108 
T11E COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, May 21, 1850. 
after dark. Four different sowings of these plants had been 
destroye l without any trace of the depredator being visible during 
tlie day; hence it was supposed that Woodlice were the cause of 
the mischief. But, on being examined with a light after dark, 
vast numbers of this Rove Beetle, with a few individuals of 
two small species of Philonthus, were captured, aud were 
accordingly at once regarded as the real culprits; an opinion 
which Mr. Westwood thought probable, although contrary to the 
generally-received opinion of the insectivorous habits of the Sta- 
phylinidso—an opinion also apparently confirmed by the great 
numbers of these insects found on decaying fungi, boleti, and 
dung, where they apparently feed on the vegetable matter ; as was 
also the case with the larva of one of the species described by Mr. 
Walford iu the “ Linnsean Transactions,” which destroys young 
Wheat plants by gnawing through the stems. Several members 
present, however, dissented from this view; and Mr. F. Smith 
especially mentioned Oxygons rufus, which, although always 
found in fungi, is evidently from its structure a very voracious 
insect feeder. Mr. Westwood also exhibited both sexes of a 
remarkable liymenopterous species from South Africa, belonging 
to the Aculeata, but furnished with bipectinatcd antennae in the 
male sex. Also three very interesting additions to the British 
lists—namely, 1, Blatia acervorum of Panzer, forming the type 
of the genus Myrmecopliiia, and forming in the system of Mr. 
M'Leay the connecting link between the cursorial and snltatorial 
Orthoptera, taken near Netley, in Shropshire, by Mr. Hope; 2, 
Bethyllus (FrisLocerus depressus), a liymenopterous insect, being 
one of the connecting links between the Terebrantia and Aculeata, 
also taken by Mr. Hope in Shropshire ; and 3, Drymusformicarus 
of Latveille’s genera, remarkable for the anomalous structure of 
the fore legs, taken by Dr. Baly near Cobham. Mr. Westwood 
also exhibited various species of Ptinidas in the larva and perfect 
states, and other insects found boring in and gnawing the covers 
of books, especially manuscripts from the East. 
Mr. W. W. Saunders read a memoir containing descriptions of 
some very remarkable dipterous insects, recently captured in New 
Guinea by Mr. Wallace ; the males of which have the head armed 
on each side with a large liorn-like appendage. 
Mr. Wallace also sent a paper containing observations in oppo¬ 
sition to the custom of publishing highly magnified coloured 
figures of small insects, as tending to give an inaccurate idea of 
their real size and form. Mr. Wallace’s remarks, however, failed 
to meet with support, as all the members present considered that 
highly magnified figures were of the highest utility in entomological 
science. 
NOTES ON SOME BEDDING PLANTS. 
In your invaluable gardening periodical for August, 1858, you 
recommend Viola oalcarata for summer bedding for the ilower 1 
garden. I used it eight years since, but only in an ordinary | 
way. A thousand thanks for your directions to ensure its bloom- , 
ing through the summer. I have a purple Pansy, in shape of : 
flower not unlike the Yiola. It is an immense bloomer, treated ' 
as you do the Viola, and, what is most in its favour for con- ] 
tinuance, it never seeds. 
I have a large quantity of the Aubretia purpurea you extol so ; 
highly in The Cottage Gabdeneb for last month. Most of 
iny plants measure eight to ten inches across. Do they seed ? 
I have two mixed herbaceous borders, fifty yards long. Each 
side a broad walk edged with the Aubretia and a good variety of 
rod Daisy, plant for plant of each. I can honestly say they have 
been beautiful for two months past. Aud I have two large beds 
of yellow JDoronicum Austriaeum , edged with the purple Aubretia. 
Accepting the name of Lilac Chain for this, allow me to call Erica 
herbucea the Bed Chain. I have six beds edged with it; each 
bod measures fifty-six feet round. 
I have two varieties of Lamium maculata; one sort in parti¬ 
cular has been much admired for some time—it might be called a 
Bed Chain. And of Arabis yrandi/lora alba I have two mixed 
herbaceous borders, 150 yards long, each side of a broad walk, 
this plant being the edging, on an average (one row) eighteen 
inches wide; which almost resembled flakes of snow for nearly 
six weeks. I may add that I grew Ccrastium tomentosum as an 
edging eight years ago. Fulmonaria officinalis, or Viriginica, and 
variegata, are not to be despised for spring flowers; and the 
foliage of the latter, when well grown, has been much admired in 
summer. 
There is an old saying that so and so was born with a silver 
spoon in his mouth. I often wish some of the silver-spoon 
gardeners (if I may bo allowed to use such a comparison), who 
have the means in labour, &e. at command, would but devote the 
same amount of attention to our much-neglected herbaceous 
plants—“The Hardy Plants for the Many”—that they do to 
their pet stove and greenhouse plants ; and record in the pages of 
The Cottage Gabdeneb the treatment each requires to attain 
certain results, the time, continuance of flowering, &c. I should 
think many hitherto-neglected might bo added to the list of 
hardy plants for bedding in spring and summer. In May, 1857, 
I solicited an answer as to what plant would do in lieu of Pei illa 
(for colour of leaf), for spring ; but never yet have I seen any 
interested about knowing what plant would be a substitute. 
Would you like to know? [Yes, certainly.] Shall I send you a 
plant in a letter to prove it ? [Pray do.] I shall bo very glad 
to give in exchange plants for spring bedding for Verbena venosa 
and bedding Geraniums.— James Kidd. 
FRUITS and FRUIT TREES of GREAT BRITAIN. 
(Continued from page 65.) 
No. XX. —Beueee Steeckmans Peab. 
SynonY'MES. —Belle Alliance; Doyenne Bsterkman. 
This is a worthy successor to Winter Nelis, and continues in 
use about a month after that variety. Although, strictly speakinge 
it is not so richly flavoured as Winter Nelis, still it comes littlt 
short of it, and, in some seasons, as in the past, it has been nios, 
delicious, with the advantage of being a larger fruit. 
Bruit inodorous; of medium Bize, generally two inches and 
three quarters wide, and about the same in height; handsome 
even in its outline, and of a perfect turbinate shape, being 
rounded at the eye, and tapering abruptly towards the stalk. 
Skin smooth, at first of a bright grass-green colour on the 
shaded side, and dull red on the side next the sun ; but as it 
ripens the green becomes citron yellow tinged with green, and the 
red a rather bright crimson. The whole is covered with russet 
dots and markings. 
Bye open, with short, erect, rigid segments placed in a wide 
and rather shallow cavity, which is undulating; sometimes the 
segments are altogether wanting. 
Stalk about three quarters of an inch long, pretty stout aud 
woody, set in a narrow, close cavity, and perfectly perpendicular 
with the fruit. 
Blesh white with a greenish tinge, very melting, buttery, and 
juicy. Juice abundant, rich, sugary, vinous, and with a fine 
aroma. 
This is a first-rate dessert pear, ripe during January and 
February. 
