MOORE’S  RURAL 
-YORKER. 
ifloriniltimtl. 
THE  PANAMA  HAT  PLANT. 
(CARLUOOVICA  PAIMATA.) 
The  Loudon  Garden  presents  its  readers  with 
an  engravltjg  and  an  instrnotivo  account  of  this 
both  nseriil  a tul  ornamental  plant. 
During  the  last  twenty  years  it  has  acquired  a 
vast  importance  as  the  source  of  the  fiber  used* 
in  the  niannfiMjturo  of  the  true  Panama  hat.  A 
glance  at  the  engraving  mil  give  an  approximate 
idea  of  tho  beauty  of  the  plant  which  is  worihy 
to  occupy  a  prominent  position  in  all  colloctiouH. 
The  Carludovica  was  introduced  Into  Jinrope 
about  tho  year  IHO-S.  It  is  a  native  of  llolivia, 
Peni,  Now  Granndn.  iind  Ecuador,  and  profcr.s 
damp  sheltered  positions  in  tho  deeply- wooded 
valleys  of  that  part  of  South  America.  It  is  in 
general  stomless,  the  loaf -stalks  and  tlowors 
shooting  dii-octly  from  tho  roots.  The  loaves, 
which  arc  mounted  on  a  solid  triangular  jjetiolo, 
are  palmiito  and  folded  like  a  fun.  As  they  in- 
CToaso  in  size,  they  split  inpj  three  or  more  divis¬ 
ions.  The  leaf-disc  varies  in  diameter  from  l(i 
to  30  inches  and  even  more,  tho  leaf-stalk  being 
often  six  or  seven  feet  in  length.  When  care¬ 
fully  cultivated,  tho  leaf  is  of  a  brilliant  green. 
Tho  flowers,  although  they  do  not  constitute  the 
chief  beauty  of  tho  plant,  .are  noverthcloss  sin¬ 
gular  in  their  way.  They  are  monoecious,  on 
the  same  spadix,  the  female  tlowcr  feeing  aur- 
roundod  by  four  nuilos.  On  reaching  maturity, 
it  breaks  up,  exposing  tho  inside  of  the  fruit  as 
well  as  the  axis  round  which  it  is  placed.  These 
parts  are  of  a  brilliant  scarlet,  which  is  rendered 
all  the  more  inUmso  by  tho  strong  contrast  of 
the  bright  green  surface  of  tho  spadix  and  of  tho 
leaves  by  which  it  is  suiTOundod. 
In  Weddell’s  “  Travels  in  North  Bolivia,”  we 
find  an  account  of  tho  manufacture  of  Panama 
hilts  from  the  leaves.  The  Bolivians  give  the 
Carludovica  tho  namo  of  Jipagapa,  a  town  in 
tho  Republio  of  Ecuador,  which  is  the  principal 
•eat  of  tho  hat  manufacture—"  Panama,”  like 
"  Mocha”  in  tho  case  of  coffee  and  "  Brussels" 
in  that  of  carpets,  being  a  misnomer. 
Before  the  loaf  has  hiigiin  to  open— when,  in 
fact,  it  resembles  a  cloijed  fan — it  is  out  off  close 
to  the  petiole,  the  base  of  which  forms  tiio  cen¬ 
ter  of  the  crown  of  tho  hat.  It  is  then  divided 
longitudinally  into  strips  with  the  thumb  nail, 
the  thick  part  forming  the  mid-rib,  being  reject- 
eil.  Tho  number  of  shreds  into  wliieh  it  is  di¬ 
vided  of  course  depeuds  on  tho  flnonosB  of  the 
hat  into  which  they  are  to  ho  inanufactiirod. 
Tho  split  loaf  is  next  di|tp<Hl  into  boiling  water, 
then  into  tepid  wabir  acidulated  with  lemon 
juice,  and  lastly,  it  is  allowed  to  soak  in  cold 
water  for  some  time,  ami  afterwards  dried  in  tho 
sun.  Each  liat  is,  or  ought  to  bo,  mado  of  a 
singlp  leaf.  Tho  damping  and  drying  operations 
cause  tho  slircds  to  assume  a  curled  or  cylindrical 
form  which  much  inertfases  their  stretigth  with¬ 
out  injuring  their  pliancy.  Before  plaiting,  tho 
coarser  qualities  ai-o  damped  with  water,  but  the 
finest  sorts  are  loft  out  in  tho  morning  dew  and 
worked  on  before  sunrise.  A  hat  of  tho  finest 
quality,  mado  out  of  a  single  leaf,  will  take  sev¬ 
eral  months  to  make  it  oomploto,  and  tho  plait¬ 
ing  will  bo  so  fine  as  Jiardly  to  bo  perceptible  at 
a  short  distance. 
The  Carludovica  Palmata  is  by  no  means  difli- 
cult  to  cultivate  and  it  is  one  of  tho  most  hardy  •' 
species  of  the  genua.  It  grows  well  in  the  damp  [ 
heat  of  an  Orchid-house  where  tho  temperature 
does  not  fall  below  30“’’. 
Like  other  Screw  I'ines— an  order  to  which  it 
belongs— a  copious  supply  of  moisture  at  tho  root 
is  required  all  tlio  yrair  round,  but  more  partieu-  < 
larly  when  it  is  making  its  growth.  j 
of  a  specific  title  upon  every  shade  of  difference 
in  plant  fertilization. 
Mr.  H.  would  call  a  union  between  two  species 
of  different  genera  gonus-hybrids.  But  why  thi.s 
when  hybritl  alone  expresses  it  just  as  well  ? 
.Vnd  why  call  tho  union  between  two  varieties  of 
tJie  same  species  a  variety-hybrid  when  the  union 
is  not  a  hybrid  union  and  when  the  simple  word 
•croKs  with  which  we  are  all  familiar  expresses 
the  relationship  just  as  well  ? 
We  ask  how  many  iiistaucos  there  are  in  which 
.  HOW  TO  MAKE  ENTOMOLOGISTS. 
It  is  well  known  that  in  agricultural  districts 
too  little  attention  is  paid  to  a  thorongli  knowl- 
edgoof  the  structure,  habits  and  transformations 
of  insects.  Not  until  the  Potato  Beetle  luul 
committed  vast  depredations  could  tho  coimtry 
be  aroused  to  a  sense  of  its  mischievous  power. 
w  \  II 
C  A.  II  Ij  u  l.>'o  VI  o 
I’ALiM  ATA.. 
it  is  positively  known  that  seedlings  have  been 
produced  from  tho  union  of  spocios  belonging  to 
different  gonora  ?  And  in  these  woll-authentU 
euted  instances  (fewer  many)  is  it  not  a  stronger 
m-idcnce  of  an  erroneous  botatdeal  elasHilieation 
than  of  the  degree  of  rolationsliip  implied  by 
belonging  to  fhfforent  gonora  ?  Again  we  would 
ask  how  man^'  instarKriis  are  positively  known  in 
which  such  hybrids  have  been  made  lo  cross 
with  parent  f(;rni8 ;  with  other  hybrid  forms  or 
with  nni/  otlier  forms  ?  Hiirely  sucli  rare  in- 
staiiees  may  bettor  lie  doscrilied  by  combining 
the  old  words,  "cross”  and  "  hybrid,  "properly  so 
called,  and  to  modify  them  with  an  adjoedive  or 
HO  suited  to  the  COSO.  But  scienUflo  mon— to 
thoh-  discredit  ho  it  said  -seom  U)  delight  in  con- 
jiu'ing  up  new  and  difilcnit  words  as  if  they  were 
thus  adiling  to  tho  sum  of  information  instead  of 
muddling  their  books  with  a  mass  of  uonsonso 
to  render  thiice  difilcnit  that  which  is  already 
too  difficult ;  to  confound  the  student  and  to  dis* 
courago  liim  from  thorough  study  and  invostiga- 
tioij,  'IhuH  scientists  chock  tho  progress  of  that 
wlJoh  they  sock  to  advance. 
- -  — 4  »  »  ■ 
FLOEICULTURAL  NOTES. 
SUPERFLUOUS  BOTANICAL  TERMS. 
Is  not  botany  already  sufficiently  encumbered 
with  technical  terms 
Mr.  Saens  says: — "According  as  the  union 
takes  place  between  (I )  different  varieties  of  one 
species — between  (2j  different  species  of  one 
genus,  or  between  (3)  two  species  belonging  to 
different  genoro — iho  resulting  hybrid  may  be 
termed  a  vaiioty-hybrid,  species-hybrid,  or  ge- 
nus-hybi-id.  When  a  hybrid  is  made  to  unite 
with  one  of  its  parent  forms  or  with  amither 
parent  form,  or  with  a  hybrid  of  different  origin, 
the  product  is  termed  (4)  a  derivation-hybrid. 
If  we  accept  tho  above,  there  is  no  reason  why 
we  should  not  add  many  more.  Tho  hybrid 
united  to  one  or  another  parent  form  or  with 
another  of  different  origin,  is  as  well  deserving 
of  a  substantive  name  as  the  union  between  any 
of  those  which  he  designates  variety,  species  or 
genus-hybrids. 
If  we  ore  ready  to  accept  these  practically 
worthless  terms  to  express  unions  wliich,  in  a 
groat  majority  of  oases,  there  isdonbtas  to  the  ac¬ 
tual  parentage — to  tho  exclusion  of  the  old  terms 
‘•hybrid"  and  "cross,”  which  are  well  under¬ 
stood  and  which  sufficiently  express  in  a  general 
way  our  ideas  upon  this  subject— wo  might  as 
well  give  up  generic  names  and  confer  the  honor 
fr-iis  versicolor  is  now  blooming  in  the  mead¬ 
ows.  If  you  stumbled  upon  it  for  the  first  time, 
it  would  bo  very  likely  to  strike  yon  as  one  of 
tho  ofldest  and  most  beautiful  of  flowers. 
Oi/m,nolhrix  Mifolia.  GAMKwimn  Bros,  of 
Ilaekensack,  N.  .J,,  left  out  a  number  of  roots  of 
this  grass  to  dokirmino  whether  they  would 
stand  tho  Wintor  or  not.  Last  Winter  was  very 
mild,  but  nut  a  root  survived. 
A  Climbing  Jii/drangm.—lu  a,  Me  vmt  to  the 
niirsories  and  liomo  of  Mr.  8.  B.  I’AnsoNS  of 
1<  lushing,  L.  1.  to  which  wo  shall  soon  have 
occasion  to  refer  more  at  length— our  attention 
was  directed  to  a  climliing  Hydrangea  ealiod  //, 
noua  scamkns.  It  is  a  true  climber  sending  out 
teudi’ils.  Should  its  inllorosceuco  prove  like  that 
of  other  Hydrangeas,  it  will  prove  a  most  strik¬ 
ing  vbio  trained  over  porches  and  the  like,  it 
was  sent  by  Mi%  IIooo  from  Japan. 
Cliange  of  Color  in  Hydrangeas. — It  would 
seem  that  it  ought  to  be  an  easy  thing  to  deter¬ 
mine  whether  tho  rose-colored  flowers  of  Hy¬ 
drangeas  may  bo  changed  to  blue  by  iron,  either 
naturaUy  existing  In  the  soil  or  artificially  intro¬ 
duced.  Some  of  the  English  horticultural  jour¬ 
nals  arc  flisouHsiug  this  question  and  the  expe- 
rieiioo  of  gardeners  is  given.  As  many,  however, 
seem  positively  of  one  opinion  as  of  tho  other. 
We  tried  muriate  of  iron  faithfully  upon  the 
h&p.Y  Hydrangea  panuMUita  gramUftora  with¬ 
out  the  slightest  effect.  Cannot  some  of  tho 
Rural  floriculturists  throw  light  upon  this  ques- 
In  every  gai’ijeu  and  on  every  farm  are  nnm- 
borloHS  •uomies  to  destroy  the  crops  we  Lave 
worked  hard  for  and  hoped  to  reap.  Following 
their  traifics  are  parasites  that  live  on  those  same 
insoets  and  lielp  to  save  one’s  fruit  or  grain 
flowers  or  root  crops.  ’ 
How  shall  wo,  who  have  so  many  cares,  rid 
onrsolvofl  of  tho  pests  and  encourage  tho  usefnl 
Hcaveugers ?  Tho  question  is  ono  of  importance, 
and  my  auswttr  to  tlioso  inkirostod  is  :  JCugago 
the  children  in  tho  matter  and  givo  them  credit 
for  any  discovery  they  may  mako  in  tiieir  re¬ 
searches.  In  Dvory  family  are  surely  some  mem¬ 
bers  who  best  know  tho  use  of  their  eyes  and 
who  have  an  inborn  taste  for  natiu-al  history. 
Offer  your  ohildi-en  a  prize  for  lijo  best  collection 
they  may  mako  during  a  suminor,  and  yon  will 
be  Hurprisfd  to  see  tho  zest  with  which  they  will 
work. 
There  is  nothing  bettor  tbau  empty  cigar  box¬ 
es,  a  few  small  pieces  of  cork  and  a  package  of 
pins  to  make  a  boy  s  heart  glad,  if  he  is  inoJined 
to  catch  and  classify  the  beautiful  butterflies  that 
Uit  in  every  simny  garden.  An  old  broom  lian- 
dle  and  a  yard  of  mosquito  netting  arc  all  that  is 
rwinirod  for  II  net ;  and  it  is  astonishing  to  see 
with  wliat  alacrity  children  will  run,  when  onco 
fairly  interested,  to  get  "  Harris  on  Insects,"  to 
learn  the  name  or  doetruetivo  natiuo  of  eaeli 
now  captive. 
An  outbuilding  would  not  bo  any  the  worse 
wore  a  few  well-known  chrysalides  to  take  up  win- 
tor  ipiarters  therein.  When  the  moth  emerges 
Irom  its  prison,  eJiildreu  look  upon  it  as  ono  of 
life  8  niii'aclcs  and  learn  from  the  mystery  a 
pleasant  and  instructive  lesson.  There  is  noth¬ 
ing  thatescape-s  their  observation,  if  early  taught 
to  use  their  ejus  in  this  way,  an<l  many  things 
are  saved  that  wnuld  bo  destroyed  and  unob¬ 
served  iu  om-  busy  days  if  wo  had  no  young  en¬ 
tomologists.  Annii:  L,  Jack. 
- - - 
BUTTERFLIES  AND  MOTHS  OF  KANSAS. 
Catalogue  of  the  Lepidoptera  ofXastem  Kansas, 
By  Prof.  F.  H.  Snow  of  the  State 
University  of  Kansas. 
This  valuable  liat  of  tho  butterflies  and  moths 
of  Kansas  is  certainly  creditable  to  the  State,  as 
well  as  to  the  compiler  and  author.  But  we 
tender  a  word  of  caution  to  the  learned  Profes¬ 
sor,  and  hope  he  will  receive  it  in  as  kindly  a 
spirit  as  it  is  given ;  it  is :  that  he  should  he 
careful  not  to  place  too  much  confidence  in  tho 
honesty  as  well  as  ability  of  certain  lepldop- 
torists  who  may  lend  him  as.Hi«tanoo.  It  is  to  bo 
regretted,  though  nevertheless  true,  that  wo 
have  among  entomologists,  as  weU  as  among 
those  learned  iu  other  branches  of  natural  his- 
toi-y,  men  who  are  not  over  -  scrupulous  in  ad¬ 
vancing  tboir  own  claims  to  superiority  over 
_  their  fnllow-workora  in  tho  same  field,  and  those 
men  are  very  loth  to  givo  credit  to  tlioso  to 
whom  credit  is  due.  Of  ooui-so  we  do  not  for  a 
ts  moment  attiihuto  any  such  motives  to  Professor 
1-  Snow  in  compiling  tho  list  before  us,  still  some 
IB  oiM!  who  has  as.xisted  him  In  identifying  tho  »po- 
,d  oies  has  loft  the  unmistakablo  "ear-marks”  of 
•y  jealousy  of  co-lahorors  in  kqiidoptevology.  For 
instance.  Catonila  Ouote.  is  a  synonym 
of  C.  Jiidith,  Ktukcker,  insleiid  of  tho  re¬ 
verse  of  this,  as  in  tho  list.  Catocnla  adoplim, 
Guote,  is  a  aynouym  of  C.  Deiilnh,  KtuI'Iokek, 
and  should  bo  restorod  to  its  projior  position  in 
future  lists,  as  well  as  iuoabinots.  A  referonco 
to  tho  works  of  Jfi-.  H  i'ueciceii  a  nd  to  those  of  Mr. 
Grote  will  sottio  such  disputed  (loints  as  to  prior¬ 
ity  of  namos  belonging  to  these  and  other  species. 
ifanii  (gcouoniir. 
I  _ _ _ _ _  'O 
PARIS  GREEN  AND  POTATO  BEETLE. 
Or  all  tho  poisons  and  destroyers  used  for 
cheeking  the  ravago-s  of  tho  Colorado  iiotato 
beetle,  none  liave  proved  to  bo  more  efficacious 
or  cheaper  than  Paris  green.  Whether  applied 
mixed  wil.h  fifteen  or  twenty  jiarts  of  flour,  or 
plaster,  or  nioroly  (Ustribiitoil  over  tlio  leaves  of 
the  potatoes  with  water,  it  is  certain  death  to 
tho  beetles  or  their  larvie.  No  matter  how 
small  a  quantity  the  beetles  consume,  if  the 
article  is  a  good  ono,  it  wiU  do  its  work  quickly 
and  surely.  'I'lui  fear  which  many  potato  grow¬ 
ers  have  oxproHse.1  iu  regard  to  injiuy  to  the 
tubers  likely  to  follow  the  appUeiitlon  of  such  a 
virulent  poison  to  the  foliage  of  tJie  plants,  is 
entirely  unwarranted  by  not  only  what  is  known 
of  tho  action  of  this  mineral  substance,  under 
such  conditions,  hut  from  tho  thousands  of 
practical  tests  made  in  regions  where  it  has  boon 
used  tho  most  extensively  and  during  a  number 
of  years. 
Under  tho  oiroumstancos  we  can  scarcely  givo 
bettor  advice  than  first  to  gather  all  the  beetles 
found  in  tho  potato  field  early  in  spi  ing,  thereby 
lessening  tho  chiiriceH  for  a  largo  brood  later  in 
the  season,  hut  as  more  or  less  will  oscap* 
besides  numbers  coming  from  adjacent  localities 
therefore  as  a  secoiul  precautionary  nioasm-d 
Itrocuro  a  quantity  of  pure  Paris  green  and  havo 
it  on  hand  ready  for  use  at  the  first  aiqjooranco 
of  the  larvie  or  grubs  on  tho  loaves.  We  have 
received  oecasiomd  statements  from  our  suto 
Hcribers,  as  to  the  failure  of  the  Paris  green  to 
kill  the  grubs,  or  beetles,  feeding  on  the  loaves 
which  leads  ns  to  believe  tliat  a  pure  article  wad 
not  obtained  or  the  mode  of  application  somewhat 
faulty.  There  is  no  doubt  thatmuch  adiiltoratod 
Pans  green  is  sold,  tlierefore  those  who  aro  do- 
mrous  of  accomplishing  a  certain  object  sucli  as 
for  instance,  of  poisoning  potato  beetles,  sliould 
purchase  a  pure  article  ami  of  reliahlo  parties 
oven  if  tlioy  have  to  pay  a  few  cents  jier  pound 
more,  than  tor  an  inferior  and  perlmps  worthless 
compound.  E.  W.  Devoe  &  Co.,  whoso  card 
appears  in  our  advertising  columns  are  cxteiisivo 
manufaeturors  of  Paris  green  and  furnish  to 
their  customers  a  pure  article.  Prof.  Geo.  H. 
Cook,  Htate  Geologist  of  New  .Jersey,  in  writing 
of  his  experience  with  potato  heotlos  and  the 
boat  mode  of  destroying  them,  says: 
"  We  sliaU  plant  onr  usual  amount  of  potatoes 
this  year— froni  tom-  to  six  acres.  To,  diminish 
as  much  as  possible  the  expeiiHO  of  protecting 
tliem  from  the  Colorado  jiotato  bug,  we  shall 
plant  only  early  potatoes,  oi-  those  tliat  wiJl  grow 
and  mature  in  the  shortest  possiblo  time.  The 
early  rose  potato,  whieli  was  originated  hy  Mr 
Uroese  of  Vermont,  eiglit  oi-  ten  years  ago.  has 
tho  best  riqiutution  of  any  variety  now  in  general 
UHo  for  earlinesH,  quality  and  productiveness 
Wo  shall  j.lant  this  kind,  and  I  i.avo  no  liesita- 
tiou  m  roeommending  it  for  this  year’s  crop. 
"  Paris  green  is  conceded  hy  oimost  everybody 
to  be  the  most  effective  suhstiinco  f.n-  destroying 
the  Colorado  potato  Img.  it  is  poisonous,  of 
course,  and  If  breathed  or  swallowed  by  men  or 
aitiumJs,  it  may  produce  dangerous  efl'oets  ;  but 
there  is  no  evidence  that  it  gets  into  or  in  any 
way  effects  tho  potatoes  on  which  it  has  lieen 
used.  And  the  most  careful  iffiomiciil'  analysis 
has  failed  to  detect  any  of  the  poison  in  the  po- 
totocB  grown  m  the  ground  where  it  has  been 
"Paris  green  may  ho  mixed  up  in  a  larcre 
quantity  (forty  or  fifty  limes  its^  weight)  of 
watoi  and  siirinkled  on  the  vinos  whore  bugs  are 
method  is  liked  by  manv.  ^ 
T  wo  or  three  pounds,  and  some  say  one 
pound,  of  1  luis  green  is  enough  for  an  acre. 
Two  applications  is  aU  that  is  needed  for  the 
early  rose  potato.  And  tho  whole  expense  for 
material  and  labor  should  bo  less  than  §io  per 
t\cro* 
"I  hope  you  will  not  give  up  raising  potatoes 
on  account  of  the  potato  bug.” 
Hard  on  uhe  Seedmkn.— The  Garden  fEng  I 
m  amsweriiig  the  ((uestion.  "  Wlmt  is  Seed  ?” 
answers,  "Something in  a  Bag.”  and  then  adds 
It  18  rarely  more  than  this  either  to  purchaser 
or  salesman.”  i 
