OCTOBEII IG. 
COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
Saw Ely, llie black slimy larva of tlie Tenthredo 
JEtliiopti, upon pear anil cherry trees, and the Goose¬ 
berry Saw Ely excessively abundant; and Mr. Lubbock 
stated that the Nujyer Caterpillar of the Turnip Saw 
Ely had recently appeared in numbers in Kent. 
Mr. Douglas communicated a note on several species 
of Click Beetles (Elateridie), which had been observed 
preying upon other insects, their ordinary food being 
considered to be of a vegetable nature. Mi-. Curtis 
stated, that he had been informed that crops of lied Cab¬ 
bages, in the neighbourhood of Cranford, had materially 
suffered from the attacks of Aphides. 
A note was read, from Mr. Atkinson, on the specific 
distinction of Papilio pammon, and polytes, regarded 
by Dr. Boisdu val as the sexes of one species of butterfly; 
also on the true locality of Papilio Nomius; and on the 
pupa state of P. Polydoriis, contrary to the mis-state¬ 
ments of Mr. Swainson. 
Mr. Newman gave an additional locality for the rare 
clear-winged Trochilium Icrysidiforme, and read a note 
on the manufacture of hats, impervious to water from 
the silken texture Saturnia Spini,orL the process 
of llerr Pretsch, described at a previous meeting, and 
for which the inventor has taken out a patent in Austria, 
although it was admitted that there were at present 
great difficulties in the production of the raw material, 
which rendered the articles manufactured from it very 
dear. 
Mr. Douglas stated the capture of the rare Licinus 
dep)ressus and Tarim axillaris near Croydon. 
A letter from Mr. J. C. Bowring to Mr. A. White, 
was read, giving an account of his entomological 
captures during the recent visit of his father. Sir J. 
Bowring, and himself, to the Court of Siam. He 
had succeeded in capturing considerable numbers of 
Bembidiidm, Staphylinidae, and especially of Pselaphida), 
the latter of which were found in great numbers in the 
oil of the lamps. He had continued his researches of 
the Coleoptera of Hong Kong, of which he had now 
secured as many as 1,300 S 2 :»ecies. 
Mr. Westwood read a paper containing descriptions of 
a considerable number of new species of Pselaphidm, 
from Australia, contained in the collection of the late 
A. Melly, Esq., of Liverpool. 
EllUIT-TREE PLANTING. 
As seasons return, it will be well to examine our 
previous practice, in order to avoid any errors wo may 
have fallen into, and to confirm sound practice. 
Eirst, let us chat over the station, modes of plantiny. 
I believe that I was the first to suggest this practice, 
both in “ Maund’s Eruitist,” and in the “ Journal of 
the Horticultural Society,” many years since. Since 
that period the practice has been generally recognised. 
By it we are enabled much to economise our choice 
1 composts, or loams, as also to root-prune with precision, 
and to prevent the descent of tap-roots. Let me, then, 
again mest strenuously recommend the general adoption 
of platforms, wherever a dwarfing system has to bo 
carried out, and where early bearing is desirable. One 
I thing, however, should be particularly noticed as con- 
O Q 
cerning stations, and that is, the relation that the base 
of the station should bear to the ordinary gi'ound-lcvef. 
I say, the base of the idatform, for a certain depth, 
being considered requisite, this is the true point for 
consideration. 
I consider, that from two feet to thirty inches is about 
the best depth that can be adopted for fruit-trees in 
general; and as to how much should be above the 
ground-level, that is a question which should be settled 
by the character of the soil and the locality. It may be 
taken as a rule, I think, that the greater the elevation 
the more the volume of the soil should be reduced to 
the ordinary ground-level, and vAce versa. Philosophy 
and common-sense alike point to the propriety of such 
proceedings. 
All persons laying out new gardens, or betaking 
themselves to the conducting of old ones, with the soil 
of which they are imperfectly acquainted, should, first 
of all, well ascertain the character of both soil and 
sub-soil. As to wetness, or, as practical men term it, 
“ sourness,” all the world knows that draining is the 
only radical cure. The opening of a few holes, here 
and there, will soon show if stagnation exists. But 
then, there is the surface-soil to be considered ; this may 
be the best loam imaginable for fruit culture, and yet 
too tenacious. It has been affirmed, by men of sound 
2 n'actice, that there needs little nicety in testing land as 
to its mere mechanical character; and that any land, or 
soil, on which the water stands for three days after a 
heavy rain has ceased, affords a most decided case for 
drainage. I do, indeed, think this matter indisputable; 
and I also think, that, as an off hand rule, nothing can 
be better. The character of the sub-soil, however, exer- 
eises a most important influence on the w'elfare of 
tender fruit-trees. It matters not talking about plat¬ 
forms if the bottom soil is ever damp—perhaps wet: 
and this brings us back to thorough drainage. But we 
must proceed to examine still farther the })latform affair. 
I advise strongly, then, that wherever the least amount 
of grumbling exists about low situations, damp air, 
damjj soil, and that sort of ill usage, which a garden 
here and there lays claim to—a sort of unenviable pre¬ 
eminence—drain, elevate; what ought not to be done 
below the ground-level, do fearlessly above. An honest 
Hibernian once remarked, that he had, in the course of 
a long life, observed that, however people might elbow 
each other, there was ever lots of room overhead. And 
so with fruit-trees and their roots; if you have not depth 
enough below% or that depth is of an improper character, 
why then go upwards—above the ordinary ground-level. 
Some good gardeners have affirmed, that the best way 
to plant fruit-trees, in general, is to set them on the 
surface of the soil, and to pile the proper compost over 
them; and, in good truth, if we must thus lump and 
generalise things, better advice can scarcely be given. 
One thing here I would name, or rather suggest; that, 
what gardeners term a sound or adhesive loam, should 
enter into what little compost is considered requisite; 
I care not if it be only two barrowfuls. I do not, by 
any means, say that good fruits cannot be produced 
without this loam of the practical gardener; but this I 
will fearlessly affirm, that if we were to convene a jury 
of gardeners—genuine ones, I mean—as to the benefits 
derivable from the use of a little loam, as to fruit-trees, 
that jury, if composed of a score of those bronzy-looking 
gentlemen, would not possess three dissentients. I 
have found three barrows of loam, if pretty adhesive, 
sufficient for any fruit-tree, on a dwarfing system, pro¬ 
viding the ordinary soil is what may be termed good 
garden soil. 
I am of opinion, however, that if a more liberal 
amount of strong loam could be given, that fruit-trees, 
in general, would benefit much by being planted on the 
surface of the soil without any excavations, jwovided 
