June 9, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
645 
DENDROBIUM SPECIOSUM VAR. 
HILLII. 
The typical form of this plant is not particularly 
desirable, because its small buff-yellow flowers do 
not expand profusely as a rule. Their great number 
and their fragrance, however, offer some compensa¬ 
tion for their lack of value in other directions. The 
variety Hillii is the best of all the forms of it that 
have yet been introduced, and not only so, but pro¬ 
duces the largest and most massive spikes of any 
species of Dendrobium yet seen in cultivation. The 
accompanying illustration, for which we are 
indebted to Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, 
shows the habit of a well flowered plant very much 
reduced, and on the right a portion of a spike 
more nearly natural size to show the form of the 
individual flowers, with two views of the lip. The 
stems of the type are g ins. to 12 ins. long, and bear 
three or four leathery leaves 8 in. to 10 in. long at 
INSECTS ON FRUIT TREES. 
The Board of Agriculture being advised that cater¬ 
pillars and other insects are now present in numbers 
on fruit trees, consider it desirable to re-publish the 
following information with regard to remedial 
measures to be taken against them, which have at 
various times been suggested in particular cases :— 
Upon examination of fruit trees, and especially 
Apple and Damson trees, it will be seen that many 
caterpillars are at work eating the forming fruit and 
the leaves. 
The caterpillars at first are greyish, and so small 
as to escape notice unless attention is specially 
directed to them, but they can be found in alarming 
numbers in many orchards and fruit plantations, 
and it is most important that steps should be taken 
at once to check their progress. 
In the later stages the caterpillars are light green, 
and nearly three quarters of an inch long. 
Firstly.—It should be noted that syringing the 
4 th .—8 lbs. of soft soap and 2 lbs. of finely 
ground hellebore, and a quart of paraffin, boiled and 
well stirred together. This is sufficient for 100 
gallons of water. 
The soft soap is dissolved in a tub with hot water. 
The quassia chips are boiled in water and put into 
another tub. Where paraffin is used it should be 
well stirred up with boiling soap and water before it 
is mixed with the cold water. Water carts, ordinary 
barrels, or wine casks set upon frames with wheels, 
should be brought full of water to where the 
materials are being prepared, either at the farm 
buildings or in an extemporised shed with a copper 
in it, and the requisite amount of soft soap and other 
ingredients added. The Eclair and other similar 
hand machines can be used for small Apple trees. 
Plum and Damson trees, and for Filbert and Cob 
Nut trees, which are also badly infested. 
It is important that syringing should be done at 
once, as to be effective it must be commenced early. 
Dendrobium speciosum var. Hillii. 
the top. The variety Hillii differs in having longer 
stems and leaves when the plant is grown to its 
fullest capabilities, when as many as five leaves may 
surmount the stems. The massive racemes are 
also longer and more densely set with bloom ; as many 
as three of them are often produced from near the 
top of the stem, so that a well-grown plant is hand¬ 
some indeed. The flowers are also larger, expand 
freely, and last a considerable time in perfection ; 
they are creamy-white with purple spots upon the 
lip. It is a native of Queensland in Australia, and 
does not seem to extend so far to the south as the 
more typical form. Some of the Australian Den- 
drobes are pretty, while others can only be termed 
interesting and curious, but that under notice is indeed 
showy and well worthy of extended cultivation. It 
has the quality of retaining its leaves while in bloom, 
for they are evergreen. 
The Amateur Orchid Grower's Guide Book. By H. A. 
Burberry (Orchid Grower to the Rt. Hon. J. Chambeilain, 
M.P.). Containing sound, practical information and advice 
for Amateurs, giving a List with Cultural Descriptions of 
those most suitable for Cool-house, Intermediate-house, and 
Warm-house Culture, together with a Calendar of Optrations 
and Treatment for each Month of the Year. In Cloth (Crown 
8V0.5 by7j),price2s. 6d.; post free, 2S. gd. Publisher, Garden- 
IHG World, i, Clement’s Inn, Stiand, London, W.C. 
trees infested with caterpillars has proved advan¬ 
tageous in many cases in previous seasons ; it has 
been more particularly useful in respect of Plum, 
Damson, and small Apple trees. The large old 
Apple trees are beyond the reach of the ordinary 
garden engines used for this purpose, and it is only 
in Hop-growing districts where Hop-washing 
machines are generally used that the systematic 
syringing of large standard trees has been adopted. 
These machines can be moved about easily enough 
in orchards. In plantations, with fruit bushes under 
the standards, it is more difficult to move them 
about and to get the supplies of liquid brought 
through the thick undergrowth. 
The mixtures to be employed for syringing fruit 
trees are— 
ist.—The extract of 10 lbs. of quassia, obtained 
by boiling quassia in water, to 100 gallons of water 
and 7 lbs. of soft soap. 
2 nd.—The extract of 5 lbs. of quassia to 100 
gallons af water, with 6 lbs. of soft soap and 4 pints 
paraffin, well stirred. 
3 rd.—The extract of 5 lbs. of quassia to 100 
gallons of water, with 6 lbs. of soft soap and 4 pints 
of Calvert's carbolic acid. No. 5 . 
Directly there are signs of infestation the process 
should be begun. As the hatching out of caterpillars 
is not simultaneous, but is extended over some days, 
the syringing must be renewed. 
Secondly.—Some fruit growers in several parts of 
the country have tried the arsenical insecticides 
used extensively in the United States and Canada. 
These have not been generally adopted in this 
countryon account of their poisonous properties. The 
time has now arrived when they should be fully tried. 
There are two special substances of this nature. 
The one, " Paris Green," or “Emerald Green," is 
strongly recommended by several American and 
Canadian entomologists. 
Professor Lintner, the Entomologist of the State 
of New York, says that, in his opinion, fruit growers 
who do not use Paris Green as a remedy against 
caterpillars infesting fruit trees are guilty of culp¬ 
able negligence. Professor Lintner believes that the 
produce of fruit land may be doubled by the judicious 
use of this substance. 
A full trial of this is urged. Care must, however, 
be taken to observe strictly the regulations laid 
down for its use, or injury will be caused to the 
foliage and blossoms. 
