. 
The Colorado Potato Beetle came to 
hand alive, hut its enemy was not to be 
found. Send us other specimens of the cani- 
bnl, but not of the Colorado, as we have 
plenty of the latter. Kill the beetle before 
putting in the box, by immersing in alcohol 
or whisky. 
Tauny «h a Preventive of Pcacli Borers. 
In order to prevent the peach borer, plant 
tansy around the trees. It forms a complete 
mat, and if it extends well around the tree 
will almost wholly prevent the depredations 
of the worm. None of mine, around which 
I have had tansy three years, are troubled. 
It does not in any manner, so far as I can 
see, affect the growth of the tree—1 supposed 
it would. It is no new discovery.— John 
Carnall. 
The Bee Killer. 
I inclose an insect which I caught on a 
barley straw'. It hung to the straw with one 
foot while eating a honey bee. I send you 
the bee and the insect for examination.— 
Subscriber, 'Odessa., (ho State). 
The insect is the Trupanm apivora of 
Fitch, long known as an enemy of the 
honey bee. This, and one or two other spe¬ 
cies are known by the common name of 
Bee Killers. 
We give herew ith an illustration and the 
following description of a drawing plan for 
garden plotting which we find in the Lon¬ 
don Journal of Horticulture. It may inter¬ 
est and instruct many of our readers. To 
draw' and transfer the figure to the ground, 
draw line 1, 7, representing 58 feel; divide 
it into six equal parts, as 2, 3, 4, 5,6,7. The 
points thus found are the centers from which 
to describe the circles. Produce 1, 7, to 
points g h ; bisect line g ti w ith line e f at 
right angles; where the two lines cut each 
other is center 4. From point 1, with ra¬ 
dius 1 a t draw arc a ; from the same point 
draw arc b, as shown by radius 1 b. From 
point 2 draw arcs c and d, as shown by 
the thick dotted lines. From point 3 draw 
\ arcs e and /; draw similar arcs from 
points5,6 anil 7. From center 4 draw 
the outside circle, then draw lines 8 9, 
and 10 11. On each side of the diameter 
line G h draw straight lines, as shown in 
the center—that is, between the arcs drawn 
from centers 3 and 5. 
/ 
To transfer ihe figure to the ground, 
the diameter of the outside circle is 82 
feet. Lay line e f, and bisect it, at right 
angles, with line o u; where the two lines 
cut each other is center 4; insert a peg at 
that point. From the peg at center four, 
w ith a string 41 feet long, trace the outside 
circle. On each side of the peg at center 
4, on line g h, measure 29 feet 6 inches; 
insert a peg at each point, as at points 1 
and 7. On each side of the same peg meas¬ 
ure 19 feet 3 inches, and insert pegs as at 
points 2 and 6. Again, from the same point 
measure 10 feet on each Slide, and insert 
pegs as at points 3 5. From the peg at 
point 1, with a su ing 12 feet long, trace arc 
a. There it is better to trace the circles,as 
show’ll by the thick and dotted lines. 
Where the lines traced cut, each other are 
the angles of the beds. Reduce the string 
4 feel and trace circle b. From center 2, 
with a suing 21 feet 3 inches long trace 
arc c\ reduce the string 4 feet and trace 
arc d. From center 3, with a string 31 feet 
long, trace arc e ; reduce the string 4 feet and 
trace arc/. From centers 5, 6 and 7 trace 
corresponding arcs and circles to those traced 
from centers 1, 2, and 3. On each side of 
the diameter line E F measure 2 feet, insert 
a peg at each point, as at points 8,9 and 10, 
11; lay u line from peg 8 to peg 9, and from 
peg 10 to peg 11. Oa each side of the diam¬ 
eter line g h measure 2 feet, and lay lines— 
that is, between tj^e arcs traced from centers 
3 and 5, The lines are in Box ; b beds; W, 
walks. 
BLACK BLISTER BEETLE. 
TRAILING EU0NYMUS, 
1 inci.osk you a few specimens of a bug 
that 1 have frequently seen upon potato 
vines. Last year swarms of them attacked 
my asters, and as rapidly as the dowel's 
opened, they would cut Hie petals and eat 
into the very heart. From more than a 
dozen lliiiliy plants 1 had only a half-dozen 
perfect flowers, and they W'fcre upon a plant 
encircled with mosquito netting. This year 
they have again besieged my flowers, and I 
shall have none unless 1 find a remedy 
soon. Thumb and fingers, big feel, ami Per¬ 
sian Insect Powder “ arc no good.” Please 
give me ihc name of Lite bug, and tell me, 
if you can, how to save my flowers. By 
the way, Persian Powder sprinkled upon 
rose bltsties wllilqtfjtufip with dew or rain, is 
sure death to nil slugs.—W. M. LANNING, 
Ewingcille, ,V. ,/., 1871. 
The insect is the well known Black Blis¬ 
ter Beetle (Lytta atrata J, and quite common 
at this season on the Yellow weed (JSoUdago). 
This insect usually makes its appearance 
loo late in the season to do ^ < 
much damage lo potatoes, hut A ' 
sometimes it will injure 
sorts. There are a number of ill 
native species; all arc* similar 
in habits and form. The striped^ \ 
blister beetle (Lytta viitata )often x/yttu. 
does groat injury to the potato in the South 
and West, but seldom appears in the Eastern 
Slates. 
The ash-Gray, margined and black Lyt- 
tas are quite common in all the Northern 
Stales; as they all are similar in form, we 
give the accompanying figure of the one 
you sent. Some of the species are nearly 
double llie size of the one shown, but all 
have long, slender, soft bodies, with rather 
thin wing eases. 
We do not know of any better method of 
ridding a garden of these pests than to catch 
them by hand. Take a long-handled dip¬ 
per half filled with hoi water, and hold it 
under the infested plants and shake the in¬ 
sects into it, Asters and Gladiolus flowers 
are their favorite food, and we have often 
had to resort to the hot water hath in order 
to save our 
Japan has given us man}’ very handsome 
species and varieties of the Euonymm. The 
erect growing evergreen sorts are pretty 
well known, particularly the plain green¬ 
leaved and silver-edged, but the narrow and 
broad-leaved golden are less common, prob¬ 
ably because of later introduction. 
ontological 
P0M0L0GICAL GOSSIP, 
Ives’ .Seedliiitr ami Hanford. 
Will some kind render of the Rural 
New-Yorker please to tell me which is the 
earliest grape, the Hartford Prolific or Ive9 
Seedling. 1 sent to Fort Wayne for the 
Hartford, and they are now heal ing. I sent 
to Sandusky for the Ives, which is also in 
hearing, but none coloring; the Hartford 
is also green. The vines and leaves are pre¬ 
cisely alike; no one can toll one from the 
other. Both arc healthy and free from dis¬ 
ease; the Concords and Catawbas are rot¬ 
ting badly.—A Subscriber. 
Tiif. Hartford Prolific ripens with us be¬ 
fore the Ives, but there is not much differ¬ 
ence in the lime of coloring. The Hartford 
is the larger grape of the two, and there is 
considerable difference in the appearance of 
the vines. It is quite likely that your vines 
are all of one variety, either Hartford Pro¬ 
lific or Ives’ Seedling, and by comparing 
with those of your neighbors you will prob¬ 
ably ascertain what sort you have. 
A few years since a trailing variety of E. 
nulicuns was introduced under the name of 
Euonymm radicans folium variegata or varie¬ 
gated leaved trailing Euonyntus. The word 
“ trailing,” however, is not a true translation 
of" radicans,” which means stem rooting or 
taking root on or above ground, the little 
rootlets thus produced are called “ Radicals." 
But this pret ty little plant will probably soon 
have names enough in addition to the origi¬ 
nal and true one because it is rapidly being 
disseminated by ^gorist9 and nurserymen. 
It is perfectly hifS^Df a neat and graceful 
habit, with small ovate green leaves, delicate¬ 
ly blotched and margined with silvery white. 
Its dwarf trailing habit will render it very 
useful for edgings to beds, hanging baskets, 
or for rock work. Small plants set among 
some rocks last spring in our garden have 
already produced shoots two or more feet in 
length and are still growing rapidly. 
A small section of one of the branches is 
shown, natural size, in the accompanying 
illustration and a very good idea of the pecu¬ 
liar variegation of the leaves may also bo 
obtained therefrom. By merely pegging 
down the branches almost any quantity of 
good, strong plants may be obtained, for 
wherever one touches the damp soil roots 
are certain to he produced. We bespeak for 
this plant a cordial reception among the lady 
readers of the Rural New-Yorker, not 
only because it is beautiful, but because its 
hardy character and tenacity of life will 
plants. 
More or I )•«■ Same Kind. 
I inclose you some samples of n bug that 
has recently made its appearance on the 
buds and blossoms of the German Aster. It 
is very destructive, and unlike any insect 
that 1 have ever noticed before Will you 
throw some light on tlm subject ?—G. E. 
Bower, Pln.ma.nt Valley , N. Y. 
Lytta atrata, and the same as figufed 
above. 
ARBORIGULTURAL NOTES, 
TOMATO WORM PARASITE, 
Do Single Flowers Clianae to Double? 
I have a white petunia that was single 
flowered last year, and came from seed sown 
in the spring of 1870 The flowers were 
about an inch and a half in diameter. I 
saved a cutting in Angfist, and kept it 
through the winter in the house, but it did 
not grow much until April, when it, began 
to start into a new growth. I transplanted 
it to the flower bed when danger of host was 
past, and it is now a mass of green shoots, 
and producing the most perfect double flow¬ 
ers imaginable 1 had the curiosity to meas¬ 
ure the first, flower that came out,, and it was 
four and a-lrnlf inches across; the blossoms 
that came out later seem to keep the same 
form, being very double. Quite a number of 
persons have seen it, and expressed their ad¬ 
miration. Now what I want to know is, if 
single flowers change to double, as I never 
had a double white petunia oil my grounds 
before. I have the double purple spotted, 
Pcaclies it oil in it. 
I have au early peach tree that bears fruit 
every year, and just before ripening it com¬ 
mences to rot, Will you give me some in¬ 
formation?— N. M. 
We cumiot tell why your peaches rot. It 
may be that they nre stung by some kind of 
iusect, or the season or soil is unfavorable, 
and it is more than probable that all com¬ 
bine in destroying your crop. Try some ex¬ 
periments in the way of pruning, cultivating 
or applying ashes and lime to the trees, and 
find out whether the cause of failure is cli¬ 
mate or otherwise. An old poach grower 
who dropped in upon us to-day says“ Put 
ashes around the stems of your peach trees 
early in spring and then pour a half pail of 
hot water on them, which brings out the lye 
aud sends it down to the roots.” He says 
that he has restored many a failing tree in 
this way. _ 
Injured A i> i> I e Trees. 
I have a young orchard of apple trees 
commencing to hear this season, and (hiring 
a temporary absence of all the family a herd 
of cattle broke into the orchard, and all the 
trees bearing fruit w’ere nearly stripped of 
their branches. Some of the limbs in break¬ 
ing, split out nearly or quite to the heart of 
the trees. Now can the Rubai, New- 
Yorker tell me from experience, if the trees 
are permanently injured, and if 1 can do any¬ 
thing more for them than to trim off smooth 
with a sharp knife.—L. E. F., Limerick, N.Y. 
We would not only trim off all broken 
branches, but cover every wound with graft¬ 
ing wax, to keep out water aud air and pre¬ 
vent decay. The trees have, without doubt, 
received considerable injury, but if proper 
care is given to pruning and covering the 
wounds, they mav vet recover, aud in a few 
1 inclose you with this, a tomato worm 
covered with parasites of some kind. I 
found ii in my garden a short time ago, and 
regarding it as somewhat, of a curiosity 
(aithough it may not he to you), 1 thollghl J 
would send it, and ask if you could tell me 
its name.—H enri VV. Young, Roanoke P. 
0., A 7 ; Y. 
The worm has been attacked by a species 
of Ichneumon fly, one of the numerous spe¬ 
cies belonging to the genus (Microgaiter). 
These minute species of ^ sj-\ 
parasitic iusecis are of /-Key) 
immense value to us in 
keeping in check the 
larger noxious kinds that 
prey upon our vegetables. \ 
The tomato worm is FlGi i —tomato 
t h e larva of the well Worm Parasite. 
known moth Sphinx 5 nun-ah da, and it is 
often infested by a minute species of Micra- 
gaster. One of these useful little insects 19 
shown (natural size) in Figure l, also mag¬ 
nified. It lays its eggs in the tomato 
CniTauts from Seed. 
Will you please inform me when I have 
to plant currant seeds ? I have a small quan¬ 
tity, but do not know how or when to plant. 
—Geo. R Lanning, Ottumwa, Kan, 
Currant seed should be mixed with sand 
soon after gathering, and then placed in a 
cool situation,—for instance, on the north 
side of a building. It is also a safe plan to 
hfiry the vessel containing the seed in the 
earth, where it will be sure of being kept 
moist. The seed may remain in such a situ¬ 
ation until the following spring, and then 
sown in narrow drills, covering about an 
inch deep with light, friable soil. 
In some localities it is a better plan to sow 
the seed late in fall, but where there is likely 
to he a t lmw of long duration in winter, there 
is danger of the seeds sprouting, and then a 
cold snap will kill them. Curran t and goose¬ 
berry seed germinate in a very Ioav tempera¬ 
ture, and this is one reason who so many 
persons fail to grow seedlings in our climate. 
If the seeds get very dry they will not grow, 
aud if mixed with earth or sand and placed 
in n warm situation, they are very likely to 
start and all rot off before we are aware 
of it, and when taken for sowing they are 
worthless. 
We have experienced no difficulty in, grow¬ 
ing seedling currants by keeping the seed in 
moist sand and in a cold situation until 
spring, and then sowing as soon as possible 
after the frost was out of the ground. 
Fio 2.—Worm and Parasite Cocoons. 
worm, where they soon hatch, the maggots 
feeding upon the latly portions, but do not 
go deep enough lo kill their Victim while 
l»e is necessary for their support. When 
the maggots have arrived at maturity they 
come out of the worm and spin small but 
beautiful silky cocoons, which remain at¬ 
tached to their victim’s skin, as in the speci¬ 
men you sent, us, or as shown in Figure 2, 
which represents a Hog-caterpillar covered 
with cocoons of the same, or a nearly re¬ 
lated species of the same parasitic insect. 
Many persons take these little cocoons to 
be the eggs of some kind of injurious in¬ 
sect, and we have heard it remarked that 
they were those of the tomato worm upon 
which they were found, and as a natural 
consequence, quickly destroyed, when they 
should have been let alone. Last year t hese 
little parasitic flics were so abundant iu our 
garden I hat scarcely a tomato worm sur¬ 
vived, and but one has been found there this 
season. We have plenty of friends in the 
insect world as well as enemies, and it is as 
much our duty to preserve oue as to destroy 
the other. But to do this intelligently, their 
habits must be carefully studied and a knowl¬ 
edge of their natural history obtained. 
Sunshine for Ripening Fruit. 
The Gardener's Monthly says :—“Fine 
rich color is always esteemed as one of the 
criunions whereby to judge the excellence of 
a fruit. Sunlight is of first importance; but 
it is not generally known that this is inju¬ 
rious when in excess. Iu a dry atmosphere 
with great sun heat, where the evaporating 
process goes on faster than the secretive 
principle, what should become a rich blush 
in a fruit is changed to a sickly yellow; and 
the rich jet black of a grape becomes a foxy 
red. Some grape growers of eminence, in 
view of the facts, shade their vineries during 
the coloring process, but others, instead, keep 
the atmosphere as clear aud moist as possi- 
auu nave nan it several years.— l. p. w. 
Double flowers are only sports or freaks 
of nature at most, induced, generally, by cul¬ 
ture. Petunias are plants that sport very 
freely, and although we have never person¬ 
ally met an instance like the one you de¬ 
scribe, still it is among the possibilities that 
a petunia plant may produce single flowers 
the first season from seed, and double ones 
thereafter. 
How to treat Lilies. 
The London Field says; —“ When White 
Lilies, or any other spring-flowered bulbous 
plants have done flowering, and the stems 
died away, they should be taken up and re¬ 
set ; the disease iu Lilies often met with, is 
caused by their being too long in one place.” 
