428 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
March 6, 1897. 
grew Perhaps you may find a good row of Peas. 
I have known men grow only a few, just enough to 
obtain a dishfor show, cutting plenty of others off, just 
that they might get plenty of pods to show, this being 
all they require. This is the same withTomatos. If 
people thin out the fruits, well may they expect to 
get some fine samples and make a good dish. There¬ 
fore, if these things were put to the test, and say 
Jones has a splendid dish of Tomatos to-day before 
the committee. Yes ; then let it be grown by some 
two or three practical men under just the same 
treatment with another sort which is thought as good 
as this noted seedling, and a prize be offered for the 
best dish of either, to be shown at a proper date, 
which may be fixed by the said committee. This 
would, in my opinion, bring out the true quality of 
these things, and the members of the committee 
would have a better chance of judging for themselves 
which was the better variety.— J. L., P. 
-- 
INSECTS INJURIOUS TO PLANT LIFE. 
The fortnightly meeting of Reading and District 
Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Association was 
held in the Club Room, British Workman, Reading, 
on Monday evening, when Mr. T. Neve presided 
over a very large attendance of members. After the 
usual business had been disposed of and five new 
members elected, Mr. P. H. Foulkes, B Sc., 
Edin., of the staff of the University Extension 
College, Reading, gave an exceedingly interesting 
and practical lecture on " Insects injurious to Plant 
life.” 
Mr. Foulkes, in opening his subject, dealt with the 
great damage done annually by the various pests, 
and drew attention to the fact that the annual loss to 
the country runs into thousands of pounds sterling. 
In instancing some of the most noticeable pests, he 
quoted the Hop aphis as doing damage in one year to 
the extent of £500,000. Besides true insects there 
is a number of pests which do a great deal of 
damage, the most noticeable of which are the eel- 
worm and red spider. Passing on to.the distinguish¬ 
ing features of insect attack, he dwelt on the different 
stages of an insect’s life, how in some cases the 
damage is done in the larvae or grub stage, in the 
mature stage, and in some cases insects are capable 
of doing damage in both stages. 
Of the various kinds of attack there are those 
insects which attack the seeds, flowers, the seedling 
leaves, and the mature leaves ; those which live on 
the roots and underground stems, and also those 
which live in the stems and boughs of trees, 
Reference was made to the conditions which are 
essential if the various stages of insect life are to be 
successfully passed, conditions which are just as 
much required as are those necessary for the ger¬ 
mination of seeds. Of these, shelter, suitable food, 
and warmth are most requisite. The fact that in¬ 
sects are not so lowly organised as is generally 
believed, was shown by the statement of Linter, as 
to the presence of certain organs of scent of many 
insects, by means of which an insect can detect its 
food when a long distance off, hence insects often 
make their appearance on a field after theweeding and 
thinning of a crop, the bruising of the plants result¬ 
ing in the operation causing them to give forth a 
smell, which no doubt attracts the insects. 
The lecturer touched upon the resemblance of 
fungoid growths to the results of insect attack, and 
showed this more clearly by throwing on the screen 
photographs of Swedes which had been attacked by 
“ finger and toe," and Swedes which had been 
attacked by the “ Turnip Gall Weevil.” The habits 
of insects as to appearance and time of feeding were 
also dwelt upon, as well as the manner in which an 
insect fed. 
Passing on to the types of insects, aa account of 
the life, history, and habits of the Winter Moth was 
first given. No insect is a better example than this 
one of the value of knowing the habits and charac¬ 
teristics of a pest, when adopting measures for pre¬ 
vention and remedy of attack. In this case it is 
known exactly when the moth will appear, when and 
where the eggs are laid, and when the caterpillar 
will come out to do the damage. Knowing these 
features, the gardener was in possession of valuable 
facts which he could make use of to overcome the 
pest. Passing over the various measures adopted, he 
showed by the aid of the lantern a useful form of 
moth guard for preventing the female moth climbing 
up the trees to lay her eggs, 
The eelworm was next taken as a type of garden 
pest. Pictures were put upon the screen, showing 
the attack on Cucumber and Tomato roots, as well 
as the various life stages of this pest. In dealing 
with the measures of prevention and remedy, he in¬ 
stanced among others the use of " capture ” plants as 
a means of clearing the ground of the eelworm ; a 
practice which has been adopted in Germany on a 
large scale, with considerable success. In concluding, 
the lecturer said that, though we knew the habits 
and characteristics of a number of our pests,yet there 
was a great deal of information still to be obtained, 
and he pleaded for the help of those, who by their 
natural habits and calling were continually coming 
into contact with insect pests. A number of questions 
were asked as to the chafers, Vine Weevils, Crickets, 
&c., and an interesting discussion followed, in which 
Messrs. Bradley, Neve, Callaghan, Webster, Martin, 
Hobbs, Clarke, and Dearlove took part. 
On the table were some bunches of Princess 
Beatrice and Gloire du Bourg Violets (the latter 
being exceedingly large and sweet scented) brought 
by Mr. Lever, The Gardens, Hillside ; a perfect 
head of flower of a hybrid Clivia, raised by Mr. 
Bright, of Whiteknights ; and a pot of blue Primrose 
(Wilson junr.) from Mr. Osborne, Holme Park 
Gardens ; whilst an excellent display of insects 
injurious to plants, seeds, and trees, &c., was 
exhibited by Mr. H. Ham, of the Reading Natural 
History Society. A hearty vote of thanks was 
accorded to Mr. Foulkes for his lecture, and to 
those who had brought the flowers, &c., for the 
inspection of the members. 
-4.- 
NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
Guide to Vegetable Culture. Intended for 
Amateurs and Cottagers. W. Drummond & 
Sons, Ltd., Stirling. Eighth edition revised. 
As the announcement on the cover of this pamphlet 
states, it is an unambitious publication of some two 
dozen pages, and intended to help amateurs and 
cottagers in their initial attempts at the cultivation 
of the more useful vegetables. It is, in fact, meant 
to encourage a love for gardening amongst the work¬ 
ing classes, many of whom we are pleased to say are 
excellent vegetable growers and annually give ample 
evidence of their prowess. 
The pamphlet gives brief directions for the cultiva¬ 
tion of at least forty-four different kinds of vegetables, 
salad plants, herbs, etc., and even includes fruit tree 
management, also Currants, Gooseberries, Rasp¬ 
berries, Strawberries, and Tomatos. Peas, Broad, 
French, and Runner Beans first receive attention, 
and besides cultural directions, the quantity of seed 
necessary for a given length of row is also given. 
The author states that the old method of allowing 
only 3 ft. to 4 ft. between the rows of Peas is not a 
good one. A space of 12 ft. to 20 ft. between every 
two rows should be given, and the space between 
filled with other and dwarfer kinds of vegetables. 
This will undoubtedly give every row the best chance 
of producing a full crop by proper exposure to light 
and air. Asparagus, Beet, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, 
Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, and Celery are all 
dealt with in succession. German Greens or Borecole 
constitute the most popular of all winter vegetables 
in cottage and farm gardens in Scotland. We see 
no reason why this vegetable should not have been 
spoken of under the name of Scotch Curlies or Kale, 
for it is one of the oldest of vegetables cultivated 
there. It is undue modesty to use a foreign name 
for the oldest and best known vegetable. Leeks, 
Onions, Parsnips, Mushrooms, Rhubarb, Seakale, 
Spinach, Salsify, etc., are not forgotten. The 
chapters are necessarily short, but once their lesson 
has been learnt, a more extensive or exhaustive work 
may be secured. The pamphlet may be had gratis 
by post on application, as well as four other works of 
a similar description on other branches of gardening. 
Sweet Peas Up-to Date : with a Complete 
Description of all known Varieties, Including 
Novelties for 1897. By Rev. W. T. Hutchins. 
Published by W. Atlee Burpee & Co., Seed 
Growers, Philadelphia, 1897. Price ten cents. 
( 5 d.) 
The author of this little work of seventy-two pages 
is an enthusiast in his particular hobby ; but enthu¬ 
siast and specialist, nowadays, are almost synony¬ 
mous terms, and both are necessary to develop our 
garden flowers into something above the common 
level. If Mr. H. Eckford, of Wem, Shropshire, was 
the pioneer in this line, the Rev. W. T. Hutchins, of 
Indian Orchard, Mass., U. S. A,, was the first on 
that broad continent across the Atlantic to give a 
lively fillip to the Sweet Pea cause from an amateur's 
point of view. Like all other amateurs who begin 
humbly, yet earnestly, to pry into the secrets of 
Dame Nature, he has met with his difficulties, but 
always proceeds with the view of surmounting them. 
He finishes up a chapter on the latest rules for 
culture, by saying that “ A practical book on flori¬ 
culture must be borne of the failures of the author." 
Many useful hints are given in this same chapter 
about the successful culture of Sweet Peas, and 
otherwise, in soils of a varying character. Heavy 
soils are those which give the most satisfactory 
results with the smallest amount of trouble. We 
may here say that the great heat and drought of the 
American summer, make the cultivation of Sweet 
Peas more or less difficult to manage. We have a 
similar experience during unusually dry seasons in 
the south of England. 
The author advises early sowing to insure a slow 
and steady start. We are precisely of the same 
opinion ; for if the season turns out a droughty one, 
late sowings generally come to grief. A dry and hot 
atmosphere never allows the flowers to attain their 
proper size, shape, or colour, even if they are not 
totally ruined by red spider, which is the worst enemy 
to Sweet Peas with which we are acquainted. The 
author speaks of a minute louse as the latest pest, 
which does not come till the summer is well advanced. 
We are very much mistaken if this, is not a mite. 
Siphonophora Pisi attacks the Sweet Pea, but it is 
one of the largest of the Aphis tribe, and easily kept 
under by forcible syringing. Red spider might be 
managed in the same way if attacked sufficiently 
early and persistently, but not otherwise till the 
foliage is ruined. There is a short but useful chapter 
on watering with clear liquid, while liquid and other 
fertilisers are dealt with in an earlier chapter on 
cultivation. Illustrations of various forms of orna¬ 
mental supports in the shape of trellis work or straight 
wires, stretched horizontally, are suggestive to those 
who care to put them to practical use in well kept 
parts of the garden, or where it is intended to make 
hedges for the purpose of screening one part cf the 
garden or grounds from another. 
The Sweet Pea is a native of Sicily ; but a rose 
and a white variety were brought by an Italian 
botanist, Francois Cupani, from Ceylon, where they 
are said to be native. This pioneer lived from 1657 
to 1711. One of the most interesting parts of the 
book is the list of 105 named varieties of Sweet Peas, 
all of which get a short description and should prove 
serviceable by way of reference to raisers of new 
varieties. Cupid and Red Riding-Hood are depar¬ 
tures from the normal type, the former in habit, and 
the latter in the shape of the flower. Light Blue 
and Purple, and Painted Lady (apparently synony¬ 
mous with Nellie Janes) are stated to date from 1700. 
Aurora and Daybreak are remarkable developments 
in the arrangement of their colours, particularly the 
latter, which shows wavy markings like the feathers 
of some beautifully marked bird. The colours, 
however, are now so numerous, varied, refined, deli¬ 
cate, intense, fantastic, chaste, pleasing, and other¬ 
wise, that the most fastidious and cultivated taste 
could hardly fail to be charmed with one or other of 
them, so that it would be futile further to particu¬ 
larise ; yet improvements continue to be made. The 
book contains numerous illustrations and is well 
worth the money. 
--*•- 
SPRING FLOWERS AT LONG DlTTON. 
Most of our readers are aware that Messrs. Barr & 
Son have for long made a speciality of hardy flowers, 
and know that the nurseries of the firm at Long 
Ditton are a repository where many charming floral 
gems are to be found. The last week in February is 
certainly early to find hardy flowers in any great 
quantity, and we were agreeably surprised to 
find what a wealth of them, both with regard 
to quantity and variety was to be seen. The 
day upon which our visit fell was one of those 
rare occurrences for February, when nature appears 
in her kindliest mood, her sterner and wintry side 
being completely hidden. The air was soft and 
balmy, and the rays of a brilliant sun glanced 
lovingly over the bright faces of the flower children 
he had called into being, and whose bright faces 
