658 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
June 15, 1889. 
upon the Ash,” and that he has succeeded in making 
the Persian Lilac live ten years on Phillyrea latifolia. 
Has anything of this kind come under the observation 
of any of your readers ?— Alfred Gaut. [The Lilac is 
also grafted on the Privet; but neither on the latter 
nor on the Ash does it live long. All the above 
subjects are members of the Olive family, and it does 
not seem so strange that a union can be effected between 
them, when we consider that the Pear may be grafted 
on the Hawthorn (Crataegus oxycantha), on the 
Medlar (Mespilus germanica), the Quince (Cydonia 
vulgaris), and the Mountain Ash (Pyrus aucuparia). 
With the exception of the Hawthorn, however, it may 
be stated that all the others are now regarded as species 
of Pyrus by the Genera Plantarum. The compound 
leaves of P. aucuparia, however, must indicate a con¬ 
siderable difference in histological structure, while the 
bony structure of the interior of the fruit of the 
Medlar shows another striking difference in affinity.— 
Ed.] 
-- 
METHOD OF ROLLING- LEAVES 
BY INSECTS. 
It has no doubt often occurred to gardeners and others 
that leaf-rolling insects, such as those mentioned on 
p. 611, must exercise a considerable amount of muscular 
power in order to draw in the edges of leaves so as to 
form the chamber in which they reside during the 
larval and sometimes the pupa stage of their life. The 
fact is they exhibit no muscular power whatever beyond 
the stretching of the threads which hold the leaves 
together. The operation may easily be observed by 
anyone in his own room by getting specimens of leaves 
containing half or full-grown larvae of Blennocampa 
pusilla, one of the Eose-leaf sawflies. Carefully 
separate the leaves with a sharp knife without injuring 
the larva, and lay the leaf on a table where the move¬ 
ments of the insects can easily be observed, and if the 
experimenter has a pocket lens what happens can the 
more readily be detected. 
In a few minutes after the disturbance caused by 
the unfastening of the leaves has ceased, the insect 
will commence to examine by what means the injury 
done to its habitation can best be repaired. It first 
raises the fore part of its body, and commences feeling 
about for the edge of the leaf, and then finds a firm or 
stable portion to which the other end of its threads 
may be fastened. Having done this, it places its body 
in a middle position between the two, and then com¬ 
mences to move the fore part of its body from side to 
side with great rapidity or celerity, fixing its threads 
with the mouth. No time is wasted in fixing, as the 
threads seem to become glued to the leaves with 
unerring certainty. 
As it moves backwards to bring itself into fresh 
positions, the lines are not all drawn straight at right 
angles to its own longitudinal axis, but many of them 
are fixed to positions backwards or forwards, and 
slightly diagonal to the others, apparently with the 
intention of giving additional strength. Soon after the 
first lot of threads are thus fixed, they commence to 
contract and throw themselves into small undulating 
folds, by which the edge of the leaf is pulled nearer to 
the other place of attachment. Eresh threads are thus 
fastened to the ground already gone over, and they, in 
their turn, contract, making the first ones loose. The 
insect then hauls in the loose cordage, so to speak, in 
bundles, and re-fixes them to the old place of attach¬ 
ment. 
This goes on until the edge of the leaf is close down, 
hiding the insect, which then looks round its dwelling 
to see if there are any loopholes. These in their turn 
are made secure in the same way as the rest, with the 
exception of one opening or door, close to which may 
be found the head of the larva when at rest. Some of 
the more lively species, if suddenly alarmed, make a 
rush for this opening and let themselves down by a 
thread. After the danger is past they elevate them¬ 
selves by means of the thread, catching hold of it with 
the mouth and the true legs alternately, like a man 
mounting a rope by the use of his hands only. 
The caterpillars of the Tortrices, a group of small 
moths, also fasten down the edges of leaves by the 
same mechanism, and being very lively make use of the 
thread to lower themselves with great agility. The 
Pine Beauty moth feeds on the leaves of Pines, which 
in its early stages it greatly resembles, particularly the 
leaves of Pinus Peuce and P. Strobus. The caterpillar, 
however, does net construct a dwelling, but lies full 
length, closely adpressed to the leaf when at rest. 
M hen alarmed it drops down by means of a thread, but 
soon after commences to raise itself in the same manner 
as above described. The body is long and slender, 
with a pair of claspers on the last segments, and by 
means of these it makes bold attempts to climb up the 
thread in the same way as it loops itself when walking 
rapidly on a leaf. It can also raise itself on these 
claspers and the forelegs which are close to them, and 
stands straight and motionless like a leaf, to which it 
bears considerable resemblance, being of the same 
colour.— Insecta. 
-- 
AMERICAN NOTES. 
The Culture of Vegetables. 
A description of the various kinds of fruits and vege¬ 
tables cultivated in the United States, and the methods 
of culture employed, would fill a large volume. A 
country so large, with a climate so varied, admits of 
the cultivation of all but the ultra-tropical. Having 
early vegetables and fruits, such as Peaches, Melons, 
and Tomatos, from the Southern States, and late ones 
from the north (Figs are grown in the northern States, 
where the temperature goes below zero), very few kinds 
can be said to be out of season. 
My notes refer to kitchen gardening as understood in 
England, and practised in the temperate sections here, 
a little below and above latitude 40 deg., under altered 
climatic conditions, and includes varieties which will 
not mature in England for lack of sunshine, and others 
which are not a success here on account of having too 
much of it. As a general rule, the Brassica family 
succeed here only on low moist lands, and in the hilly 
districts where thei-e is an increased rainfall and corre¬ 
spondingly less sunshine. In the trade very few make 
a business of forcing anything except Lettuce, which is 
especially fragile, and cannot easily be shipped to a 
distance. All such as we force could be bought for 
less than they cost to produce, but here gentlemen 
prefer vegetables raised in their own gardens. 
Within a few miles of the city of Boston zero weather 
is no uncommon occurrence, the thermometer occasion¬ 
ally going down to 10° below, rarely 20°, but often 4°-6°. 
If zero weather occurs in England it is nearly always 
quite calm. Here it is rarely so, and that only on the 
10° or 20° nights; with the temperature at 6° the wind 
will often blow at twenty-five miles an hour. Con¬ 
tention with these high winds makes the forcing of 
early vegetables difficult. 
Lettuce about ready to head in November may be 
carried through for winter use in a cold frame ; but for 
my part, plenty of fresh stable manure always being to 
hand, I would prefer to put in a sash or two once a 
month all through, as although we often have much 
snow and cold, yet with increased sun power we can be 
almost certain of getting them to develop into good 
Lettuce, as long as the bottom heat lasts. 
The forcing pits commonly in use are dug 2 ft. below 
the surface, and are lined with planks. On this are 
placed sets of frames, which are mostly divided for four 
sashes, according to the convenience or requirements of 
the grower. These frames are made of 2-in. planks, 
with 1 ft. slope, and lined with leaves or other light 
material which experience has shown to be better than 
stable manure. About February 14th we prepare for 
early Cauliflowers, planting them about March 1st. 
Henderson’s Snowball and Extra Early Erfurt are the 
standard. Lettuce (white and black-seeded Tennis- 
ball), Eadishes, Carrots, Spinach, Kidney Beans, 
Cucumbers, Melons, and Tomatos follow in quick 
succession. 
Work in the open garden is not carried on as at 
home. You can prepare ground at almost any time 
during the winter. We are sure to be frozen in, and 
cannot stir the ground much before April 1st—some¬ 
times not then. The crops follow in about the same 
succession as with you. It is not often, however, that 
early Turnips, Cabbage, and Cauliflowers are a success. 
Late Cabbage of the Drumhead variety does better. 
Sweet Corn—a wrinkled-seeded Maize—in the green 
state, cooked as a vegetable, is a favourite dish with 
everybody, and one which most people readily take to. 
I cannot help thinking that our early varieties, which 
usually ripen by July 1st, should do well with you. 
Might failure be due to the pollen not maturing ? Corn 
becomes impregnated freely in September, and I have 
gathered good table Corn in November in New Jersey. 
I am not surprised you cannot grow Pole Limas ; 
they do not always succeed with us. Melons we grow 
outdoors, but hardier varieties than those you culti¬ 
vate. Tomatos do finely also ; Celery only on moist 
land, except when abundantly watered. It is seldom 
earthed up, but it is stored in sand in cold pits, and is 
blanched during the winter.— T. D. Hatfield, Wellesley, 
Mass. 
FLOWERING SHRUBS. 
Eosa sericea. —Amongst Briar-looking Eoses, few are 
more handsome than this Himalayan species now in 
perfection. It is also known as R. tetrapetala, from 
the fact that unlike the majority of wild Eoses, it has 
only four petals instead of five. These are pure white, 
of good size, and arranged in the form of a Maltese 
cross. The flowers give place to a profusion of fruits of 
a lively scarlet-yellow colour, hardly less ornamental 
than the flowers themselves. The leaves are very fine, 
and consist of from seven to eleven leaflets of small size, 
resembling those of the Scotch Eose or the Austrian 
Briar. The stems are slender and grow to a height of 
6 ft. or 8 ft., so that the plant is admirably adapted 
for covering walls of moderate height. 
Hydrangea scandens. —Usually this is found 
under the name of Schizophragma hydrangeoides. It 
was introduced from Japan in 1879—that is, ten years 
ago—and is considered half hardy, but it will thrive 
satisfactorily even in the London district or farther 
north if planted against a wall. Being naturally of 
climbing habit, a wall or dry bank, or even some 
rocks, are necessary to its well-being ; and if the stones 
are of a soft or porous nature, so much the better, as 
the stems throw out roots similar to those of the Ivy, 
with which they cling to an object for support. Large 
buds are produced in autumn similar to what we see in 
H. hortensis, and from these broad flat cymes of flowers 
are produced in June. They are pure, white, and 
similar to those of the wild types of Hydrangea, or those 
of Yiburnum opulus—that is, the outer ones are en¬ 
larged and sterile, whereas all the rest are small and 
perfect. At a certain stage of their development they 
are appreciably and agreeably fragrant. 
Asimina triloba. —The most of the species belong¬ 
ing to the Custard Apple family (Anonaceae), to which 
this belongs, are too tender for the open air in this 
country, and require either a stove or greenhouse tem¬ 
perature. Although too tender for cold and northern 
districts, it not only grows strongly when planted 
against a wall in the south, but flowers with tolerable 
freedom. Fruit is seldom produced in this country, 
but in its native home of North America it attains a 
length of 3 ins., and being esculent, is eaten by the 
negroes. The flowers are of large size, deep brownish 
purple, and yellow. Different individuals vary con¬ 
siderably, some being pale purple, and exhibiting a 
large amount of yellow. They are produced a little in 
advance of the foliage, but in June, while still perfect, 
the leaves attain considerable size. The leaves ulti¬ 
mately grow to a large size and overlap one another, 
and for the purpose of covering walls may be considered 
more ornamental than the curious flowers themselves.' 
Kerria japonica.— The single-flowered form, al¬ 
though occasionally seen in gardens, is anything but 
common, whereas the double variety, which was the 
first known, and introduced as early as 1700, has long 
been in general cultivation. More recently an improved 
form of this has been disseminated under the name of 
Kerria japonica flore pleno major, with much larger 
golden yellow flowers of great ornamental value. 
K. j. variegata has its leaves margined with white, and 
when well grown is very distinct as a variety. 
-- 
HOW TO MAINTAIN A GAY 
CONSERVATORY. 
(Concludedfrom p. 643.) 
Primula. —For flowering from December onwards 
through the spring months Primula sinensis is in¬ 
dispensable. They may be propagated by division or 
from seed, the latter being preferable, but in the case of 
the double varieties the former is necessary. Seed 
should be sown carefully in April or May, and placed 
in a gentle heat. As soon as the seedlings are large 
enough they should be pricked off into pans or small 
pots and kept close and shaded in a warm house until 
established, when they should be gradually hardened 
off. When ready they should be potted off singly into 
small pots, using a light sandy compost. Watering 
should always be carefully attended to, as a great many 
plants are annually destroyed through want of sufficient 
care in this respect. Primulas should become well pot- 
bound before being shifted into larger pots ; the most 
useful size to flower them in is the 48. 
Besides Primula sinensis there are other Primulas 
that are admirably adapted for the conservatory— 
namely, P. cortusoides amcena, P. japonica, P. verti- 
cillata, and several others. Crowns of these should be 
potted after flowering, and be kept growing in the open 
air until winter, when they should be placed in a cold 
frame. 
Cyclamen. —Seed of Cyclamen persicum should be 
