February 15, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
381 
A field of thought.—Why is a wrinkled face like a 
well-ploughed field ? Because it’s furrowed with 
care! 
It is, perhaps fortunate that Apples are not culti¬ 
vated at Kew, otherwise the advent of the new Eve 
might possibly complicate matters with the old Adam. 
—Le Vert. 
Percentages of Mistleto on various trees.—Mr. 
Buckmann ( Syme's English Botany ) says that Mistleto 
growing on trees in Britain is found upon the Apple 
to the extent of 25 per cent. ; on the Poplar (mostly 
Black), 10 ; Lime, 4 ; Maple, 3 ; Willow, 2 ; Oak, 1 ; 
Sycamore, 1 ; and Acacia 1. In Herefordshire, Dr. 
Bull says the proportion for the Apple tree must be 
raised, and the Acacia put higher on the list. He 
could only find seven cases of the Mistleto growing 
on the Oak.— J. C. Stogden. 
An effective arrangement.—A bank of seedlings of 
Cypripedium leeanum and allied kinds has been 
flowering in one of the houses of J. P. Bryce, Esq., 
Bystock, Exmouth, since the early part of November 
last, under the care of Mr. W. Swan. Equally pro¬ 
fuse in bloom is a fine batch of C. insigne, amongst 
which Mr. Swan has recently distributed about a 
dozen flowering plants of Amaryllis. The plants of 
C. insigne are large, and the effect of the inter¬ 
mingling of scarlet, yellow, white, and other colours 
in various shades, is most striking and has been very 
much admired by all who have seen it. 
Young gardeners please note.—The open winter 
has greatly favoured garden operations, and Mr. A. 
Pentney, being nothing if not of the modern school 
of gardening, has been taking advantage of the 
favourable conditions to deeply trench a larger por¬ 
tion of the garden at Worton Hall, Isleworth, than 
usual. He also makes a plan of the garden each 
year with the crops marked upon it, and the 
particulars noted with regard to trenching, manuring, 
&c. This forms a handy guide for future reference, 
so that a proper rotation may be observed. Every 
young gardener should pursue a similar course. 
"The Special Culturist.”—This is the name of a 
monthly journal for the farm, garden and house¬ 
hold, published at Melbourne, Australia. The first 
number before us says that the Colony can no longer 
rely on gold and wool—the two staple industries— 
for its maintenance, though the mining will continue 
to be a valuable source of revenue. The aim and 
object of The Special Culturist, is therefore to foster 
and encourage the minor industries, such as farming 
and gardening, but particularly special cultures for 
which the soil and climate of the Colony is well 
adapted. There is an interesting article on 
" Flowers and Scent-Producing Plants ” in this 
first number. 
Swanley Horticultural College.—The women’s 
branch of this institution was opened in June, 1891, 
and the fourth annual report has now been issued. 
It states that the work continues to advance in 
quantity, in achievement, and in scope. We have 
on previous occasions mentioned several of the more 
important successes of the students at various 
examinations and at public exhibitions where the 
produce of the gardens at the College was shown, as 
well as the floral decorations designed and exhibited 
by the women students. Scholarships for both men 
and women are offered by the Essex, Kent, and 
London County Councils. The applications for 
women gardeners continue to be more numerous than 
can be supplied as time has not yet permitted the 
training requisite. Some of those that have already 
passed through the college are doing work in the 
home garden, or as market gardeners, or as head 
gardeners in private establishments. Two are 
employed at Kew ; one diplomaed student at a girls' 
school in the North combines the duties of head 
gardener with those of lecturer on chemistry and 
botany ; and another is head gardener in a philan¬ 
thropic institution for women. The method of instruc¬ 
tion consists of a due combination of practical and 
class-room work. Chemistry, geology, entomology, 
botany, and kindred subjects are taught. The pro¬ 
fessor of chemistry and botany, and the principal, 
reside at the college. Seven professors also visit the 
same and conduct classes. Five practical gardeners 
are employed permanently. Several labourers are also 
engaged, so that no arduous work is compulsory upon 
any student who may be unfit for the same, but all 
evince a desire to acquire a knowledge of the heavier 
work so as to be able to direct subordinates. 
Scottish Horticultural Association. —The usual 
monthly meeting of the Scottish Horticultural 
Association was held at 5, St. Andrew Square, on 
the 4th inst., the president, R. W. E. Murray, Esq , 
in the chair. Mr. Temple, of Carron House, Falkirk, 
read a paper on “ Points in judging Vegetables” 
which was most interesting and was the means of 
bringing out a fair amount of discussion. Mr. M. 
Chapman, Easter Duddingston Lodge, exhibited a 
collection of twenty-four distinct species of spring 
flowers showing the mildness of the season, the 
following being the list :—Lonicera fragrantissima, 
Skimmea oblata, Andromeda floribunda, Berberis 
japonica, Cryptomeria japonica, Daphne Mezereum 
alba, common Hazel, Laurustinus, Pyrus japonica, 
Jasminium nudiflorum, Rhododendrons (2 species). 
Winter Heliotrope, Saxifraga luteo-viridis, Wall¬ 
flower, Winter Aconite, Helleborus in variety, 
Galanthus Elwesii, G. nivalis, Heaths, Primroses, 
Crocuses, Anemone Hepatica, and Scillas, the last 
five kinds being shown in variety. 
Woolton Gardeners' Mutual Improvement Society. 
—The usual meeting of this society was held on 
Thursday of last week at the Mechanics' Institute 
when a good muster of members were present under 
the chairmanship of Mr. R. Todd. The lecturer, 
the Rev. Harold Buckton, selected for his subject, 
" Aphides,” which was illustrated by diagrams, and 
many specimens were shown under the microscope, 
which added materially to the value of the lecture. 
The various species of aphides were fully explained 
as to their colour, form, and habits. Aphis 
destroying insects were enumerated, with the advice 
that they should be encouraged, which would prove 
of some value in keeping down these garden pests. 
A specimen of the South African locust was ex¬ 
hibited by Mr. E. Jones, which was utilised as an 
object-lesson by the Rev. lecturer. A long string of 
questions followed, which were answered by Mr. 
Buckton. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to 
the Rev. lecturer for his valuable instructions.— 
R. G. Waterman. 
Worm-eating Slug?.—Mr. Wilfred Mark Webb, 
F.L.S., the editor of the Journal of Malacology 
has given some beautiful illustrations—in fact, 
the most finely delineated we have ever seen 
—of the three known species of British Testacellae, 
best known to gardeners under the name 
of worm-eating slugs. Testacella scutulum is the 
most common, it would appear, though gardening 
books for many years past would lead us to suppose 
that T. haliotidea was the commonest, if not the only 
British species. The two have really been confused, 
but both these and T. Maugei are very clearly 
defined by Mr. Webb in the December number of his 
well-edited and beautifully-printed journal. These 
slugs are getting known to be friends of the gardener, 
inasmuch as they are carnivorous and not vegetable 
feeders. Mr. Webb acknowledges the assistance of 
The Gardening World, amongst others, in enabling 
him to obtain specimens for prosecuting his 
researches in the economy and distribution of these 
peculiar slugs with a shell upon their back like a 
small finger nail. 
-HE-- 
TWO GOOD PEAS. 
The season is once again at hand for ordering seeds ; 
and as there are so many varieties offered it is some¬ 
times not easy for some to know which are best. 
Especially is this the case with Peas ; there are so 
many fine varieties that it is very difficult to make a 
selection of what one would call the best. I think, 
however, that anyone growing the following two 
varieties, and that in good ground, so as to give them 
a chance, will find them hard to beat. They are not so 
often met with as they ought to be. Veitch’s Autocrat 
is one of the very finest varieties anyone can grow. 
I have grown it for a number of years, and it has 
always been grand in constitution and as a cropper, 
and in every way worthy of a place in the choicest 
selection. Unfortunately I did not manage to get it 
true last season and was much disappointed. 
Boston Hero, said to be a cross between Telephone 
and John Bull, is also a very fine variety. It is 
not offered in many catalogues—at least, judging from 
those to hand ; but it is a grand cropper, almost 
covering the lines with large pods, each having from 
nine to eleven Peas of splendid quality. It is some¬ 
what taller than Autocrat, being from 5 ft. to 6 ft. 
high, a strong grower, and a good show variety. I 
have grown it also for a few seasons, and as a 
companion for Autocrat it is well worthy of a good 
place in any garden where first-rate Peas are a chief 
requirement. Those not already acquainted with 
these two Peas should give them a trial, as I am sure 
if they give them justice they will find the money 
well spent.— Perthshire. 
--*«— - . 
DISEASES AND INSECT PESTS OF 
VEGETABLES. 
(Continued from p. 372.) 
Large White Cabbage Buttterfly. 
The caterpillars of the Large White Cabbage Butter¬ 
fly are also very destructive by eating away the leaves 
till little remains but the skeleton of the plant. This 
caterpillar is easily known by its bluish-green colour, 
with a narrow yellow line down the back, and 
another on each side. In gardens where there is 
plenty of shelter in the way of walls, boardings, or 
dry rubbish of any kind, this pes* is much more 
numerous than in the open fields, such as in many 
market gardens, as the shelter affords the necessary 
means for the caterpillar reaching the chrysalid 
stage. It maybe interested to state that the Butter¬ 
flies come out in about a fortnight from the summer 
brood of chrysalids but not until the following 
spring from the chrysalids that form in the autumn. 
To suggest a complete remedy for the destruction 
of the caterpillar, beyond band-picking and wetting 
the leaves every evening, so as to purge them to the 
bitter end, is more than I am capable of. This, along 
with the slug, is one of the most destructive enemies 
the gardener has to contend with. 
Cabbage Fly. 
The maggots of the Cabbage Fly injure the stem and 
roots by eating holes into them, often causing com¬ 
plete loss of whole plantations. They are easily 
detected when the plants are seen flagging and 
assuming a yellow colour. They are about a third 
of an inch long, round, and rather whitish, and seem 
to abound by the hundred on each infested plant. 
Those that are affected should be pulled up and 
burned immediately they are noticed. Where this 
maggot is troublesome, frequent applications of lime 
water as a preventive might be used with greater 
advantage than in waiting for its first appearance, 
for a certain amount of damage must be done before 
the plant shows signs of distress. 
Cabbage Moth. 
The caterpillar of the Cabbage Moth is another pest 
often rendering the heads of Cauliflower and the 
hearts of Cabbages very unsightly objects by their 
excrement. As mentioned for the caterpillar of the 
Large White Butterfly, no remedy seems more 
effectual than hand picking. 
Cabbage Gall Weevil and Finger-and-toe. 
The Club or Finger-and-toe is one of the most 
destructive diseases which attack the whole Brassica 
family. In many cases the Cabbage plants will be 
found to be affected in the seed-bed with a swelling 
on the stem near the root. This swelling may be 
caused by the fungus alone, or it may contain a small 
white maggot, the larva of the Cabbage Gall Weevil. 
If the latter is the cause of the mischief, and is left 
undisturbed, the maggot continues to feed on the 
woody part of the stem, forming a gall or wart, 
enclosing it until the time arrives for its passing into 
the resting stage, when, previous to this, it cuts its 
way to the outside. 
On the other hand, should Finger-and-Toe be the 
chief cause of the ailment, the disease soon makes 
rapid progress and the swelling continues to*increase ; 
and as air and moisture can easily reach the inward 
portion of the stem, owing to the maggot having 
previously formed a passage, putrefaction sets in and 
the death of the plant is soon concluded. When 
Finger-and-Toe attacks the Turnip the swelling is 
usually immediately below the pulpy part, and often 
attains the size of both hands, and when fully 
matured becomes putrid and smells offensively. 
This disease is often caused by the Brassica tribe 
being too often grown on the same ground, with the 
soil only stirred to a sufficient depth to disturb the 
eggs of the weevil, which are deposited just under 
the surface. A good dressing of gas lime is probably 
the best remedy to apply to land that is badly 
infested; and in ths absence of that, frequent 
sowings of soot would help to secure a crop. 
Carrot Fly. 
The maggots of the Carrot Fly ruin the crop in many 
places. The fly is very small, being less than half 
an inch in the spread of the wings, blackish-green. 
