882 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 28, 1897. 
varieties of the common wasp, Vespa vulgaris, some 
of which are much larger and darker than others. 
Vespa norvegica, the bush wasp, is not so plentiful, 
and Vespa Crabro, or the hornet, seems to have dis¬ 
appeared since the severe winter of 1890. 
There are several species of ants, which are more 
or less troublesome to the gardener. They may, 
however, be got rid of in various ways, either by 
poisoned meat, boiling water, and such like, if the 
same be followed up persistently. 
Siiex gigas, or the giant wood wasp, is another 
formidable looking creature belonging to this order. 
In the larvae state they are said to be capable of 
piercing lead to the depth of a quarter of an inch. 
No wonder then that they make such galleries in the 
Pine trees. The perfect insect lays its eggs in the 
living wood, and there the larvae exist for several 
years, feeding on the interior. The only specimen I 
ever saw alive was one taken in Buxted Park about 
ten years ago. 
Another group belonging to this order is the saw- 
fly, of which we are unfortunately troubled with a 
large number. In some places the Gooseberry and 
Red Currant bushes are infested to such an extent 
that they denude them of their foliage in a very 
short time. They are often mistaken for the larvae 
of the Gooseberry Moth, Abraxas grossulariata. To 
rid the tree of them I know of nothing better than 
syringing early in the morning with clear lime water. 
Pear Saw-Fly, Selandria aethiops.—Gardeners are 
sometimes annoyed at finding a slimy looking leach 
on the upper surface of the leaves, eating away the 
pulp. They are nearly black, and somewhat resemble 
a tadpole. If the slimy substance be removed you 
will observe a caterpillar with numerous feet. They 
usually turn to the pupa state in October, and come 
forth as the perfect insect or fly in June. There are 
also the Pine Saw-Fly (Lophyrus Pine) and many 
others. 
Thysanoptera or fringed-winged—There are 
not many species in this group that are injurious 
to the gardener, but what there are cannot fail to 
make themselves noticed. The thrip, as everyone 
knows, is a terrible pest, and most difficult to deal 
with. How often are the choice flowers of Orchids 
marred by them, to say nothing of fruit and other 
trees ? They must be got rid of at all hazards if the 
cultivator is to do any good. The most effectual 
mode is either dipping or syringing with some 
insecticide. 
Neuroptera or nerve-winged. In this order there 
are but few that do any damage to the gardener, the 
larvae mostly feeding on water plants. There is one, 
however, that ought to be considered his friend, 
namely, Chrysopa perla as the larvae of this feed on 
the aphis. 
Coleoptera or case-winged.—Of all the orders of 
insects the gardener has to wage war against, none 
are more troublesome than this. From the tiny 
Turnip flea and Pea weevil to that of the cock- 
chaffer and Rose beetle, all are foes, therefore we 
have many to describe. There are, however, even a 
few in this order that are his friends, the chief 
amongst the latter being the lady bird beetle, of 
which there are several species ; Coccinella bipunc- 
tata is the most common. 
We will commence by first taking the Rose beetle 
(Cetonia aurata). This is of a beautiful green colour, 
shot with gold. It flies both by day and night, and 
may be taken by hundreds in some places. Here I 
have seen them on bright sunny days clinging in 
scores to the flowers of the Rhubarb, and when caught 
they pour out an objectionable foetid liquid. The 
larvae much resemble those of the cockchaffer, and 
are found feeding on the roots of Strawberiies, 
Grasses, and other plants, often doing considerable 
damage. 
The larvae of the cockchaffer (Melolontha vulgaris) 
may be found in the soil feeding on the roots of 
various plants at any time of the year. They take 
two or three years to grow to their full size, when 
they change to the pupa state, the perfect insect 
appearing in April and May, and continuing with us 
till the end of June. The beetles feed on the leaves 
of the Oak, Elm, and other trees, and when 
numerous strip them of their foliage. 
There are several species of click beetle, that are 
troublesome to the gardener. It is, however, in the 
larvae state they are the most destructive. The 
wireworm, as it is usually called, is the larva of this 
beetle. It has six legs and a sucker foot, the former 
answering to those of the perfect insect, while the 
latter assists it in taking hold of anything. It is the 
mistaken notion of many people that the wireworm 
has numerous legs, this, however, is not so as you 
see. The eggs are usually laid in the earth close to 
the plant, so that when hatched the tiny creatures 
can commence to feed at once. They live in this 
state for three or four years, and usually feed near 
the surface. In the case of severe frost, they burrow 
to a considerable depth, going deeper as the frost 
increases, out of harm's way. When fully fed they 
descend deep into the soil, and change to the 
chrysalis, and in the course of time appear as the 
perfect insect. Of all the many remedies recom¬ 
mended for the destruction of these pests, by people 
who profess to be well acquainted with their habits, 
none is so effectual as good cultivation. As before 
remarKed the larvae feed on the roots of plants. They 
go deep into the earth, and come up again at will, 
there to renew their work of spoliation ; and while 
the farmer and gardener are asleep, their plants 
dwindle and die. I was much amused at a farmer 
who was always complaining about the pheasants 
doiog him so much damage, because, when a brace 
was sent him, on opening their crops, he found 
nothing therein but wireworms. It is seldom on well 
cultivated land that these do serious damage ; but if 
couch grass and weeds abound, then we may expect 
the wireworm to be prevalent. Having described 
the larvae, point them out to the men, when digging 
the ground, and when any are observable they 
should at once be destroyed. Before turf is used in 
gardens it should be thoroughly examined for these 
pests. Gas-lime, salt, and rape dust are also very use¬ 
ful for destroying them. 
Turnip fly or flea.—This is a true beetle, Haltica 
memorum. The wing-cases are very pretty, having 
a sulphur yellow streak running down the middle 
nearly to the tips. It is generally supposed that 
these insects are hatched in spring. This, however, 
is a mistake, as there are several broods in a season. 
The female lays her eggs on the underside of the 
leaves, from which the caterpillars are hatched in 
ten or twelve days. They at once gnaw their way 
into the pulp on which they feed. In six or eight 
days they turn to the chrysalis, from which in due 
course the perfect insect emerges, so that about 
every five weeks there is a fresh brood. It is the 
perfect insect in this case that does the most damage, 
for these lively little creatures gnaw holes through 
the leaves, or if pressed for food eat the plants 
entirely before they are well through the soil. The 
best known remedy is good cultivation. If the 
plants are kept growing by good tilth, and occa¬ 
sionally dusted with lime, the insects will not long sur- 
survive such treatment. 
Weevilsarealsoinsectsbelonging to this order. The 
Apple-blossom weevil (Anthonomus pomorum) is a 
destructive little creature which lays its eggs in the 
flower buds before they expand, causing them to 
wither up. If all such flowers were removed from 
the trees as soon as it is perceived, they are attacked, 
many of the larvae would be got rid of. The weevil 
usually falls to the ground on being alarmed ; there¬ 
fore, if cloths are spread under the trees, they could 
be shaken down and destroyed. There are many 
others of this section such as the Nut Weevil, the 
Pea Weevil, etc., but time forbids me to dwell longer 
on them. 
We will next turn to a class of animals, which, 
though very small indeed, are amongst the most 
destructive of all our garden foes. Red spider is not, 
as some people suppose, an insect, for as before 
pointed out all true insects are divided into three 
parts, and this is not. Insects, too, have six legs, 
but the spider has eight. This pest is of the order 
Acarina to which the spinning mites belong. 
Tetranychus telarius or red spider is ODe of the mest 
troublesome pests the gardener has to contend with. 
It would take too long to describe them here, but if 
anyone will take the trouble to put one under a 
microscope, he will there see them in all in their 
beauty. As these cannot live in a moist climate, the 
best means to their destruction is to keep the foliage 
clean by frequent syringing. It is recommended by 
some to use milk of sulphur, but as the gardener is 
desirous of having everything, particularly his choice 
fruit, as clean and free from blemish as possible, any 
of the known insec'icidesthat leave a sediment should 
be avoided, using only clean water which ought to 
be applied late at night and early in the morning. If 
this be followed up they will not make much head¬ 
way. 
The Currant Mite, Phytoptus Ribis.—This, like 
the red spider, is not an insect, but belongs to the 
same order as the previous named pest. In some 
gardens it attacks the buds of the Black Currant, 
causing them to swell to an enormous size. The 
best remedy is to dig up the bushes and burn them ; 
then procure a fresh stock and plant them on another 
piece of ground. 
Woodlice belong to the order of crustacians, 
which cannot live long in a dry place. They feed on 
both roots, stems, leaves, and fruit, doing considerable 
damage. They may, however, be trapped by placing 
food for them to sat in the bottom of small pots, 
which should be covered with moss. The walls of 
houses should also be washed down with boiling 
water. 
The Julius worms or Snake Millipeds belong to 
the order Myriapods. They are not the larvae of 
insects as some suppose, as they do not go through 
the different stages of metamorphosis, and though 
possessed of numerous legs they never have wings. 
In some instances they have as many as eighty pairs 
of feet. They feed on various root crops, and may 
be caught with slices of Mangolds placed in their 
haunts. Soot water will also drive them away from 
choice plants. 
There are numerous other small animals which the 
gardener has to wage war against, but time forbids 
me to dwell longer on them. I cannot, however, close 
without a brief notice of slugs. Slugs and snails are 
very troublesome ia showery weather, especially 
early in the spring, when things are tender. Of the 
many remedies recommended none is like a fine tilth 
and band-picking. They may be got rid of by dust¬ 
ing the ground with lime during the night or early 
morning when out feeding ; but to be effective this 
must be repeated for several nights in succession. 
Rats and mice and several kinds of birds are more or 
less troublesome ; the latter, however, cannot 
altogether be considered as foes, for they do a con¬ 
siderable amount of good in the way of ridding the 
garden of other vermin. 
Having thus given you a brief outline of our foes, 
I will leave you in hope that it may be possible for 
you not only to find means for their destruction, but 
in the hope that you may have profited somewhat by 
our evening’s discourse ; and trust that we may have 
the satisfaction of learning to assist each other in the 
knowledge some of us may gain. If we only knew 
how numerous our foes were, we should doubtless be 
better armed for their destruction. At the same 
time a study of their habits will no doubt set us 
thinking of that nobler life, wherein, if each and all 
set to work, there is none, not the least amongst us, 
but who could do something to help his neighbour. 
H. C. Prinsep. 
--J-- 
TRINITY ROAD NURSERIES, 
WANDSWORTH. 
The Glass Department here is of considerable 
extent, as, indeed, it had need to be, when we take 
into consideration the important part that underglass 
space plays in the propagation of Roses, Clematises, 
and bedding plants of all descriptions, that Mr. Neal 
yearly turns out by the thousand. In addition to all 
this, there are the tenderer pot plants to be propa¬ 
gated and reared to saleable size, and it is astonishing 
to see the number of this kind of plants that are sent 
out each season. Either the public is growing 
increasingly fond of such plants, and hence the 
greater demand, or else they have treated them very 
badly, and new ones have to be obtained from the 
nurseryman to fill up the gaps. Most probably both 
these causes have to be reckoned with. 
In many gardens the first two or three weeks of 
January are looked upon as being rather a slack time, 
but in a nursery such as that under notice, it is any¬ 
thing but this, as a walk around in charge of the glass 
foreman, Mr. Best would soon have convinced us 
even if we had previously entertained doubts upon 
the point. 
Bedding Plants constitute a strong feature, as 
maybe well imagined when we say that upwards of 
30,000 zonal Pelargoniums are sold each year. The 
boxes of autumn struck cuttings are placed in heat 
towards the end of December, and the tops are taken 
off as soon as they are of sufficient length to warrant 
the operation. The blue Lobelia is another most 
popular subject, and the estimate that over 30,000 
plants in the immediate vicinity of the metropolis, 
will come from the Trinity Road Nurseries during 
