1D4 
THE COTTAGE GAEDENER. 
December 18. 
small AYater Beetle, unique in his collection, and de¬ 
scribed in the Annals of Natural History. Apion 
Curtisii, a species also long unique in liis collection, 
from which it was described by Mr. Kirby, in his 
manuscripts. IMr. S. Stevens, had, however, recently 
found specimens near Arundel. A remarkable variety 
of Vanessd urtiva, taken at Hampstead, and it was re¬ 
marked that that neighbourhood had produced many 
curious varieties of this species. A remarkable variety | 
of a Sphinx larva, drawn by Mr. Curtis, when he was j 
very young, and wbich was regarded as that of Sphinx \ 
Celerio. Also some notes on tbe genus Conopts. 
Mr. Newman communicated some notes on the habits | 
of the Prawn, as observed in Mr. AYarrington’s marine ] 
ATvavium, especially with reference to tbe functions of j 
tbe antennse, which, contrary to the views of Newport, | 
Spence, Bate, and other observers, Air. Newman con- ■ 
sidered to be indiscriminately used as organs of smell, | 
tbe Prawns following in tbe track of their food, when \ 
moved about, like a pack of fox hounds with tbe scent 
breast high. 
Air. Newman also described a considerable number of 
minute Australian LepulojAera, coWect^A. in the province 
of A’^ictoria, by Air. Oxley, and wbich was remarkable for 
their great similarity, both in structure and colour, with 
those of our own country. A new genus was also 
established for a curious species, with the hind-wings i 
extending outwards like tbe Lappet Aloth, and wbich ' 
was named Bnijdia hisindella, in honour of Air. Boyd,! 
an assiduous collector of minute British Alotbs. 
Air. Stainton read a paper, with tbe title—“ On tbe 
spirit with which scientific books should be read and 
studied.” Air. Stainton’s chief argument being, that as 
all science is progressive, all scientific work must 
necessarily be imperfect, and stand a chance of being 
superseded by fresh discoveries, and, hence, that too 
much should not be expected from an author whose 
short comings ought not to be judged with severity. 
Air. S. Stevens exhibited a box of beautiful large 
Lepidopjtera, sent from Natal by Air. Plant, accom¬ 
panied by drawings of the various formations of many 
of the same interesting species. He also read some 
notes by tbe same gentleman, on the habits of tbe 
Paussidee, a family of small, singular Beetles, wbich are 
captured by tbe Ants, and retained forcibly as prisoners 
in their nests by tbe Ants. 
ROOT-PRUNING, PEACH-PASSAGE, PRUNING I 
OF PYRAAIIDAL PEARS, QUINCE STOCKS, &c. | 
The above contains tbe essence of a string of I 
inquiries received a few days since; and as the topics 
are of a general character, and may concern many, it 
may be well, perhaps, to examine them, wbich I will 
erideavoiir to do in a consecutive way. 'J'he writer, 
“ Al. P.,” appears to have somewhat extensive gardens, j 
and seems to possess a great amount of eaineslness as 
to gardening on principle. 
'1 lie first question turns upon this ; whether trellis- 
trained Readies submit well to root-pruning. The writer 
here confounds, in an odd way, the two very distinct 
processes of frequently mutilating surface-roots by spade 
operations—done at random—and that special cutting 
of the points of tbe roots, which we term root-pruning, 
and which is intended to lower the habit of the tree in 
a temporary way, without long deranging its system as 
to reciprocity between root and branch ; and more still, 
without depriving tbe roots of tbe ameliorating in¬ 
fluences of atmospheric warmth. Our applicant is not 
by any means tbe only person who has thus mistaken 
tbe two points; and since the question is thus raised, 
let us explain the thing practically. 
I have a very capital Peach-wall; I have ever paid 
great attention to the roots of tbe trees thereon ; not by 
meddling with them, but chiefly by letting them alone. 
These fine trees have for years been surface-dressed, and 
that surface—about live feet from tbe wall—has never yet 
been dug ; but with all this they have been root-pruned 
at their extremities annually. Let me then assure 
“ AI. P.” that root-pruning, whether in doors or out, if 
performed on principles with wbich tbe operator is 
fully acquainted, is eligible to all sorts of trees, jiro- 
vided they are too gross, and a fructiferous or blossom¬ 
ing habit is sought to be produced. 
'The next att'air is a “ Peach-Passage.”—This seems a 
coined phrase; but I imagine 1 can fancy what our 
correspondent means. He says, span-roofed, and rather 
more than ten feet wide, with an eight feet trellis, and a 
path two feet, having a border right and left of about 
four feet. AA'^hat a pity it is that our readers who build 
bouses with span-roofs should not make a point, at all 
times, of informing us whether such bouses have a 
north and south lacing, or one east and west. . If I were 
an editor, T should really be tempted to coax corres¬ 
pondents to a confession in this respect. 1 would here 
ask our correspondent why he did not endeavour to 
carry the border through beneath tbe middle walk? 
There could be no real dilficulty in permitting the two 
borders to unite below. As to a four feet border on 
each side, that will produce fine trees if the space they 
have to fill individually is not too great, aird if tbe soil 
be of excellent character. But in such cases it will be 
well, indeed, to have arches in the side walls, and a 
prepared border outside, in order that tbe roots may 
find pasture w'ben needed. Certainly—in answer to 
another inquiry concerning this part of the affair—tbe 
roots may safely be confined to the four feet border, if 
no more is to be had ; but then the trees should not 
occupy much more than an area of six feet square. As to 
the proper period for root-pruning, 1 have long been fully 
persuaded that autumn is tbe best period, at the time 
when about three parts of tbe foliage is fallen ; in other 
words, I would root-prune at the best ])lanliug period. 
Our next question concerns Pyramidal Pears; what 
to do with the remains of the summers' snays. For my 
part, 1 am no advocate of these same snags, and, 
indeed, my system requires them not. 1 tie down tbe 
young wood that is required to remain, and cut tbe 
other entirely away. 'J'hose who will grow Pears in tbe 
pyramidal form, however, must seriously contemplate 
these “snags,” as they will ever be haunted by tliem. 
Persons well versed in the art of pruning can, generally, 
in a moment perceive the difference between a profitable 
and unprofitable snag ; that is to say, those in which 
there is a prospect of future blossom-buds, and those in 
which there is little or none. Aly advice is, that in tbe 
earlier stages of the Pear, or during tbe first three years 
after planting, many of these snugs should be left in 
order to increase ibe chances of tlie true development 
of real spurs, or, what we may term, spawn eyed s|)urs ; 
that is to say, those which will, under proper regulations, 
one day become spurs. But I w'ould here remind our 
readers, that what are called incipient blossom-buds are 
easily convertible at a given period, and under particular 
circumstances, into wood-buds, so that it is a root as well 
as a bud question. 
