634 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
June 2 , 1888. 
folks in the Avenue at Covent Garden are going in for 
the Millanery trade. Do you think, Zir, that the 
dead don’t know the difference between these and the 
rale thing ? I think, Zir, that as they have done with 
all shams, they don’t want to lay under these sort of 
gegaws, and look with scorn upon ’em. 
Now, Zir, for the show; I really was glad to get away 
from that thing in the road, opposite the arched way 
leading to the show. It did seem funy to go through 
into the Lawyer’s Quarters to see a flower show, and 
the innercense as accompanies it. Why if this is the 
place they does their work, they Lawyers must have a 
grand time of it, and make heaps of money. I was 
frightned, Zir, as how the rain would keep the people 
away, and as how they would not find the place, not 
seeing any intemation of the show on the street 
hordins ; but lauk ! the place was crowded. I heard 
as how the G. 0. M. was there, but missed him in the 
crowd. “Our Joe” I did see, and a few of the old 
faces as I used to know. The people seemed pleased, I 
fancy, Zir, as many of them has so much to do with 
what’s artifical, that a sight of wot is natural was a 
treat to ’em ; and I hope, Zir, as it won’t be the last 
time as the Royal goes to the city. These city people 
thinks az they noes best about everything, and may 
be they does. You noes, Zir, better than I can tell 
you, wat was there ; but I thinks as the best was done 
with everything as could be done. The Orchids war 
grand, especially “ The Baron’s,” and the Roses good, 
and so was Azalias, Pelygoniums and Calcies ; and, 
Zir, ain’t it wonderful the colours that chap in Paris 
gets into the Caladiums, at least, Zir, I am told the 
new sorts come from there, and those folks at Forest 
Hill does them fust-rate. Then our old friend Cannell 
had a good strain of Begonias ; and what a fine lot of 
hardy flowers and Daffodils they war! Why, Zir, don’t 
folks grow more of them things ? They ain’t much 
trouble—at least, most of them. Master Barr, I 
thought, put up his Narcissus more artistic—I think as 
that's the word—than Master Ware; but what a fine 
lot both war. The Apples from Australia and from 
What’s-his-name in Sussex war good ; how does Master 
Cheal keep them so well ? Then there war fine Sea 
Kale and Sparrow Grass and taters from Malta, all good. 
But, Zir, why don’t the Royal do more for Fruit and 
Vegetables, at its shows ? Why, as you noes, Zir, 
at shows in the country the Vegetables are thought a 
lot of ; and true it is, there’s a sight of people as thinks 
more of what passes through the kitchen than of what 
they sees in the consarvatory.— A Country Callage. 
-—>*«•- 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
Bedding Out. 
Operations may be commenced in real earnest 
next week in the flower garden, unless the 
weather should prove particularly unpropitious, as 
frequently happens in our proverbially changeable 
climate. It is to be taken for granted that the beds 
have been dug up to the winter’s frost and well 
sweetened. Since then, however, the soil will have 
settled down, and for the reception of the summer 
occupants should be forked over afresh, not necessarily 
deeply, but finely breaking up and pulverising it so 
that the newly inserted plants may take to it readily 
and grow away freely. Finally rake the beds level and 
remove all rubbish. Before a single plant is inserted 
the intending planter should mark off the beds with 
shallowly drawn lines at regular intervals, and also 
make marks at distances in the lines where the plants 
are to be put. This not only regulates the distances, 
but the exact number of plants required for any 
particular bed can be determined. Put all the taller 
plants in the centre, and the smaller ones towards the 
sides and ends—an arrangement which gives the beds 
a regular outline and a neatly finished appearance. 
Pelargoxiums, Lobelias, &c. 
The stock of plants at the amateur’s command is 
usually not very extensive, especially where there are 
no glass structures for the preservation of tender plants 
in winter. Those who are possessed of a greenhouse 
and a few cold frames, can, however, accomplish much 
with such things as Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, Lobelias, 
Tropseolums and such-like things. A cold frame will 
accommodate Echeverias, Yiolas, Pansies, Calceolarias, 
and a host of other subjects. Many beautiful plants 
may also be raised in cold frames and planted out now, 
capable of adorning the garden of a king as well as 
that of the peasant. We need only mention Dianthus 
chinensis and its numerous garden forms, including 
D. c. Heddewigii, and D. c. diadematus, Saponaria 
calabrica, Marigolds in variety, Carnations, Pinks, 
Rhodanthe Manglesii, Heliehrysum bracteatum (the 
two latter are Everlastings, the Immortelles of the 
French), Stocks, Asters, and a host of other things, 
which a little forethought, bred of a love for the plants 
themselves, will have led the amateur to sow in pots 
or pans during the months of March and April. By 
this time they should be well hardened off by tilting 
off the lights, and subjecting them to the dews of 
night. Be careful that every plant has been thoroughly 
watered some little time previous to planting, so that 
the plants may not only lift with a good ball of soil, 
but be in a condition to bear transplanting into their 
new quarters in the beds. Those in pots even should 
not be overlooked in this respect. The forking up of 
the beds will generally bring fresh soil to the surface, 
so that, as a rule, no watering will be required before 
planting. 
Axxuals. 
How often might a bed or patch in the border be 
rendered beautifully gay for weeks together by the 
judicious and proper planting or sowing of a few 
annuals ! Yet times without number we see the 
attempt made, only to end in failure, or at most to 
exhibit an ephemeral display of flower during warm 
weather, owing to the crowded state of the plants, 
which causes them to develop one or two trusses of 
bloom, and then run to seed. Even should the seeds 
appear bad when sown, inducing the sower to put 
them in thickly, the seedlings should be properly 
thinned out after they have produced a few rough 
leaves, and the reward will come in due time by the 
growth of dwarf, sturdy, branching plants, the side 
shoots of which will keep up a display for a long time. 
Avoid sowing mixtures of annuals in the same rows, as 
no good can come of it. All have different habits, 
different likings, and grow to different heights, so that 
the rows of mixed annuals may be compared to so many 
battlefields, in which their occupants destroy one 
another in the life-and-death competition for possession 
of the soil. 
Now is the time to thin out judiciously all things 
that were sown last month, and are now growing as 
freely as the dry nature of the weather and the cold 
nights will allow them. Transplant Wallflowers before 
they become too crowded, and perform the operation of 
planting during a wet time, or when the ground has 
been thoroughly saturated with rain. Larkspurs, 
Candytufts, Evening Primroses, Foxgloves, Godetias, 
Clarkias, Catchflies, Pimpernels, and Phlox Drum- 
mondi, if sown outdoors, should all be thinned before 
the seedlings become drawn and spoiled. Limnanthes 
Douglasi, and blue, spotted, and purplish black Nemo- 
philas, are also a few of the fine things that no garden 
should be without, and now call for timely attention. 
Hoeixg axd Weeding. 
Much labour will afterwards be prevented if the spring 
crop of weeds is vigorously kept under by the application 
of the hoe and hand-weeding. The Dutch hoe is the 
most useful tool for this purpose, and may be had of 
various sizes to suit different requirements. Small 
hand hoes may be used in other cases where the space 
between the lines is too narrow to admit of a larger 
implement. Between and amongst the plants them¬ 
selves weeding as well as thinning will have to be 
executed by hand. After this operation, it will prove 
of great advantage to run the hoe between the lines, so 
as to loosen up the soil after treading. This will 
prevent the latter from baking, and greatly encourage 
growth. It is needless to remark that the most ad¬ 
vantageous time for these operations is when the surface 
is dry, as then the weeds soon die, whether they are 
removed or not. 
-- 
THE BROWN WEEVIL. 
Will you allow me-to call the attention of fruit 
growers and gardeners to this enemy, which has 
hitherto been overlooked by cultivators ? It is a small 
earth-brown beetle, which being nocturnal in its habits, 
is not often detected. Its habit is to climb up the trees 
and bushes in the twilight, and to devour the young 
buds as they appear. In May, until the buds sprout, 
the weevils will eat away the bark from the ends of the 
shoots, more especially from the sharp angles left in 
pruning, leaving the ends bare. Its attentions are not 
confined to one kind of tree, as it may be found upon 
fruit, nut, and many ornamental trees, which in 
isolated specimens it will denude of its buds, so that 
the trees appear dead. It also affects Roses, and can 
be found on Rhododendrons, Laurels, and such large¬ 
leaved evergreens, where it confines its attention to 
young tender leaves, which afterwards assume a 
jagged appearance. 
It is not a new insect, but has always been a native, 
and has spread over the whole country, and my object 
in calling attention to it is to state that tar and 
similar substances placed on the bark will not arrest its 
progress, and the only effective remedies are :—First, to 
catch them by night. One man carries a lantern, and 
another holds under the trees a net or white cloth, and 
the other throws the lantern on the tree, when they at 
once fall; the remainder (in the shady parts) will fall 
on a sharp tap being given with the hand. The 
insects can then be collected and killed with hot water ; 
they are so tenacious of life that none of the usual 
remedies will kill them. In fact, by accident some 
were shut up in a tin box for twelve months, and then 
came forth lively. Second, they may be killed in the 
earlier stages by ramming the soil tightly round the 
stem of the tree or bush, and thus smashing them, 
but as they become perfect insects they are tough, 
and will stand a great deal without injury. 
Third, the soil round the trees may be made smooth 
with the foot, and a few flat stones or clods of 
earth may be laid on it. The insects will crawl 
under this in the daytime, and can be caught by 
lifting the clods and watching the soil; at first none 
may be seen, as they are so nearly the colour of the soil, 
but they will soon move to get away from the light, 
and then can be detected and caught. In my opinion 
the orchards suffer most when a plantation of Rasp¬ 
berries, Currants, or Gooseberries have been removed, 
as the insects then concentrate their efforts on the 
remaining trees. As a rule, they are not so abundant 
in grass orchards ; cleanliness is very important, as they 
winter in tufts of grass, &c. 
It only remains for me to say that its Latin name is 
Otiorhynchus tenebricosus, and its allies, 0. picipes 
and 0. sulcatus, are also found on the same deadly 
work in its company—the latter is occasionally trouble¬ 
some in vineries. As the insect is now at work, prompt 
measures should be taken, as they will soon pair and 
lay eggs. Like other insects, it passes through an egg 
state ; a larva or grub state ; a chrysalis ; and emerges 
as a perfect insect or imago in April or May, according 
to the weather. In the grub state it also does much 
damage to the roots of trees and plants. — George 
Bunyard, The Old Nurseries , Maidstone, 
-- 
NOTES FROM NEW SOUTH 
WALES. 
Orange Culture. 
I was much interested in reading the note on Orange 
cultivation in England in The Gaedexixg World of 
February 25th. This industry is largely carried on 
round Sydney, especially in the Parramatta and Lane 
Cove (Gordon) districts. Some fruit from the former 
place has been sent to London, but not with very 
encouraging results, I believe, in some cases. The 
sort most esteemed here is the Navel (Bahia), but it is 
little grown, as the tree is not prolific. These Oranges 
are often retailed at 6 d. each in Sydney. 
No one now thinks of planting any trees but those 
worked on stocks, and budded ones are most in favour. 
If grafted, rind-grafting is said to be the only satis¬ 
factory process. The wood of the stock must not be 
split, sloped, or notched, as in grafting Apples, &c. 
The wood of the Orange is said not to unite freely with 
that of the stock unless budded. The favourite stock 
is that known here as the Common Lemon, and is used 
for the whole Citrus family. Whence it came I have 
never been able to ascertain ; it appears to be a hybrid, 
and the surface of the fruit is very uneven ; the “nose” 
is not so prominent as that of the Lemon ; the skin 
and flesh of a deeper colour, and only moderately acid. 
The tree is hardy, surviving misfortunes and neglect 
which would be fatal to Oranges and true Lemons. 
At Gordon I saw fine Orange trees from seed, fourteen 
years old, which were only just bringing a crop, whereas 
the worked trees will bear in about four years from the 
time the stock seed is sown. The stocks are, of course, 
all seedlings. I shall, perhaps, be sending some plants 
home next winter or the following, and if auy one 
should be desirous of trying this stock, I shall be 
pleased to include some small seedlings of it. There is 
a large-fruited kind of Tangierine grown here, and 
known as the Thorny Mandarin, which is of exquisite 
flavour when ripened on the tree, but it would not 
stand a voyage, as it soon becomes dry and insipid. 
The tree is very prolific. Another sort, of not so fine 
flavour, is the Emperor Mandarin. I presume both 
have been imported direct from China. 
