October 29, 1892. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
131 
itself, and not until several days of careful scrutiny 
was I able to capture the delinquent or one of its 
associates. On becoming acquainted with its form 
of attack it was not difficult to account for the 
perforated appearance of the vine leaves. Iheir 
modus operand! is to get into the centre of the bud, 
and if, as I expect, they are armed with proboscis, 
they pierce through the whole of the leaves in 
embryo. Ordinary specifics for their annihilation 
were ineffectual, such as sulphur, fumigation, wash¬ 
ing, hellebore powder, and lime dusting. The only 
certain remedy was, immediately on discovery, to 
crush it between thumb and finger. 
Simultaneously its appearance was palpable on 
varied vegetation in the open air. All the main 
or leading growth on Currant trees assumed 
an appearance similar to an attack of red 
spider, followed by a complete cessation of advance¬ 
ment. An examination of these elicited the fact that 
the mischief was due to the same destroyer as on the 
Vine; only, where on the Vine a solitary few, they 
were here in great force. I now began to call to the 
powers of recollection, and to hark back to observa¬ 
tions last season on the same trees. The result was 
the same in every particular—a complete stagnation 
to growth, and in many cases the foliage completely 
dried up as if by burning. My attention was next 
directed to Chrysanthemums in pots; these were 
well established and thriving plants until I had got 
them into the flowering pot, when the battle com¬ 
menced in real earnest. Although I have used all 
the various insecticides, nothing will stop their rav¬ 
ages, and I am fain to confess that they are " masters 
of the situation.” Out of forty plants I have only 
six that are fit to look at, and the flowers of these 
will be very indifferent. But what need to recapitu¬ 
late any further vagaries which have happened from 
the same source to all *he various plants which it is 
my hobby to cultivate ? Suffice it to mention a few 
that were most affected ; Centaurea, Cyanus major, 
Polyanthus, Dahlias, Peas (sweet and edible), Arti¬ 
chokes, and French Beans; the whole of their 
growth was as clubbed as a Cabbage root. Clematis 
Jackmannii, a three-year-old plant with only one 
growth almost as thick as one’s finger, 4 ft. high, 
was attacked, and for six weeks it did not make a 
single leaf, but sent out a weaker shoot below, and 
instead of making twelve or fourteen feet did not 
reach 7 ft. Now, Mr. Editor, what is your opinion 
of the subject? One scientist says it is a "frog- 
hopper ” or spittle-fly, or species of it, in some stage 
of transformation, proceeding from or approaching 
to its destructive season. 
But from close observation of the movements of 
the two, I fail to descry any analogy, either in their 
constructive form or mode of attack. The spittle 
fly is at once visible, although when in great force it 
is not to be despised or ignored; in the other case 
the evil is done before you are aware of the presence 
of the enemy. The spittle fly’s ravages are confined 
to the one leaf or stem, and emerge from the secre¬ 
tion a perfect insect, and in a few days you will find 
a pair as comfortable as doves. The gentleman in 
question, though, is a lively little aphis-like fly, and 
grows rapidly until developed according to specimen. 
Moreover, until provided with wings, it has a happy 
knack of dropping suddenly, and running like a flash 
of light, when it will fly off, " not to be captured this 
time.” There seems to be another feature, too, for 
some are of a brick red colour, but these have not 
survived to be visible for these last two months. 
Now, Sir, I have trespassed at great length on 
your valued space, but surely (whether it be deemed 
a " mare's nest ” or vara avis) the subject is interest¬ 
ing, and one which may in the prospective serve as 
a premonitory warning to all interested in the 
Gardening World ; and moreover, stimulate them 
to a sharp ” look out ” for any such insect life, i. e., 
if they would arrest an invasion which is attended 
with such aggravating results, at least, such one as 
it has been my lot to experience. 
In conclusion (should the exigencies of space 
permit) I would ask your indulgence for an insertion 
ot the foregoing in detail, so that your numerous 
readers may be enlightened as to the existence of 
such a scourge ; or, in the event of its being no 
“new thing,” they may (if so inclined) answer my 
query, " What is it ? ” recount any experiences, and 
moreover such remedial measures for its extirpation 
as the education of practical application may have 
evidenced.— David Hull, Margery Park Road, Forest 
Gate, Essex. 
[The insects received from our correspondent are 
of two kinds, the larger and brown or variously 
marked and spotted ones being Frog Hoppers 
(Aphrophora spumaria). The early condition of this 
species may easily be recognised by the masses of 
white froth, termed cuckoo spit, to be seen in the 
axils of the leaves during the early part of the 
season. They may be destroyed at this stage by 
brushing off the spittle on a warm and bright day so 
as to expose the tender in=ects to the sun. Another 
method is to mix a gallon of water with a table¬ 
spoonful of nicotine and one ounce of soft soap, 
syringing the plants with the. mixture. The plants 
should be washed with clean water afterwards. 
When the insects have attained full size, we find the 
best plan is to go over the plants occasionally on the 
mornings of dull days, and catch them while in a 
dull and inactive state. Shaking the bushes or 
plants should be avoided till a thorough search for 
them has been made. The .small green insect, like the 
last, is also a plant bug, not a beetle as stated. Both 
belong to a group closely allied to the green fly. 
The green one is Lygus campestris, better known 
perhaps as Phytocoris campestris, and is very mis- 
chevious to the buds of Chrysanthemums. The best 
method of combating it apparently is to frequently 
examine the buds and destroy all that can be found. 
It might render the plants disagreeable to the insects 
if they were syringed with quassia water. Boil two 
ounces of the chips in half a gallon of water, and after 
straining add another half gallon of water and use 
the decoction when cold. The insects before us are 
mischievous enough, but we should hesitate to saddle 
them with the damage done to all the plants sent. 
Green fly might have injured the Fuchsias, Pelar¬ 
goniums and Peas ; earwigs had possibly been at the 
root of the evil in Dahlias, and a small mite on the 
Heliotrope. We have had unmistakable evidence of 
all this. The only sure method of determining this 
is to examine the buds and young leaves of all those 
subjects when making their growth in summer. 
Insects of all kinds are busy at work at that time. 
—Ed. ] 
-- 
SCOTTISH NOTES. 
North of Scotland Horticultural and Arbori- 
cultural Association. —The members of this 
association held their first meeting for the season in 
the Christian Institute, Aberdeen, on Wednesday 
evening, 19th inst. There was a good attendance, 
and Mr. C. S. France, president, occupied the chair. 
The presidential address was the first business. 
Mr. France, after thanking the members for again 
electing him president, proceeded to take a retro¬ 
spective view of the work done during the past 
session. He did not think their finances or member¬ 
ship had in any way retrograded ; and the new 
departures that had been made in the association, if 
they had done nothing else, had brought the associa¬ 
tion into greater prominence, and had also allowed 
the members a greater freeness of discussion, which 
was in itself a healthy sign. Mr. France expressed 
personally, and in the name of the association, the 
warmest thanks to Sir Arthur and Lady Grant, and 
Lady Gordon Cathcart and her factor, Mr. Macdonald, 
for their kindnesson the occasion of the association's 
annual excursion. After a reference to the inclusion 
of aboriculture as a branch of the association, he said 
they ought now to devote a little more of their time 
and their energies towards the fostering, encouraging, 
and developing of a better and more extensive love 
for cottage gardening in the country. The time was 
coming when every farm servant would have an 
eighth of an acre at least to cultivate ; and they, as a 
horticultural association, ought to make an appeal to 
the County Councils to devote a certain sum for the 
teaching and encouraging of cottage gardening. 
Agriculture was taught in schools, and he saw no 
reason why horticulture should not be included. 
The spirit of gardening was really one of the most 
blessed and elevating principles of our nature. 
He complimentej the members on the excellent 
exhibits they had shown during the past session. 
Mr. France then touched on the introduction of achair 
of forestry into the University of Edinburgh, which 
had been effected by the efforts mainly of the 
Highland Arboricultural Society. He reminded his 
hearers that the scheme provided that any young 
gardener who wished to attend the lectures would 
receive a wage of 2s. 6d per day at the Botanical 
Gardens, Edinburgh, and would be allowed to take 
the class free. 
Storing the Root Crops. 
To commence with Beetroot; this crop being the most 
easily injured by frost, must be attended to first. 
The roots must be very carefully lifted so that the 
skin is not broken in any way, or any of the little 
sides rootlets broken off. The roots should be 
stacked in a ridge, and after placing on them a thin 
layer of straw, a good thick covering of earth must 
be added to keep out the frost; or the roots may be 
simply packed in sand, or dry earth, in a shed ; but 
I prefer to pit them, and in fact all other roots of 
this class, with the exception of a few for present 
use, as they retain their flavour so much better. 
Next to the Beetroot, the crop of Carrots must be 
attended to. This crop may be left in the ground if 
covered with straw or fern, but as tidiness is a con¬ 
sideration in gardens, it is generally best to lift and 
pit them as directed for Beet. In selecting a site 
for the pit care should be taken to place them under 
a north wall, or where they will get some shelter 
from the sun by trees, as the roots keep so much 
better in the spring when the sun begins to gain 
some power. Carrots will stand a lot of frost, but if 
left unprotected they become sweet like a frozen 
Potato. 
Parsnips are best if left in the ground where grown 
until wanted for use, with the exception that a few 
may be kept in soil in a shed for fear of severe frost, 
or perhaps better still if a small part of the crop is 
covered with partially decayed manure so that the 
roots may be lifted in frosty weather when wanted. 
Chicory and Dandelion roots for forcing for salads 
keep the best if left in the open ground, and the 
same remark applies also to Salsify and Scorzonera. 
—G. II. S. 
Two good Cabbage Lettuces. 
I think all practical men will agree with me that 
during the last few years there has been a great 
improvement in Cabbage Lettuces. According to 
my experience the sorts now in cultivation are much 
larger and much more crisp than those of former 
days. In one or two gardens I have visited this 
summer I have noticed that only Cabbage varieties 
are grown. I noticed this particularly in the kitchen 
garden at Rousden, Sir Henry Peek’s place, in 
Devonshire, where I saw grand quarters of Perfect 
Gem and Neapolitan. The former variety I grew 
when it was first sent out, and have always regarded 
it since as one of the best. The latter is a fine sort 
for summer use, but is not so hardy as Perfect 
Gem. It was not a good summer for Lettuces, being 
so dry.— Con. 
Williams’ Victory Pea. 
Amongst tall-growing, late varieties of Peas the 
variety named above, which was sent out by Messrs. 
B. S. Williams & Son, deserves to be better known. 
During the past season we have tried many varieties, 
and Peas generally did very well with us. For late 
use Victory was tried with several others under 
similar conditions, and gave us a splendid crop of 
Peas of the finest quality and the deepest green 
colour when cooked. It is not one of the deceiving 
large podded kinds which lead one to think that a 
few pods only will provide a meal, but which really 
give so little produce. Victory is the very reverse 
of this ; the pods are filled out right to the end, and 
always give the best results when shelled out.— 
Western. 
Globe A/tichokes. 
Now that We may except severe frost at any time, 
the rough bottom leaves should be removed from the 
Globe Artichokes and a covering of litter placed 
round them, and then later, when the tops are cut 
down by frost, more straw or litter should be placed 
round and over them. This will be more satisfactory 
than if they are allowed to be killed down before giving 
them any protection at all.— G. II. S. 
Tomato Lady Bird. 
The fruit of this variety is globose, and smooth with 
exception of some shallow grooves near the base, and 
of a deep, shining, crimson-red. It is also of great 
depth, borne on long peduncles, or footstalks,- and 
generally, obtusely 3 to 5 angled. It is an exceed¬ 
ingly free-bearing variety, and a First-class Certifi¬ 
cate was awarded to it when exhibited by Mr. W. C. 
Leech, Albury Park, Guildford, at the meeting of the 
Fruit Committee on the 18th inst. 
