January  23, 1896. 
73 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
years,  the  borders  being  all  inside,  and  they  have  wonderfully  improved. 
I  have  never  found  surface  dressings  of  manures  of  any  material 
assistance  in  the  case  of  Vines  radically  wrong.  Belaying  the  roots  in 
fresh  compost  I  have  always  found  to  give  the  best  results,  encouraging 
as  much  growth  as  possible  for  a  season  or  two  without  crowding.  The 
Vines  your  correspondent  refers  to  indicate  a  very  feeble  root  action 
by  the  growth  they  make  and  the  sample  of  the'Grapes.  The  facts  of 
the  case  suggest  an  entire  clearance  if  circumstances  allow  of  it  being 
done.  He  is  in  the  best  position  to  judge  which  course  to  pursue,  and  to 
decide  which  of  the  two  methods  would  give  the  most  satisfactory 
return  if  he  thinks  fit  to  adopt  them. — J.  J.  Craven ,  Allerton  Priory 
Gardens ,  Liverpool. 
DESTROYING  INSECT  EGGS  ON  FRUIT  TREES. 
Would  you  kindly  examine  the  enclosed  twigs  of  Apple  trees  and 
give  me  your  opinion,  through  the  medium  of  the  Journal,  as  to  what  is 
best  to  be  done  with  my  trees  ?  You  will  find  multitudes  of  the  eggs  of 
some  insect.  The  twigs  are  from  young  healthy  trees  that  I  planted 
about  five  years  since,  and  in  the  spring  of  each  year  they  have  been 
badly  attacked  with  the  grub  of  the  winter  moth.  Last  year  I  cut  some 
twigs  off  and  dipped  them  in  neat  petroleum,  placed  them  in  a  jar  of 
water  in  a  warm  house,  and  as  soon  as  the  buds  began  to  expand  the 
caterpillars  emerged  and  quite  stripped  the  trees  of  leaves.  I  also 
syringed  the  trees  with  a  strong  solution  of  petroleum  and  softsoap,  and 
although  it  killed  a  great  number  of  the  larvae  in  a  young  state,  there 
were  plenty  left  to  eat  all  tbq  leaves  of  the  first  growth. 
Can  anything  be  done  to  destroy  the  eggs  now  ?  Would  the  caustic 
soda  wash  destroy  them  ?  I  may  say  that  I  smeared  all  the  stems  and 
lower  branches  with  a  sticky  substance  called  smearoleum  that  I 
obtained  from  a  Liverpool  firm.  This  was  done  about  the  first  week  in 
November — too  late,  you  will  say — but  I  did  not  know  of  the  liquid 
sooner.  I  have  never  seen  any  of  the  female  moths  on  the  trees  since, 
except  those  caught  with  the  smearoleum  near  the  ground  line  ;  I 
had  seen  a  few  before  that  time.  The  smearoleum  has  destroyed  a  great 
number  of  the  moths  ;  I  have  seen  five  and  six  stuck  fast  to  one  tree  in 
a  night. 
I  have  an  idea  that  the  eggs  are  too  numerous  to  be  of  the  winter 
moth  ;  besides,  I  remember  once  catching  a  female  moth,  and  put  it  into 
a  box  with  some  shoots  of  Privet.  It  deposited  a  number  of  eggs  on  the 
Privet,  but  they  were  longer  and  not  so  yellow  as  the  eggs  on  the  twigs 
enclQsed.  I  have  never  used  Paris  green  as  I  have  bees  in  the  garden.  If 
you  can  give  me  any  advice  on  the  matter  I  shall  esteem  it  a  great 
favour. — J.  F. 
[The  eggs  on  the  twigs  of  the  Apple  tree  deposited  just  below  the 
buds,  a  protecting  knoll  on  the  bark  being  taken  advantage  of  to  shelter 
them  in  the  hollow  or  crevice,  are  those  of  tb6  winter  moth  (Cheima- 
tobia  brumata),  which  have  been  laid  some  little  time,  as  they  have  parted 
with  their  original  greenish  tinge  and  become  yellowish,  and  when  that 
occurs  the  nucleus  is  distinctly  visible  (as  a  bright  sparkling  object  on 
the  dark  ground)  under  the  microscope.  Some  of  the  eggs  may  be  those 
of  the  mottled  umber  moth  (Hybernia  defoliaria),  which  so  closely 
resemble  the  others  as  to  be  practically  undistinguishable  from  them. 
The  oval  eggs  of  both  species  are  more  or  less  irregular  in  outline, 
scarcely  two  being  alike. 
The  trial  of  petroleum  is  interesting,  and  goes  to  show  the  tenacity 
of  life  of  the  winter  moth  in  the  egg  as  well  as  in  the  larval  state. 
Without  entering  on  the  merits  of  petroleum  as  an  egg  destroyer,  which 
we  have  tried  with  other  things  on  most  species  of  insects  and  their 
eggs,  we  may  say  that  the  simplest  and  cheapest  agent  proved  the  best 
— namely,  hot  water,  after  that  caustic  substances.  No  egg,  so  far  as 
we  know,  can  bear  a  sudden  transition  of  heat  from  40°  to  140°,  a 
difference  of  100°.  It  scalds  the  embryo — the  nucleus,  and  is  the  oldest 
of  all  means  for  destroying  insects  and  their  eggs.  Only  thoroughly 
ripened  wood,  however,  will  stand  water  at  that  temperature  ;  but  we 
have  used  it  at  140°  to  160°  for  killing  scale  and  the  eggs  beneath  on 
Peach  trees.  Apple  trees  have  downy  young  wood,  and  for  that  reason 
may  hold  the  water  longer  and  hotter,  but  they  are  certainly  not 
benefited  with  water  so  hot  as  140°  ;  yet  they  bear  130°  without  apparent 
harm,  and  that  ejected  on  an  egg  will  mostly  compass  its  destruction  by 
parboiling.  When  a  caustic  substance  is  added  to  such  water  the 
destruction  is  complete,  for  what  the  first  (heat)  misses  the  latter  will 
hit,  provided  the  work  is  done  well.  We,  therefore,  advise  the  caustic 
soda  and  potash  solution,  first  noticed  by  Mr.  L.  Coates  in  the  Journal 
of  Horticulture  as  successful  in  California.  Of  course,  it  is  our  very  old 
remedy  for  the  destruction  of  scale  by  a  winter  dressing  of  potash  and 
soda  ;  but  we  seem  to  take  little  advantage  of  home  prescriptions,  hence 
the  more  credit  to  those  using  the  things  we  despise.  We  advise  you  to 
spray  the  trees  without  loss  of  time,  as  the  “  down  ”  is  showing  on  the 
buds,  with  a  solution  made  by  dissolving  a  half  pound  of  caustic  soda 
(98  per  cent.)  in  a  gallon  of  water  and  a  half  pound  of  commercial  potash 
in  a  similar  amount,  adding  the  two  together  and  diluting  with  4  gallons 
more,  boiling,  so  as  to  have  it  130°  when  used.  Apply  on  a  fine  day,  but 
not  when  the  trees  are  frozen,  and  coat  them  well  with  the  solution  in 
every  part,  not  leaving  any  untouched,  it  sufficing  if  every  part  be 
wetted  without  running.  It  will  kill  lichen  and  moss,  hybernating 
pests  of  all  kinds  reached,  and  most  eggs  of  insects,  cleansing  the  bark 
from  overgrowths  and  leaving  it  clear  and  unsinged.  Remember  that 
the  solution  must  only  be  used  as  a  spray,  and  at  a  temperature  of  130°. 
It  can  be  employed  for  Pear  and  Plum  trees  as  well  as  for  Apples  in  a 
dormant  state  ;  but  if  used  for  Apricot,  Cherry,  or  Peach  trees  now 
dilute  to  9  gallons.] 
Weather  in  London.— The  exceedingly  mild  weather  has  been 
superseded  by  frost  on  the  last  few  nights.  On  Tuesday  morning  a 
thick  fog  hung  over  the  City,  which,  however,  cleared  away  in  the 
afternoon,  and  at  the  time  of  going  to  press  on  Wednesday  the  atmo¬ 
sphere  is  clear  and  pleasant. 
-  Weather  in  the  North.  —  The  weather  has  been  very 
changeable  during  the  week  ending  the  21st  inst.  Frosts  of  from  3°  to 
5°  have  been  registered  on  several  mornings,  but  the  days  have  been 
generally  dull,  and  the  nights  gusty  and  wet.  Saturday  was  fine  ; 
Sunday  cold  and  showery  ;  Monday,  with  6°  frost  in  the  morning, 
pleasant  ;  Tuesday,  with  a  sharp  frost  during  the  night,  was  dull,  and 
in  the  afternoon  the  thermometer  stood  at  39°. — B.  D.,  5.  Perthshire, 
-  Williams’  Memorial  Medals.  —  The  following  official 
notification  reached  us  on  the  16th  inst.,  and  consequently  could  not 
appear  sooner  in  our  columns ;  it  is,  however,  soon  enough  for  the 
summer  and  autumn  shows  referred  to  : — “  At  a  meeting  of  the  Williams’ 
Memorial  Trustees,  held  on  January  2nd,  Dr.  Masters  in  the  chair,  it 
was  decided  to  offer  two  memorial  medals  at  the  Grand  Jubilee  Cele¬ 
bration  of  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society,  at  the  Royal  Aquarium, 
Westminster ;  one  memorial  medal  at  the  exhibition  of  the  Cardiff 
Horticultural  Society  ;  two  memorial  medals  to  the  Royal  Horticultural 
Society,  to  be  competed  for  at  the  Temple  show  and  at  the  grand  fruit 
show,  to  be  held  at  the  Crystal  Palace  in  the  autumn.” 
-  Scottish  Horticultural  Association.  —  The  annual 
general  meeting  of  the  Association  was  held  on  Tuesday,  14th  inst.,  at 
5,  St.  Andrew’s  Square,  Edinburgh,  Mr.  R.  W.  E.  Murray,  President,  in 
the  chair.  The  Secretary,  Mr.  Robert  Laird,  submitted  the  nineteenth 
annual  report  to  a  full  attendance  of  members,  and  stated  that  it  was 
a  matter  of  congratulation  that  the  interest  in  the  Association  was  well 
maintained,  the  membership  roll  numbering  about  500.  The  Treasurer, 
Mr.  Alex.  Mackenzie,  also  submitted  his  report,  showing  that  the 
Association  was  financially  in  a  thoroughly  sound  condition.  The  Duke 
of  Buccleuch  was  re-elected  Honorary  President,  and  Mr.  R.  E.  Murray 
as  President ;  Mr.  Robert  Laird,  Secretary,  and  Mr.  Alex.  Mackenzie, 
Treasurer.  The  following  gentlemen  were  added  to  the  Council 
Messrs.  D.  P.  Laird,  Jas.  Grieve,  Wm.  McKinnon,  John  Methven, 
George  WoodpCharleB  Comfort,  and  Geo.  Broadfoot. 
-  Rules  for  Judging. — The  results  of  the  labours  of  the 
Committee  appointed  by  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  are  issued  in 
the  form  of  a  code,  a  copy  of  which  has  been  sent  to  us.  The  decisions 
arrived  at  are  embodied  in  about  200  paragraphs,  numbered  for  the 
convenience  of  reference,  and  extend  over  forty  pages.  First  are 
promulgated  a  series  of  general  rules  ;  then  there  are,  under  separate 
headings,  “suggestions”  to  “schedule  makers,”  to  “judges,”  and  to 
“exhibitors”  respectively.  The  leading  points  of  merit,  also  various 
defects,  of  the  different  kinds  of  fruits,  vegetables,  plants,  and  flowers 
usually  exhibited  are  pointed  out,  and  standards  of  merit  attached.  In 
some  of  the  more  important  sections,  Roses,  hardy  flowers,  and  perhaps 
especially  Chrysanthemums,  receiving  a  full  share  of  attention.  Many 
moot  points  on  which  opinions  vary  (confusion  consequently  resulting). 
I  That  difficulties  have  been  encountered  is  evident,  and  if  not  wholly 
I  removed  have  not  been  shirked.  That  the  code  should  be  deemed  perfect 
is  by  no  means  assumed.  To  expect  that,  in  dealing  with  exhibiting  in  its 
multitudinous  aspects,  would  be  to  expect  the  performance  of  a  miracle. 
The  code  is  issued  for  guidance,  and  it  cannot  fail  to  be  helpful  to  many. 
It  is  issued  for  criticism  of  a  genuine  character — i.e.,  for  eliciting 
alternatives  for  rendering  the  work  to  the  greatest  extent  useful.  As 
it  stands  it  is  the  first  and  fullest  of  its  kind,  a  work  much  needed.  It 
should  be  read  with  care  by  secretaries,  members  of  committees, 
exhibitors— in  fact,  by  all  who  are  interested  in  horticultural  societies, 
large  and  small  ;  while  non-exhibitors  would  find  matter  at  once 
interesting  and  instructive.  The  code  can  be  had  post  free  for  Is.  Id. 
from  the  Secretary  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  117,  Victoria 
Street,  Westminster,  and  we  should  think  that  arrangements  might 
be  made  for  the  sale  of  copies  at  shows  of  garden  produce  in  various 
parts  of  the  kingdom. 
