438 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAOE  GARDENER. 
May  2n,  18»7 
much  reacuing  tbe  enemy  ;  but  it  often  brings  down  tne  crumpled  leaf, 
already  weakened  by  the  attack  of  its  foes,  and  these  leaves  Bhould  be 
picked  up  and  carried  to  the  fire.  At  the  same  time  I  pick  off  every 
blistered  leaf,  and  let  them  share  the  benefit  of  the  great  destroyer — fire. 
I  doubt  sometimes  by  the  appearance  of  these  leaves  that  there  are 
spores  that  may  spread  the  trouble.  A  diseased  leaf  is  no  help  to  the 
tree,  but  both  a  dis-sight  and  a  spreader  of  mischief.  Shoots  that  are 
covered  with  aphides  may  be  bent  down  and  shaken  in  quassia  or  tobacco 
water,  or  powdered  with  the  powdered  tobacco;  but  out  of  doors  the 
watch  must  be  incessant  and  the  remedy  prompt. 
Then  how  many  ignorant  persons  fond  of  their  garden  kill  their  best 
friends.  The  tits  are  very  fond  of  aphides,  and  though  I  cannot  say 
much  for  the  sparrow,  I  have  seen  him  dining  off  aphides,  or  else  my 
eyes  deceived  me  ;  but  few  know  by  sight  their  insect  friends  who  live 
on  the  aphis.  The  ladybird  is  well  known  in  its  mature  state,  but 
possibly  only  when  red,  but  the  black-and-yellow  small  varieties  are 
equally  useful.  But  if  in  the  beetle  stage  it  is  recognised,  how  many 
persons  know  it  in  its  larva  state  when  it  is  most  useful  ?  Then  it 
somewhat  resembles,  except  that  it  has  six  legs,  a  tiny  lizard  with  a 
short,  thick,  dumpy  tail  instead  of  a  long  one.  Perhaps  in  the  pupa  or 
chrysalis  state,  as  it  does  not  move,  and  looks  only  a  black  spot,  it  escapes 
detection,  and  so  is  saved,  but  if  seen  I  fear  is  often  squeezed  and  put 
out  of  the  way. 
Th6  larva  of  the  lace-winged  fly,  the  lion  of  the  aphis  tribe,  is 
generally  sharp  enough  to. save  himself  and  drop  out  of  the  leaf,  and 
t  hen  these,  alas  !  are  not  very  c  mmon  ;  whilst  the  larvae  or  grubs  of 
t  he  syrphus  flies,  which  would  nearly  clear  a  twig  in  a  night  of  the  aphis 
host,  pays  the  penalty  of  being  like  a  green  grub,  and  is  often  ruthlessly 
destroyed  by  the  ignorant  as  a  good  deed  1  Had  I  as  many  of  these 
1  riends  as  I  wanted,  all  other  insecticides  as  far  as  regards  the  aphis  I 
could  dispense  with ;  they  do  their  work  expeditiously  and  perfectly. 
To  the  uninitiated  i  can  only  say  that  if  they  see  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  aphides  a  grub  which,  when  it  moves,  has  a  pointed  head,  it  is 
probably  one  of  these,  and  worth  to  the  gardener  its  weight  in  silver,  I 
think  in  gold. 
The  Cherry  aphis  is  black.  Tackle  it  early  or  the  ends  of  the  growing 
shoots  will  be  as  black  as  soot,  and  soon  the  stems  of  the  young  fruit 
will  be  black  also  ;  if  then  the  remedy  is  not  quickly  and  effectually 
applied  the  crop  will  be  ruined. — Y,  B.  A.  Z. 
STRAWBERRIES  AT  KNOWSLEY  HALL. 
The  forcing  of  Strawberries  is  carried  out  in  the  majority  of  large 
gardens  with  the  best  possible  results,  but  I  can  safely  say  that  nowhere 
have  I  seen  better  than  those  at  Knowsley,  where  Mr  Doe,  Lord  Derby’s 
gardener,  has  a  show  worthy  of  the  highest  possible  commendation. 
Last  season  they  were  more  than  fine,  but  I  was  little  prepared  to  see 
the  great  advance  made  this  year.  One  shelf,  with  200  plants  in  6-inch 
pots,  each  carrying  from  nine  to  a  dozen  fruits  just  ripening,  was  a 
picture,  and  on  all  sides  plants  in  various  stages  were  to  be  seen.  The 
greatest  treat,  however,  was  left  until  the  laBt,  when  I  was  taken  into  a 
three-quarter  span-roofed  house  containing  four  rows  of  plants  on  the 
front  stage  and  three  rows  on  the  back.  The  leaves  were  of  a  deep 
glossy  green,  and  the  fruit  large,  many  weighing  3  ozs.  each,  and  of  an 
intense  scarlet.  In  all  there  were  300  plants,  each  carrying  about  nine 
large  fruits,  and  all  thoroughly  ripe. 
Apart  from  their  usefulness  the  house  presented  such  a  charming 
appearance  as  to  bt  file  description,  and  it  would  have  been  idle  to 
►uppose  that  such  results  could  have  been  obtained  without  the  aid  of 
judicious  thinning  of  the  fruits  and  careful  feeding  with  artificial 
manure.  Another  important  matter  must  be  kept  in  view — viz.,  the 
superiority  of  the  newer  varieties,  as  it  would  be  utterly  impossible  to 
get  such  a  weight  of  fruit  from  the  older  sorts.  The  variety  I  have  tried 
to  describe  is  Royal  Sovereign,  of  which  more  than  2500  out  of  4000  have 
been  grown.  Mr.  D  >e  informed  me  that  he  could  not  think  of  growing 
La  Grosse  Sucree  again,  and  he  intended  growing  3000  of  the  former 
this  year,  relying  on  Monarch  and  Leader,  as  he  is  now  doing,  for  the 
later  crops. 
That  the  preparation  of  the  young  plants  is  of  the  greatest  importance 
goes  without  saying,  and  Mr.  Dm  is  no  believer  in  waiting  for  runners 
until  the  fruit  is  on  the  plants,  and  the  difficulty  increased  tenfold.  He 
is  already  prepared  with  plants  from  last  year’s  runners,  laid  in  beds, 
6  inches  between  the  rows.  These  lift  with  capital  roots,  and  are  at 
once  transferred  into  their  fruiting  pots.  Where  sufficient  runners 
could  not  be  had  other  plants  are  growing  in  convenient  situations  for 
the  early  supply,  the  saving  of  labour  alone  being  very  great.  In  con¬ 
cluding  I  can  only  say  that  Mr.  Doe’s  system  is  worthy  of  emulation, 
being  sound  and  practical,  and  the  results  of  the  greatest  excellence, 
not  only  creditable  to  himself  but  satisfactory  to  the  noble  family  he 
serves  so  well. 
Although  only  spending  a  few  minutes  at  Knowsley  I  managed  to 
get  a  peep  into  the  handsome  new  conservatory  recently  erected,  The 
painters  were  taking  possession,  but  a  small  half-circular  bed  attracted 
my  notice.  In  the  centre  stood  an  old  Cycas  rovoluta  with  not  an 
inviting  stem,  and  to  clothe  this  Mr.  Doe  had  a  Clerodendron  Balfour- 
ianum  planted  and  loosely  twined  round.  As  the  Cycas  was  resting  the 
shoots  had  been  allowed  to  ramble  at  their  will  into  the  centre  of  the 
plant,  the  beautiful  white  and  scarlet  bracts  looking  delightful  against 
the  dark  green  leaves  of  the  Cycas.  It  was  all  so  natural  that  I  could  not 
refrain  from  noticing  it.  The  remainder  of  the  bed  was  filled  with  small 
dwarf  Ixoras,  which  in  their  turn  command  much  admiration. — R.  P.  R. 
f  CH 
West  of  England  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
The  schedule  of  this  Society,  which  will  this  year  hold  its  annual 
show  in  the  Guildhall,  Plymouth,  on  Tuesday  and  Wednesday,  Nov.  2nd 
and  3rd,  is  divided  into  five  divisions,  besides  which  there  are  several 
special  prizes.  The  principal  class  is  for  forty-eight  Japanese  blooms 
in  twenty-four  distinct  varieties,  the  prizes  being  respectively  £10,  £7, 
£4,  and  £2.  For  a  group  of  Chrysanthemums,  interspersed  with  foliage 
plantp,  the  sum  of  £21  is  offered.  The  former  class  is  open,  while  the 
latter  is  confined  to  the  counties  of  Devon  and  Cornwall.  Besides  these 
there  are  many  others  devoted  to  the  autumn  favourite,  besides  several 
for  fruits  and  vegetables.  The  Hon.  Secretary  is  Mr.  Chas.  Wilson, 
4,  North  Hill,  Plymouth,  to  whom  all  applications  for  particulars  Bhould 
be  addressed. 
Bamboo  Canes  and  Earwigs. 
.  I  quite  agree  with  "J.  C.,”  page  362,  as  to  bamboo  canes  being  a 
harbour  for  earwigs.  These  p?sts,  as  is  well  known,  are  the  worst 
enemies  we  have  to  contend  with  on  Chrysanthemums.  Last  year 
they  caused  me  endless  trouble.  They  damaged  every  bud  I  had  on 
two  special  plants  of  Madame  Carnot,  although  a  watch  was  kept  for 
the  marauders  late  at  night  and  early  in  the  morning.  They  seem  to 
heartily  appreciate  the  beautiful  variety  named. 
I  like  to  buy  bamboos  in  four  sizes— 6  feet,  5  feet,  4.  feet,  and  3  feet 
lengths,  thus  saving  time  and  waste  in  cutting  large  canes.  The  first 
wet  day  after  receiving  them  I  have  them  plugged  with  rather  stiff 
“  putty,”  and  well  painted  green  within  4  or  5  inches  of  the  bottom, 
according  to  size.  If  this  is  done  some  three  or  four  months  before 
wanted  they  get  well  set  and  hard.  The  canes  should  be  pointed  also 
at  this  period,  and  then  all  will  be  ready  for  use  at  a  time  when  little 
of  it  can  be  spared. 
I  owe  my  earwig  trouble  of  last  season  to  Nut  trees  being  rather  too 
near,  as  I  found  they  were  full  of  pests.  I  at  once  moved  them  clean 
away  from  the  spot,  and  little  bother  th;  y  gave  me  afterwards,  so 
getting  anywhere  near  Nuts  must  be  shunned  to  tile  utmost. — R.  Bassil, 
Pangbourne. 
Sheffield  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
The  monthly  meeting  was  held  in  the  Society’s  rooms  on  Wednesday, 
the  12th  iDst.  After  the  minutes  of  the  previous  meeting  had  been 
passed,  the  Secretary,  Mr.  W.  Houslev,  read  a  letter  from  the  Decoration 
Committee  thanking  the  Society  for  their  offer  to  decorate  an  arch  on 
the  occasion  of  Her  Majesty’s  visit  to  Sheffield  on  the  21st  inst.,  which 
they  regretted  they  could  not  accept  on  account  of  previous  arrange¬ 
ments  whereby  all  the  archeB  had  been  allotted  to  the  Committees  of  the 
various  sections  of  the  route  to  be  taken  by  the  Queeu.  They  would, 
however,  be  glad  if  the  Society  would  decorate  the  Vestry  Hall  on  the 
following  day,  the  22nd,  in  which  the  Mayor,  His  Giace  the  Duke  of 
Norfolk,  will  entertain  the  aged  poor.  The  invitation  to  undertake  the 
decoration  was  unanimously  accepted. 
The  monthly  exhibits  were  herbaceous  Calceolarias  for  professional 
members,  and  some  excellent  specimens  were  exhibited.  The  prizes 
were  awarded  to  Mr.  T.  Garbry,  first ;  Mr.  Thus.  Mor'ou,  second  ;  and 
Mr.  C.  Shorten,  third.  The  amateur  members  compete  i  with  three  cut 
blooms,  amongst  them  being  some  good  spikes  o-  Orchids,  Amaryllis, 
Philo-cactus,  aud  Roses.  Mr.  G.  Walker  obtained  first,  Mr.  W.  Willgoose 
second,  and  Mr.'  M.  H  Willford  third  prizes. 
The  essay  on  the  “  Cultivation  of  the  Dahlia  ”  was  then  read  by  Mr, 
W.  Willgoose.  On  a  previous  occasion  the  essayist,  who  read  a  paper  on 
the  storage  of  the  tubers  in  winter,  commenced  his  second  part  of  the 
subject  by  beginning  with  the  storing  of  the  roots,  taking  off  cuttings, 
and  his  method  of  growing  the  plants  until  ready  for  planting  in  the- 
open  ground.  He  also  explained  his  method  of  prep»ring  the  beds, 
planting,  growing  training,  and  protecting  the  flower  buds,  fully 
explaining  every  process.  The  essay  was  a  very  instructive  and  exhaustive 
one,  and  left  few  questions  to  be  asked.  A  good  discus-uon  followed, 
and  the  ess»yist  was  accorded  the  usual  vote  of  thanks.  Mr.  Willgoose 
exhibited  some  good  photos  of  his  collection  of  Dahlias,  taken  last  season 
when  in  bloom,  also  photos  of  a  plant  before  and  atter  thinning  out  the 
laterals.  Mr.  John  Haigh  occupied  the  chair. 
Pine  Apple  Juice. — Some  time  ago  a  medical  scientist  noted 
that  Pine  Apple  juice  contained  a  proteid-digesting  substance.  No 
careful  study  of  this  fact  was,  however,  made  by  him.  Recently, 
another  investigator  has  gone  into  the  matter  fully,  and  announces  facts 
which  are  likely  to  give  to  the  succulent  Pine  Apple  a  prominent  place 
in  dietetics.  Pine  Apple  juice  is  an  acid  fluid  of  specific  gravity  of 
1  043.  An  ordinary  Pine  Apple  yields  600  to  800  cubic  centimetres  of 
it.  The  proteid-digestiDg  power  is  quite  remarkable  in  its  intensity. 
Three  ounces  of  the  juice  will  dissolve  ten  or  fifteen  grains  of  dried 
albumin  in  four  hours.  The  action  takes  place  in  acid,  neutral,  or  even 
alkaline  media,  thus  resembling  trypsin  more  than  pepsin.  It  acts  best 
in  neutral  solutions. — ("“Science  Siftings.”) 
