May  12,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
405 
Mr.  Wood  enters  in  his  book  on  our  garden  foes  the  handsome 
moth  called  the  Marvel-du-Jour  (Agriopis  Aprilina),  one  distributed 
throughout  Britain,  flying  in  October  and  again  in  spring.  He  states 
that  the  Apple  often  suffers  from  the  attacks  of  the  caterpillar,  which 
goes  below  during  the  day,  hiding  in  the  grass  or  herbage,  then 
mounts  the  branches  after  sunset.  There  appears  to  be  some  mistake; 
we  almost  invariably  find  it  on  Oak,  and  I  have  never  received 
specimens,  or  any  complaint  about  its  doings,  since  my  connection 
with  this  journal.  The  moth  is  pale  green,  conspicuous  from  the 
black  and  white  markings  on  the  ground  colour.  It  has  been  taken 
in  gardens  near  woods.  The  caterpillar  has  a  black  cross  on  the  face, 
and  along  the  green  or  grey  body  a  series  of  lozenge-shaped  spots. 
Allied  to  this  is  the  large  dark  moth  called  the  great  brocade  (Aplecta 
occulta),  which  turns  up  occasionally  in  all  pnglish  counties  during 
the  summer.  Its  caterpillar  feeds  on  various  low  plants,  such  as  the 
Primrose  and  Periwinkle,  in  spring.  Probably  from  its  striking  colours 
of  reddish  brown  and  white  it  is  apt  to  be  seized  by  insect-hunting 
birds. — Entomologist. 
PALMS. 
Fob  decorative  purposes  on  ceremonial  occasions  of  various  kinds,  also 
for  balls,  concerts,  festivals,  corridors,  staircases,  pedestals,  or  wherever 
stateliness  with  elegance  in  effect  is  desired,  no  plants  can  bear  the  least 
comparison  with  tall  Palms.  Their  deep  green  arching  leaves  have  a 
refreshingly  cool  appearance,  however  great  the  heat  may  be,  while  a 
tropical  aspect  is  imparted  such  as  no  other  plants  can  produce.  No 
doubt  Tree  Ferns  are  imposing,  and  in  demand  for  various  functions,  hut 
light  as  the  individual  fronds  may  be  in  the  aggregate  as  composing  the 
“  heads,”  they  have  a  dense  appearance  as  compared  with  the  opener 
leafage  of  Palms,  through  which  the  light  plays  freely,  throwing  dappled 
shadows  everywhere. 
A  few  of  the  taller  Palms  most  in  demand  are  Seaforthia  elegans, 
which  is  particularly  stately,  but  not  so  easily  kept  in  good  condition  as 
the  Kentias,  and  of  these  Kentia  australis  is  strikingly  handsome  in  a 
large  state.  Of  similar  character  but  less  towering  in  growth  is  Kentia 
Fosteriana,  and  still  less  so  is  the  perhaps  greatest  in  demand  of  all  Palms, 
Kentia  Belmoreana.  For  producing  an  effect  of  airy  lightness  by  its 
few  slender  leaves  rising  to  a  height  of  1 5  or  20  feet,  more  or  less.  Cocos 
ffexuosa  is  unique,  but  is  by  no  means  found  in  such  great  abundance  as 
Kentias.  Extremely  elegant  when  10  to  15  feet  high  is  the  distinct  and 
pleasing  kind  Dasmonorops  palembanicus.  For  massiveness  in  a  large 
state  or  small,  the  Fan  Palm,  Latania  borbonica,  has  no  equal,  and  has  to 
be  grown  in  hundreds  of  thousands  to  meet  the  demand.  The  leaves  are 
broad,  bright,  shining  green,  and  form  the  foundation  of  millions  of 
“  Fans,”  which  are  dressed  to  taste.  There  is  also  a  soft  yellow-leaved 
variety,  though  still  comparatively  scarce,  which  associates  effectively 
with  other  kinds. 
The  demand  for  Fan  Palms  for  ordinary  room  decoration  is  enormous, 
the  plants  ranging  from  18  inches  to  2  feet  high.  But  most  in  demand  of 
all,  as  what  may  be  termed  a  domestic  Palm — seen  almost  everywhere,  on 
street  barrows  and  in  the  homes  of  the  multitude — is  the  previously 
mentioned  Kentia  Belmoreana.  The  extent  of  glass  ranges  devoted  to 
the  raising  of  plants  of  this  popular  species  is  astonishing.  It  would  be 
a  task  to  count  the  plants  in  one  establishment,  such  as  Mr.  Thomas 
Rockford’s,  for  example,  where  there  can  scarcely  be  less  than  a  million. 
Hundreds  of  thousands  of  plants  are  sold  for  a  shilling  each,  but  the  price, 
of  course,  varies  with  the  size. 
Equally  useful,  hardy,  and  easy  to  manage  as  a  room  Palm,  also  most 
elegant,  is  Phoenix  rupicola.  This  species,  though  far  less  plentiful  than 
the  preceding,  and  therefore  not  obtainable  at  equal  prices,  are  raised 
in  large  numbers  to  meet  an  ever  growing  demand.  Plants,  if  properly 
attended  to,  will  remain  healthy  and  ornamental  in  an  ordinary  living 
room  for  years.  One  could  be  specified  which  has  passed  through  ten 
summers  and  winters  in  a  dwelling  in  the  suburbs  of  London.  Though  a 
native  of  India  this  Palm  is  proving  surprisingly  hardy,  though  less  so 
than  its  congener  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  Phcenix  reclinata,  of 
which  a  plant  is  now  healthy  in  the  position  it  has  occupied  in  a  room  for 
twenty  years 
As  elegant  table  Palms,  and  employed  as  such  in  pots  varying  from 
3  to  5  inches  in  diameter,  the  extremely  slender  Cocos  Weddelliana  from 
South  America  is  the  most  extensively  provided.  The  leaves  are  almost 
of  grass-like  elegance,  yet  stout  and  persistent,  and  rich  glossy  green.  It 
has  been  a  favourite  for  years,  as  it  will  be  for  years  to  come.  Almost 
equally  slender,  dwarfer,  and  hardier,  is  a  small  Brazilian  species. 
Geonoma  gracilis.  It  is,  in  fact,  what  its  name  implies,  one  of  the  most 
graceful  of  all,  and  its  production  seems  only  to  be  limited  by  the  supply 
of  seed  obtainable. 
Practically  all  Palms  are  raised  from  seeds  sown  in  warm  structures. 
Being  monocotyledons,  the  first  growths  are  grass-like,  the  natural 
character  developing  with  age.  Until  comparatively  recent  years  almost 
the  whole  of  the  Palms  sold  in  England  were  raised  on  the  Continent, 
chiefly  in  Belgium.  The  importation  of  plants  into  England  was 
continuous.  The  times  have  changed.  Not  only  can  all  the  millions  of 
Palms  required  in  this  country  be  raised  in  it,  grown  as  well,  and  sold 
as  cheaply  as  plants  raised  elsewhere,  but  many  thousands  are  exported 
to  other  lands.  By  their  decoration  with  home-grown  plants  ocean 
steamers  became  floating  advertisements.  British  enterprise  did  the  rest, 
and  England  was  made  a  great  nursery  of  Palms. — A  Beitishee. 
Weathee  in  London. — Though  we  have  had  a  fair  amount  of 
sunshine  during  the  past  few  days,  we  have  also  had  a  good  proportion  of 
rain.  On  almost  every  day  there  have  been  more  or  less  heavy  showers, 
especially  on  Thursday,  Friday,  and  Sunday.  On  Monday  it  was  fine, 
but  the  sun  only  shone  brightly  at  rare  intervals.  On  Tuesday  there 
were  occasional  showers,  but  on  Wednesday  it  was  fine. 
-  Weathee  in  the  Noeth. — Very  heavy  rains  fell  on  the  3rd 
and  4th  ;  since  then  the  weather  has  been  generally  seasonable,  and  some 
days  particularly  fine,  Saturday  and  Sunday  being  delightfully  pleasant,  but 
somewhat  colder  in  the  evenings.  Monday,  also  fine,  closed  with  a 
coldish  easterly  wind,  which  continued  on  Tuesday  morning. — B.  D., 
S.  Perthshire. 
-  Campanula  isophylla  alba.— This  plant  is  excellent  for 
hanging  baskets  and  to  grow  in  pots  for  standing  in  front  of  stages.  The 
flowers,  which  are  white,  are  produced  in  great  profusion  from  the 
extremities  of  the  drooping  shoots.  The  blooms  last  a  considerable  time. 
As  the  flowers  fade  pick  them  off,  which  will  enhance  the  appearance  of 
the  plants,  and  prolong  the  display. — E.  D.  S. 
-  Isle  op  W  ight. — After  the  recent  rains  vegetation  in  all  parts 
of  the  Island  has  moved  with  great  rapidity.  This  morning  (May  7th) 
I  received  from  a  Yarmouth  friend  a  sample  of  new  Potatoes  (Sharpe’s 
Victor)  dug  outside.  On  a  south  border,  or  under  favoured  conditions, 
early  Potatoes  can  be  had ;  but  for  those  in  the  open  there  is  still  a 
danger  of  “  Jack  Frost.” — S.  H. 
-  Eaely  Laxton  Potato. — This  variety  is  largely  grown  for 
first  early  cropping  on  a  south  border  at  Coombe  Court.  Mr.  Springtborpe 
speaks  of  it  in  warm  terms.  Those  who  remember  the  remarkable 
tuber  crops  produced  from  its  short  sturdy  tips  in  two  successive  trials 
at  Chiswick  a  lew  years  since,  can  easily  understand  this  appreciation. 
But  it  is  surprising  all  the  same  to  find  how  little  the  variety  is  either 
known  or  grown  ;  yet  it  promised  to  make  one  of  the  earliest  tubering, 
dwarfest  topped,  white  flattish  Potatoes  in  commerce.  A  large  grower 
at  Mitcham  used  to  have  it  in  great  quantity,  and  spoke  of  it  in  high 
terms.  I  should  regard  it  as  one  of  the  very  best  for  either  pot  or  frame 
culture  to  be  found.  All  the  same,  that  may  not  have  been  general 
experience.  With  all  these  very  precocious  Potatoes  so  much  depends  on 
how  the  seed  tubers  are  wintered. — Wandeeee. 
-  Peimeoses  Changing  Coloue.— Is  it  really  a  fact  that  wild 
Primroses  do  change  colour  'I  Is  it  not  much  more  probable  that  flowers 
have  become  fertilised  with  pollen  carried  in  the  air,  or  by  some  insect, 
from  flowers  of  garden  Polyanthuses  or  Primroses  ;  that  seed  has  ripened 
and  been  shed,  then  has  grown  and  produced  seedling  plants,  the  flowers 
of  which  are  coloured,  or  rather  discoloured  ?  The  Primrose  does  not 
naturally  cast  its  seed  wide.  Rather  because  of  the  habit  of  contraction 
found  in  the  stems,  the  ,seed  vessels,  before  the  seed  is  ripe,  curl  down 
close  under  the  leafage.  Some  manage  to  grow,  and  the  seedlings  come 
up,  perhaps,  in  doing  so,  crowding  out  the  old  plants,  and  thus  young 
plants  take  the  place  of  old  ones  unsuspectingly.  I  have  never  seen  a  case 
in  which  the  original  wild  Primrose  plant  has  changed  the  colour  of  its 
flowers,  but  seedlings  in  gardens  constantly  do  so. — A.  D. 
-  Steawbeeey  Royal  Soveeeign. — Mr.  Springtborpe  of 
Coombe  Court,  Kingston  Hill,  rather  reminds  me  of  the  famous  individual 
who  appears  so  frequently  in  certain  soap  advertisements.  Our  gardener 
friend,  since  he  has  begun  to  grow  Royal  Sovereign  in  pots  for  forcing, 
grows  no  other.  What  high  tribute  to  the  merits  of  this  comparatively 
new  variety  is  this  1  The  old  Biblical  saying  is  in  its  case  materially 
reversed,  for  blessed  is  the  variety  when  all  men  speak  well  of  it,  and 
that  is  certainly  the  case  with  Royal  Sovereign.  The  variety  sets  well, 
carries  and  swells  its  fruit  well,  gives  rich  colour,  and,  especially  when 
finished  in  cool  houses  and  with  ample  ventilation,  delicious  flavour. 
The  crop  I  saw  the  other  day  from  plants  producing  single  crowns  only 
was  a  first-rate  one,  and  if  grown  for  market  should  be  a  good  paying 
one.  Reference  to  the  market  value  of  the  fruits  leads  naturally  to  the 
question  of  value  the  variety  may  have  been  to  its  raiser,  the  late  Mr. 
Laxton.  It  has  proved  to  be  one  of  the  finest  and  most  valuable  Straw¬ 
berries  ever  introduced. — Wandeeee. 
