Tin: COT'J'AGE GARDENER. 
-Ianuahy 1. 
23-t 
“'J’lio planting of nxillary bnlbs does not require snob 
particular attention. Jt is suHicient to put them in the 
earth wliere they a,ro to remain. Tlie chief dilHcnlty 
consists in obtaining these bulbs. I’liese bulbs are 
notliing but abortive buds growing from the axils 
of the leaves, and in the place of the buds which 
usually are formed there. In ordinary circumstances, 
under the climate of Paris, at least, it is but rarely 
that they develop themselves; and those wliich are 
formed only attain to a small size. Rut if one cuts 
off a branch of the plant and strikes it in the earth 
under a bcll glass, the roots are not slow in sliowing 
themselves, and give birth to shoots wliich wither and 
grow sickly when exposed to the free air. At the time 
when the stems grow yellow, then the formation of roots 
is completed ; for, although the plant maybe long-lived, 
nevertheless, the stems are annual. Collect these roots 
and put them in pots, and cover them over with earth or 
sand, to prevent them from withering np by contact 
with the air. 
“Rut independent of these a5rial little bulbs, there is 
developed, at the bottom of the stem, a little lump, 
having only one eye. It is to this thatM. Carriere gives 
the name of a terrestial bulb. Propagation by these two 
kinds of little bulbs is alike free from any difliculty but 
putting them into the earth. 
“With respect to the increase by cuttings, it consists 
in cutting the large tubers in slices of at least two- 
thirds of an inch in thickness, and each slice should be 
planted either in the open earth or in pots. From these 
pieces shoots rise above the ground, and the under¬ 
ground stems (rhizomes) force themselves into the earth, 
and increase in size, until they become fit for food. The 
sets ought not to be cut too small, for tliey remain some 
time in tlie earth without vegetating; and they would 
be liable to decay. 
“ Contrary to what has been supposed and recom¬ 
mended, it is not necessary to leave the sets for some 
time without ])lanting them, for they very readily rot, 
especially when they are small. Jt is best to plant them 
immediately after having ])repared them. The two first 
modes of propagation which are here spoken of ought 
only to be considered as ])re]iaratory until they have 
formed bnlbs of a small size, fit for seed the following 
year. 
“ Tiic best time to make these plantings varies accord¬ 
ing to the nature of the ground and climate in which 
we grow them. In a commercial jioint of view, it is 
not desirable to plant until the buds develop them¬ 
selves. When one wishes to raise them in jjots, in a 
greenhouse or under frames, to jnit the?n afterwards in 
the oi)en earth, make the jilantation in March; for 
under the climate of Paris it may not be ])rudent to 
place them in the open ground before the last days of 
May, when they have begun to develop themselves in a 
greenhouse. Rut il the tubercles are not cut until 
planting-lime, idanling can take j.lace without incon¬ 
venience in Ajiril .—{Hevue Horltcole). 
FRUJTTREES, THEIR RLIGHTS AND OTHER 
AILMENTS. 
{Continued from jxiije 123.) 
The Peae. —It will be remembered, that in a former 
])aper on the Api)le, &c., I proposed, when time })er- 
mitted, looking over most of our fruits, and ])ointing 
to some of the chief ailments ])ertaining to them, as 
they have appeared to me during some forty years 
experience. 1 may here observe, that not pretending 
to a knowledge of the science of entomology, it is not 
i in my power to ta,ke a wide range in this subject, such 
! as be could do who unites both science and ]>ra.ctice ; 
! indeed, could I do so, the afl'air would occupy too much 
j space for our present purpose. 
i One of the most common evils to which the Pear in I 
a trained state is subject is the Scaly insect, termed . 
Asjiidiotus ostnefonnis, or, more commonly. Oyster scale. [ 
^ Persons ill-versed in gardening matters may pass by I 
1 their favourite Pear-tree, day-by-day, for years, lamenting i 
its lean and sinking condition, without the least con- | 
ception of the cause, unless their attention be specially i 
; directed to it; so insidious are this insect’s operations. | 
! 'J’hose who are strangers to it, and who have suspicious- 
looking trees, may easily detect it, if present, on a close 
I examination of the bark of the tree. It a])pears in 
j myriads of little specks of an oval sha,pe, so small 
that it would probably require thirty or i'orly to cover 
the face of a sixpenny-piece. They are as near as may 
be of the same colour as the bark, a colour tlie best 
they could have devised in older the better to conceal 
their intentions. Such a device would have been high 
instinct; and talking of the instinct of animals reminds 
j me, how often 1 have scon a hare, when advanced too 
i closely unperceived, instantly crouch herself up into 
: the most awkward form, generally like a piece of old, 
j rotten stumj) blown out of a tree, doubtless, thinking it 
a better chance than to attempt running away. 
I Rut back to my tale about insect enemies. It may 
well be asked bore, by some beginner. Pray, what 
harm can these little things do ? 'Flint they do immense 
harm is best proved by the fact, that when a tree 
, becomes thoroughly infested with them its downfall is 
certain. It may linger on in a hide bound state, for a few 
years, but “good-by” to all lino and jirofitable produce, 
j 'That they abstract those juices from the trees, on which 
i not only the production of superior fruit depends, but 
even the health of the parent itself, there can be no 
doubt. 'They woidd appear to be as poweri'ul enemies 
tlirough the medium of the bark, as the Red Spider is 
through the medium of the foliage. 
However, although insidious and untiring enemies, 
there is one comfort concerning them,-—they are easily 
conre at, and easily destroyed. 1 would, theretore, 
rather have twenty trees infested with this Scale than 
one with the American Plight. Soft soap is the best 
remedy that I have ever known. I am almost jirepared 
to say that it alone will destroy them. However, 1 cair 
scarcely affirm that 1 have thus done. The mixtiii'C I 
]irefer is thus compounded. . J beat up soft-soap in 
warm water at the rate of eight ounces to a gallon; to 
every gallon of this I add a.nother gallon of such a 
thing as stable-liquid, and, finally, ntake the whole into 
a ])aiuty consistence, by adding clay finely divided. 
This we brush thickly over the stem or branches 
infested, leaving not a crevice unfilled. Indeed, my 
plan, to save time, has been to squirt it all over the 
trees by a syringe; but in this case the clay water nrust 
bo strained very clear. I have used sulphur combined ; 
and, where Red Sjiideris known to exist, it is exjiedient; 
but this alone would not destroy this pest. 
Due word of caution here: let it be remembered 
that this mixture is intended to be used when the tree 
