June 1, 1889. 
THE GARDENING WORLD- 
029 
when the thermometer registered 12° of frost—it was 
lying in a corner of the kitchen-garden. In this instance 
I am positive that if methylated spirit had been used 
instead of paraffin the bug would have been as easily 
and speedily eradicated, and the life of a valuable 
Lapageria would have been saved from destruction. 
It has been asserted that frequent syringing with 
this infallible insecticide will prevent mealy-bug from 
gaining a lodgment on such plants as Gardenias, 
Stephanotis, and similar rambling subjects, and that 
little or no sponging will be required ; but of the 
accuracy of this assertion I am extremely doubtful, 
because I know of several Gardenia houses that are 
syringed regularly with petroleum, and if it were not 
for the periodical sponging, the state of the plants 
would, in a short space of time, be disgraceful. Every 
time that houses are syringed with this mixture, a 
quantity of it cannot be prevented from running down 
the stems and penetrating the soil at the roots, and 
if they sustain no injury from this, the benefit derived 
therefrom is what I yet fail to discover. 
The inconvenience and labour occasioned by the 
removal and re-arrangement of the plants when paraffin 
is used, and the offensive smell that remains for days 
in the houses, are only a few of the objections that 
could be lodged against its use ; but I had better not 
multiply them, lest some of its supporters should think 
that it is with a desire to under-estimate its value that 
I do so. But this is far from being the case, because, 
in my opinion, the benefit derived from its use in this 
respect is so remote, that if it is much minimised there 
will be none left.— J. Peebles. [There is no question 
about the value of paraffin as an insecticide, the diffi¬ 
culty is to make sure of always getting it of the same 
strength and quality, and of getting men to use it in 
the right way. The safer plan is to use some of the 
carefully prepared emulsions that have lately come 
into the market. We are at present trying that pre¬ 
pared by Messrs. Donald & Co., of New Scone, Perth, 
and so far it has answered all expectations.— Ed.] 
--- 
GARDEN INSECTS. 
( Continued from p. 563.) 
Aphides. 
We shall commence the discussion of injurious insects 
by looking at the Aphides family, which contain 
numerous kinds of aphis ; and, in fact, almost every 
plant has its own peculiar kind. The Aphides belong 
to the order Homoptera, which means “ same-winged,” 
and we shall find that both fore and hind pair of wings 
(when present) are alike in shape and size. They 
belong to the division Dimera, which means that the 
tarsus or foot of the insect has only two joints. The 
antennae, with 3even joints, are invariably long and 
slender ; the body is small in size, and soft, with a 
peculiarly constructed mouth or proboscis with three 
joints, suitable for sucking out the juices of plants ; 
having this feature, it belongs to the “ Haustellata’’ 
class. There is one remarkable peculiarity connected 
with them—that is, that they are “ parthenogenetic,” 
and that during the greater part of the year, pairing is 
not necessary for the production of young. In autumn 
both males and females are found, and after pairing, 
the female lays a number of egg-like pupae, which 
produce in the spring female Aphides, which in turn 
produce perfect females, and so on till autumn by vivi¬ 
parous production. The individuals of the last birth, 
instead of being females, are of both kinds, mostly 
winged, the males arriving just at the time they are 
required for pairing. After briefly reviewing the 
general characteristics of the Aphides, we will notice a 
few of the principal kinds. 
The Bean Aphis, or Black Fly (Aphis rumieus) com¬ 
mences, as you are all aware, at the most tender part, 
and by rapid propagation it spreads, if not destroyed, 
all over the plant, thereby producing disease and ulti¬ 
mately death. The attack is commenced by the wing¬ 
less ones, and then by those having wings. The whole 
of the species seem to attack plants in the same manner 
and have similar features ; they block up the pores of 
the leaves, which prevents transpiration and absorption, 
things necessary for successful plant culture. 
The “Jumping Plant Louse” is an insect nearly 
allied to the Aphides, known in Germany as the Pear- 
sucker. It belongs to the genus Psylla, containing 
many species. The size of the male is 1-10 in. long, 
and the female 1-7 in. They do their work like the 
Aphides, suck the sap of plants, and discharge their 
excretions all over the same. They chiefly attack Pear 
trees, but sometimes the Apple, if circumstances are 
suitable. The mature insects conceal themselves in 
winter under the bark and other suitable hiding places, 
and readily emerge forth in spring to again perform 
their destructive operations. The next of the Aphis 
kin is the Aleyrodes, commonly called the Snowy Fly, 
which may be seen in the season like showers of snow. 
One peculiarity is that they breed in winter as well as 
summer. The eggs laid by the female hatch in about 
twelve days. They chiefly attack the Cabbage family. 
Cocci, or Scale Insects. 
These belong to the same family as the Aphides— 
viz., the Haustellata, and to the same order, Homoptera. 
The females and larva; are the hurtful members of the 
family, while the males when fully developed do no 
harm whatever. Males are very unlike females ; they 
possess two delicate wings, six legs, and usually, but 
not always, two slender filaments at the hinder end of 
the body. They have no mouth, and consequently 
cannot take in food. They seldom live more than a 
few days, their sole function being to fertilise females. 
In certain species both winged and wingless males are 
found. The females develop from larvse of an oval 
form which possess the usual appendages, and are 
protected by a scale-like covering on the back that is 
brought about either by the excretions from the body 
or by the cast-off skins. When once the larva fixes 
itself in a suitable part of the plant it never leaves the 
spot. As it develops it undergoes great alterations in 
structure, the body becoming rounder and the other 
parts almost or entirely disappearing. In certain 
species they are like Aphides viviparius. We have a 
large number of species which attack both outdoor and 
indoor plants, and would involve us in a lecture by 
themselves. One writer gives the average size as l in. 
in length. 
Earwigs (Forficula Auriculauia). 
These troublesome pests are well known to the Chry¬ 
santhemum grower as being very destructive. They 
belong to the Mandibulata class, and according to some 
the Orthoptera order, whilst others say Euplexoptera. 
These insects attack ripe fruit in addition to plants 
and flowers. At certain times the Earwigs migrate 
from place to place in great numbers—a fact which 
clearly accounts for their being more numerous in some 
seasons than in others. The size is said to average 
I in. in length. The female after laying her eggs does 
not leave them like most insects, but actually broods 
over them similar to a bird, and sits on her young after 
they are hatched. There are but two or three species 
in England, and are distinguished by having a three- 
jointed foot and a forceps-like terminus to the body, 
Forficula meaning pincer-like. If insufficient food is 
given them they will eat any of their family that dies, 
but only under such conditions. They are very 
voracious during the larva and pupa state. The 
Earwig has four wings ; two are membraneous, and 
when folded lie beneath the others, which are very 
short, of a dark colour and horny texture. 
Cockroach (Blatta orientalis). 
One remarkable thing is the cleanliness of this animal. 
If some syrup or grease be placed upon the antenna; of 
the insect, and the latter watched, it will be seen how 
diligently and cleverly it performs its work. In a 
mature state the male has wings extending only half 
the length of the body, whilst the female possesses only 
rudimentary wings. Her eggs she carries about in an 
oblong case fixed to the abdomen by a sort of gum. 
The tarsus or foot has three joints. 
Red Stider (Tetranychus telarius). 
This subject is not, strictly speaking, an insect, for 
instead of having only six legs it possesses eight. 
Then, again, it is rather different to the ordinary 
spider, for its body and abdomen are in one continuous 
piece, instead of being jointed by a thread-like con¬ 
nection. These mites are so small that they are scarcely 
discernible by the naked eye. They spin their webs on 
branches, trunks, and leaves of trees, on which they 
travel, drawing from the plant its juices with their 
suckers, and where a number are collected together, 
great injury is done to the plants in a very short time. 
The eggs are oval in shape, colourless, and are found 
on the webs upon leaves. The larva hatches from the 
eggs in about eight days, and is much like the parent, 
except that it has only three pairs of legs, and acquires 
its fourth pair with a change of skin. One peculiarity 
is that two pairs of legs bend forwards, and the other 
two pairs backwards. At the end of each foot it has 
bristles, which are globular at the tips, and assist the 
Spider in moving on smooth surfaces, which it can only 
do with great difficulty. It fastens its eggs to the 
web by some glutinous secretion.— S. Heaton. 
(To be continued.) 
-- 
THE BRIARS, CHISLEHURST. 
Bounded on two sides by Chislehurst Common, with 
its rural scenery and pure air, is the home of T. R. 
Watt, Esq., who is the possessor of a collection of 
Orchids, which has been enlarged considerably during 
the past year, and which contains a good number of 
plants in bloom at the present time. A fine new house 
for Cattleyas, which was erected last summer, appears 
to suit its occupants admirably, and in it I found three 
varieties of Cattleya Mossi® in flower, of extraordinary 
merit, besides a good sprinkling of other good varieties. 
The three under notice most nearly resemble Cattleya 
Mossi® Williamsii and C. M. aurea grandiflora, the 
third being a fine form with rose sepals and petals, and 
very rich lip. 
About a dozen plants of C. Warnerii, in baskets, 
were just opening their flowers, one of them being of 
very decided merit, while C. chrysotoxa had a sheath 
coming along. In the new Odontoglossum house there 
is a nice display, including some fine forms of 0. 
crispum, one with mauve spots being specially attrac¬ 
tive, while another was identical with O. crispum 
fastuosum ; several good distinct varieties of 0. Ander- 
sonianum were also in bloom, as well as 0. Pescatorei, 
0. facetum, fine ; 0. Ruckerianum, 0. Rossii majus, 
and various Masdevallias. In another house I found 
Anguloa Ruckerii sanguinea, A. Clowesii, Cypripedium 
Godefroy®, C. bellatulum, C. Lowii, C. Dominianum, 
and others. Dendrobiumsare makingfinestronggrcwths, 
including good plants of D. nobile nobilius, D. n. 
Cooksoni, I). Leechianum, and D. n. Sanderianum, 
among which was a plant in flower of Oncidium 
Kramerianum, with petals g of an inch wide.— JV. P, 
Chrysanthemum maximum (true). 
