May 9, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
567 
T HE CHINESE ARTICHOKE (Stachys 
lubelifera).—JAMES CARTER & CO. have grown a very 
fine lot of this new Vegetable, and beg to otter selected tubers, 
price Is. per lb., tis. per 7 lb., 10s. OA per 14 lb. Trade price on 
application. An Illustration and full Cultural Directions are 
given in their Illustrated CATALOGUE of sterling Novelties 
Post free to intending customers. 
Royal Seedsmen by Sealed Warrants.- 237 and 23S, High 
Holborn, London. 
OG non BEDDING PLANTS 4 d. per 
/W w 5 vA V/ dozen, all flowered this year; Is. 3 d. worth, 
free. Asters, Stocks, Pansies, Sweet Williams, Musks, Marigolds 
(French), Nasturtiums (tall or dwarf), Convolvulus, Antirrhi¬ 
nums,Gaillardias, Zinnias, Lobelias, Golden Feather, Sunflowers, 
Phloxes. Tomatos, 4 d. per score. Cabbage, Cauliflower, Red 
Cabbage, Lettuce, Is. per dozen. Dahlias, Verbenas, Coleus, 
Fuchsias, Marguerites, Ferns, Veronicas, Spineas, Miltonia 
aftinis.—TURNER, Thatto Heath, St. Helens. 
P ENNY PLANTS. — Begonias, Cyperns, 
Ferns, 'Abutilons, Ice Plants, Isolepis, Fuchsias, Caly- 
cantlius, Maidenhair. Geraniums, Spineas, Tradescantia, Musk, 
Balsams, Cannas, Chrysanthemums, Hydrangeas, Veronicas, 
Deutzias, Coleus, Dahlias, Ivies, Artillery Plants, Mar¬ 
guerites, Cyclamen, Sweet Briars, Honeysuckles, Aralias, 
Sedums, Tradescantias, Heliotropes, Verbenas, Carnations, 
Vallotas, Polyanthus, Auriculas, Sweet Williams, Tobacco, 
12 for is. 3d., or 6 large. Is. 3d. Carriage paid. Cuttings 
half-price. Guide 7.—TURNER, Thatto Heath, St. Helens. 
CACTUS DAHLIAS. 
THE TWO BEST 
NOVELTIES 
or the season. 
DUKE OP CLARENCE, BEAUTY OF ARUNDEL. 
Descriptive Catalogue 
J. CHEAL & SONS, CEAWLEY. 
FERNS A SPECIALITY. 
Awarded R.H.S. Gold Medal, Fern Conference, July, 1S90 ; 
Silver Cup, R.H.S. Show, May, 1SP0 ; Silver Medal, Shrewsbury, 
August, 1S90 ; Silver Medal, Edinburgh, September, 1890. 
The finest collection in the Trade. Partially Descriptive 
Catalogue of 1400 species and varieties free on application. 
ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE (No. 21), 
Containing 120 Illustrations and much valuable information on 
the cultivation of Ferns, ONE SHILLING and SIXPENCE. 
W. St J. BIRKENHEAD, 
FERN NURSERY, 
SALE, MANCHESTER. 
“Nothing Succeeds line Success.'" 
HUGHES’ 
(SOLUBLE! 
INSECTICIDE 
FI TH e 
The most reliable and best of all Insecticides 
for destroying' Insects and Vermin on Plants 
and Fruit Trees, also on Animals, and Birds ; 
and as a Disinfectant & Bleacher in Washing 
Clothes. Full Directi:ns on the Labels of 
each Bottle. 
Sold by Seedsmen £: Chemists, i ’ 6 . 2 / 6 , & 4 / 6 ; %-ga\\on 
7 / 6 , i-gallon 12 / 6 , or less in larger quantities. 
A Treatise on FIR-TREE OIL as an insecticide, its 
application to Plants and Animals, sent post free on 
application to the manufacturer, addressed to 
E. CRIFFSTHS HUGHES, Victoria-st., Manchester. 
Wholesale from all the London Seed Merchants and 
Patent Medicine Houses. 
NEW YORK—A. Rolker & Sons. 
LETHORION (VAPOUR GONE) 
(PATKNT). 
The total destruction of 
Insect Pests in Greenhouses 
is thoroughly secured with¬ 
out the slightest possible 
injury to Flowers or Plants 
of the tenderest kind. It 
cannot fail where the 
houses are secure. 
PRICES—For Frames, 
&c., of 50 cubic feet, 
6(1. ; 100ft., 9(1.; 500 ft., 
Is. ; 1000 ft., Is. 6(1. ; 
4000 feet, 5s. each. 
The public are cautioned against imitations in various forms at 
less cost, as they have in most instances proved to he worthless 
articles, totally unequal to Lethoricn in strength and effect. 
Sole Manufacturers :— 
GO&EY, SOPHIE, FOWLEE Gs So., 
(LIMITED). 
Offices and Show Rooms :— FINSBURY STREET, E.C. 
Manufactory and Bonded Tobacco Stores :—- 
SHAD THAMES, LONDON, S.E. 
Z O V I Sj B O m H M E R 
CHRYSANTHEMUM. 
The most Beautiful and Genuine Novelty of the Season. 
Strong’ Plants, 2s. each. 
H. J. JONES, Ryecroft Nursery, 
HITHER GREEN, LEWISHAM, S.E. 
Send for Catalogue. 
GOLDEN YEWS. 
Fine specimens, 5 to G ft. high, and 5 to G ft. in diameter, in 
various shapes; also smaller sizes in great variety. Many 
thousands to select from. Price on application. 
H. ZiMJ&JEi & SOM, 
The Nurseries, BER KHAMS TED , HERTS. 
ORCHIDS 
Clean healthy plants at low prices. Thousands in 
stock. Please write for List. 
IS. JLo TMACY (late W. Gordon ), 
ORCHID NURSERY, 
AIVIYAND PARK ROAD, TWICKENHAM. 
C HEALS’ DAHLIAS. 
SINGLE, CACTUS, POMPONE, 
SHOW, and FANCY. 
All the Best Varieties in Cultivation. 
A NUMBER OF 
'STJOL'e'iS.lSSSLie NO'SnESLTIiSSS 
FOR THIS SEASON. 
New Descriptive Catalogue, Post free. 
J.CHEAL& SOHSjTbe Nurseries, CRAWLEY 
Old English Garden Flower Seeds. 
For a constant display of Hardy Perennial Flowers, 
consult without delay VERTEGANS’ Special Descriptive 
and Illustrated List of Novelties in Seeds, post free on 
application. 
YERTEGANS (§5 CO., 
THE NURSERIES, 
CHAD VALL EY, BIRMINGHAM. 
FORBES’^ 
East Lothian Stocks. 
My superior strain of these is now in 5 distinct 
sorts, Crimson, Purple, Scarlet, White, and Wall¬ 
flower-leaved White ; each sort, Is., 2s. 6d. and 
5s. per pkt. 
The test and most comprehensive Catalogue (124 pages) 
ever issued on all Sections of Florists' Flowers, free on 
application. _ 
Buccleuch Nurseries, 
HAWICK, SCOTLAND. 
CUTBUSH’S MILLTRACK MUSHROOM SPAWN 
Too well known to require descrip¬ 
tion. Price, 6s. per bushel (Is. extra per 
bushel for package), or G(i. per cake; 
free by Parcel Post, Is. 
None genuine unless in sealed pack¬ 
ages, and printed cultural directions 
enclosed with our signatures attached. 
New publication, “Mushrooms, and 
How to Grow Them,” by Luke Ellis, 
should be read by everyone interested 
in the growth of Mushrooms. Price, 6d., 
free by post, 7 d. 
USIM. CUTBUSH SON, 
Nurserymen and Seed Merchants, 
HIGHGATE NURSERIES, N.; and BARNET, HERTS. 
NO MORE SUNKEN BOILERS BY USING 
T O O fit * O New Improved Patent 
1 U La /"a LA O' Slow-Comhuetion 
WROUGHT COIL and other BOILERS. 
Requires no Brickworl 
is portable within itself. 
or attention from S to 24 hours, and 
Prices from 50s. upwards. 
yCT* TST TP’S Practical Hot-water and 
® ATc. AP'tA Mat ^ Horticultural Engineer, 
399, KINGSLAND ROAD, LONDON (late of 167, Old Street). 
Complete Hot-water Apparatus, with No. 1 New Improved 
Patent Slow-combustion Wrought Coil Boiler, with two 9 feet of 
4-inch cast pipe, india-rubber joints, &c., as per Illustration, £4. 
T O 
Anthracite Consumers. 
I have the pleasure of announcing a reduction in price of my 
Original Horticultural Anthracite. Apply 
WILLIAM H. ESSERY, 
Anthracite Colliery Office, 
S Y&T IL KT S ES A „ 
Next Week's Engagements. 
Monday, May 11th.—Sale of Orchids af Messrs. Seeger is 
Tropp's, East Dulwich, by Protheroe & Morris. 
Tuesday, May 12th.—Royal Horticultural Society : Meeting of 
Committees at 12 o'clock. 
Wednesday, May 13th.—Royal Botanic Society’s Show. Sale 
of Lilies, Plants, &c., at Protheroe & Morris's Rooms. 
Thursday, May 14th.—Oxford Spring Show. 
Friday, May loth,—Annual Great Horticultural Exhibition at 
Old Trafford opens. Sale of Imported and Established 
Orchids at Protheroe and Morris's Rooms. 
For Index to Contents & Advertisements, see p. 578. 
“ Gardening is the purest of human pleasures, and the greatest 
refreshment to the spirit of man.” —Bacon. 
Jjfir. 
SATURDAY, MAY 9th, 1891. 
CURRENT TOPICS. 
7s; he Hardiness of Insects. — The severity 
of the past winter has brought up again 
the old question as to the hardiness of insects 
or the effects of severe weather upon these 
natural enemies. As far as native insects are 
concerned, it may be laid down as an estab¬ 
lished fact that nature had settled the question 
hundreds or perhaps thousands of years ago. 
During that time, and even within the memory of 
some still living, there have been winters severe 
enough to settle the question once for all. 
Notwithstanding this we have no eAudence 
that insects generally have suffered any sensible 
diminution in the summer folloAving a severe 
Avinter. 
The number of destructive or injurious 
insects fluctuates from time to time, and yet 
naturalists are unable to definitively state Avhat 
determines it. History contains allusions 
to various insects Avhicli have entirely defo¬ 
liated gardens and districts in certain years, 
Avhile soon after or even in the season 
folloAving there has been very little evidence 
of them. Natural causes often bring about 
the destruction of the larvae in summer either 
by cold and heavy rains or hail; or their 
natural enemies in the shape of parasitical 
insects increase in such proportions as to 
restore the equilibrium by preventing their 
hosts, the larvae, from reaching the perfect 
state. 
It may be urged that our native birds 
get destroyed in large numbers during severe 
winters; but with equal force it may be stated 
that if supplied Avith a sufficient amount of food, 
there would he comparatively little loss of life, 
except amongst those of failing energy through 
old age. The food question does not apply to 
many of the insect pests, as they are either 
dormant, or become so during frosty Aveather. 
Many of them, Avliether in the larva, pupa or 
perfect state, must often he frozen hard 
together Avith the soil harbouring them, yet 
they come forth in spring with rencAved activity. 
There are certain kinds Avliicli habitually 
hibernate in one or other of the above states, 
and if susceptible to extreme cold they ayouIc! 
inevitably perish in such a Avinter as the past; 
yet such is not the case. Furthermore, when 
Ave consider that many of these pests are more 
common on the Continent than in Britain, 
