MARCH. 
55 
8 inches from the glass. The distance apart must be regulated by the size of 
the plants ; I generally allow about 1 foot between them each way. 
After planting in the pit, should the soil become too wet from over-water¬ 
ing, it should be occasionally stirred with a small hoe, and any damp leaves 
picked off, as well as all the runners. I am aware that some gardeners do not 
take this trouble, but neither do they have much trouble in gathering the 
blooms. They get leaves in winter, and blooms in spring, when there are 
plenty in the hedgerows. 
If the above directions be attended to, and fresh linings of hot dung 
placed round the pit or frame, so as to maintain a nice bottom heat, the glass 
covered with mats when necessary, and air given on all favourable occasions, 
plenty of beautiful double blooms will be ready to pick at any time during the 
winter months. 
Elsenham Hall Gardens. William Plester. 
A FEW REMARKS OK INSECTS. 
There is nothing so destructive to a fruit garden as insects ; nor is there 
anything in the business of gardening that requires more attention than 
obtaining an acquaintance with their character and habits, that we may be 
able to combat such enemies successfully. The subject is one of great im¬ 
portance, but gardeners will easily acquire from observation and books such 
a knowledge as will suffice for their profession. 
In seasons favourable to them, the power which some insects, such as 
green fly, have of multiplying themselves, is almost incredible. 
The Apple trees about London, and in some of the southern counties, 
suffered very much from insects last season. In Yorkshire, and other northern 
counties, the Apple trees escaped from caterpillars uninjured, and promise an 
abundant crop in the coming season ; but during the early part of last summer 
thrips abounded, every flower, plant, shrub, and tree, being covered with them. 
On hot burning soils the red spider was also very numerous, attacking Straw¬ 
berry plants in the open ground, and the Raspberry, Gooseberry, Peach, Apple 
&c. During the early part of September, aphides were unusually nume¬ 
rous for several days; they settled in masses on the Peach trees, which soon 
shed all their leaves. Fortunately, owing to the fine weather that had prevailed 
previously, the wood was pretty well matured, otherwise, the prospect of a 
crop this season would have been very doubtful. 
I would strongly impress on fruit-growers the importance of watching 
carefully this season, and making an early attack upon every species of insect. 
As a precautionary measure, all the old shreds and ties should be removed from 
Peach trees, and the wood should all be well washed with a mixture of sulphur, 
soft soap, soot, and clay, mixed to the consistency of paint. If all the wall 
trees were painted it would be an advantage. Standard trees of all kinds will 
have been pretty well cleansed by the heavy rains we have had. Careful 
and unceasing attention in watching and destroying all insects on their first 
appearance is the best method of keeping them down. A few moments, in 
the early stage of insect life—at the first birth of the new colony—will do 
more to rid us for the season of that species than whole days of toil after the 
matter has been so long neglected that the enemy has become well established. 
Once left to multiply, the difficulty and labour of eradicating insects are con¬ 
siderably increased. The difference between destroying them at first and a 
fortnight afterwards, is frequently as between ten and ten thousand. A very 
little time and attention regularly devoted to the extermination of insects will 
