EXT R A C I S —FLO RIC ULT U RE. 
227 
flowir. Another examination with her feelers now takes place; and when she is 
thoroughly satisfied, all is right, away she flies to perform the same opera¬ 
tion again and again, never tiring while she has an egg to lay. 
The bud continues to grow like the other buds; the little perforation becomes 
invisible. By and bye, the egg bursts, and out comes a little white maggot 
which, directly it is hatched, begins to devour the young and tender stamens; 
next to these, the style is attacked, and eaten down to the fruit, the upper part 
of which is quickly consumed ; the maggot is then full fed ; it casts its skin, be¬ 
comes a chrysalis, and lays perfectly still. As the pe-rfect petals expand, the mu¬ 
tilated buds remain closed, and for a few days preserve their lovely pink colour, 
and then by degrees, fade to a dingy brown. On opening these brown blossoms, 
about the 10th or 15th of June, the chrysalis will be found to have changed to a 
perfect beetle, which, had it been left to itself, would, in a few days, have eaten 
its way through the weather-beaten case of dried petals, and left its prison-house, 
flying about to take its pleasure, until the chilly winds of autumn should drive 
it into its winter habitation under the bark. 
The cloudy misty east wind, in which our farmers and gardeners see the blight 
is the very weather of all, least favourable to the propagation and increase of 
these weevils. The fine clear sunny days of March and April, are the most fa¬ 
vourable to them. The tomtits, sparrows, bullfinches, and other birds, which, 
at this time of the year, more particularly frequent orchards and gardens, live 
during these months solely on these weevils, and similar little insects; and con¬ 
sequently, are the only check on their increase which we possess. 
EXTRACTS. 
FLORICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE. 
New and Rare Plants, Figured in the Periodicals. 
CLASS I.—DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS, OR EXOGENES. 
LABiATiE.—The Mint Tribe. 
Salvia Fulgens. —Refulgent Sage. Native of Mexico. Introduced iu 1829. 
Flowers crimson. Culture.—It is a nice plant for turning out into the borders 
in summer; but requires the shelter of the greenhouse in winter, will grow in 
any light soil, and may be propagated by cuttings.— Bot. Cab. for March. 
leguminos^e. —The Pea Tribe. 
Gompholobium venulosum. —Veiny Gompholobium. Native of New Hol¬ 
land, whence seeds where collected by Mr. Baxter. Flowers, very bright yellow. 
It differs from all that are yet known, its leaflets being distinctly marked with 
little elevated slightly anastomosing veins, after the manner of the Mirbelias 
Culture.—Pot in peat and loam, and give them the shelter of the greenhouse. 
In winter, they should be kept in a cool airy place, where a perfect command of 
ventilation is possessed, and the temperature should not be allowed to rise much 
above 40 or 45. They are propagated by cuttings.— Bot. Reg. 
Erythrina velutina. —Velvetty Erythrina.—A tree growing about thirty 
feet high in Madeira, its native country. Flowers of a bright orange red, and 
very shewv. It is not yet introduced into this country. Bot. Mag. 
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