April  2,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
307 
they  wish  to  do  so.  Nearly  anything,  I  should  say,  could  be  sent  to 
these  refrigerating  places  for  a  trifling  cost,  and  brought  back  again 
when  required. 
Upwards  of  two  years  ago  I  purchased  some  of  these  refrigerated 
crowns,  termed  an  early  flowering  variety,  from  a  nurseryman  ;  and  if  I 
could  obtain  them,  I  do  not  see  why  others  cannot  do  the  same. 
To  give  the  trade  a  fair  chance,  the  crowns  should  be  purchased  in  early 
autumn,  and  instructions  given  about  storing  and  arrangements  made 
to  forward  when  required.  Better  still  would  it  be  to  procure  crowns 
in  the  ordinary  way,  and  send  them  to  a  refrigerating  establishment. 
— W.  B. 
TECOPHYLiEA  CYANOCROCUS. 
The  flowers  of  which  “  Nemo  ”  send  specimens  are  those  of  a  moBt 
beautiful  Chilian  bulbous  plant.  T.  cyanocrocus  has  flowers  of  a  brilliant 
blue  colour,  a  rich  and  pure  tint  that  is  very  rare  amongst  cultivated 
plants,  and  though  of  small  growth  it  is  a  favourite  with  many  who 
have  tried  it.  A  light  sandy  loam  suits  it,  and  it  requires  to  be  grown 
in  a  cool  house  or  frame.  The  variety  Leichtlini  (fig.  54)  requires 
similar  treatment,  and  is  distinguished  by  its  flowers  being  white  in  the 
centre,  edged  with  blue,  and  very  fragrant.  In  some  favoured  districts 
these  bulbs  might  be  grown  out  of  doors,  but  it  is  not  a  safe  experiment 
in  most  places,  and  under  any  circumstances  the  flowers  cannot  develop 
so  well  as  they  do  under  glass. 
GARDEN  PESTS  AND  ANTIDOTES. 
( Continued  from  page  242.) 
SCOLECIDA, — This  class  of  animals  include  several  divisions,  and 
amongst  them  the  Nematelmia  or  round  worms,  and  in  its  orders  that  of 
Anguillulidae  or  so-called  “  vinegar  eels,”  with  some  members  of  which 
Cucumber  and  Tomato  growers  are  not  unfamiliar.  They  are  micro¬ 
scopic,  as  regards  those  parasitic  on  plants,  and  considered  hard  to  kill. 
Insecta. — A  great  class  of  animals,  articulate,  and  in  the  perfect 
state  possessing  six  legs,  two  antennae  (feelers  or  horns),  and  a  body 
divided  into  three  distinct  regions — the  head,  thorax  and  abdomen,  the 
second  bearing  the  organs  of  motion.  The  mouth  varies  ;  some  have  it 
adapted  for  sipping  nectar,  as  the  probosces  of  butterflies  and  moths, 
others  for  suction,  as  the  bees  and  host  of  others  that  drain  the  plants 
of  their  life  blood,  as  the  aphides  and  chermes  ;  others  again  have  it 
fitted  for  biting  and  chewing,  a9  the  beetles,  and  some  for  both  biting, 
chewing,  and  sipping,  as  the  cockroaches.  The  eyes  are  compound  and 
sessile,  and  in  some  cases  simple  eyes  added  to  them  aid  the  vision.  All 
are  unisexual,  males  usually  smaller  and  more  brilliant,  and  there  are 
other  differences  indicative  of  sex,  such  as  antennae  and  feet  (tarsi). 
Insects  pass  through  four  stages — egg,  larva,  pupa,  and  imago.  Most 
of  their  growth  is  effected  in  the  larval  state,  and  on  the  food  depends 
the  stuntedness  or  fulsomeness  of  the  insect  (I  have  a  caterpillar  of  the 
Codlin  moth  from  a  haw  which  is  not  one-sixth  the  size  of  another  from 
a  Kent-grown  Apple).  Some  insects,  however,  only  pass  through  three 
stages — egg,  younger,  and  perfect  form  ;  and  a  few  also  make  9hift  with 
two  stages.  The  egg  is  usually  deposited  externally,  hatches  quickly, 
while  in  other  cases  it  is  deposited  at  one  period  of  the  year  and  hatches 
at  another.  The  larva  is  small  and  greedy,  grows  fast,  casts  its  skin  or 
moults  several  times,  and  after  each  is  very  ravenous. 
Sometimes  the  larva  is  a  caterpillar  (three  pairs  of  fore  legs,  always 
a  caudal,  and  generally  other  claspers)  ;  others  are  grubs  (three  fore  legs 
but  no  claspers),  or  it  may  be  a  maggot  (legless).  Of  course,  the  same 
larva  is  not  all  three,  but  always  one — caterpillar,  grub,  or  maggot.  In 
the  bugs,  cockroach,  dragon  fly,  and  thrips,  the  larva  is  very  much  like 
what  it  will  attain,  but  it  changes  the  skin,  though  it  does  not  assume  a 
different  form  from  the  pupa  stage.  Most,  however,  assume  a  new  form 
from  the  larval  state,  becoming  encased  and  lying  dormant  and  nearly 
motionless  for  some  time,  often  months,  until  the  last  change  takes  place. 
In  some  instances  the  hardened  Bkin  is  covered  with  a  cocoon,  and  so 
passed  in  anticipation  of  the  change. 
Such  is  a  brief  outline  of  the  various  pests  of  the  animal  kingdom 
that  beset  the  cultivator  in  the  growth  of  useful  crops.  All  have 
different  life  histories  ;  no  one  knows  them  better  than  the  observant 
gardener,  and,  as  a  rule,  has  so  little  to  say  about  them.  He  sets  them  all 
at  defiance,  having  at  his  command  effective  fertilisers,  which  so  act  on 
the  grubs  in  the  soil,  and  on  the  eggs  and  pupa,  as  to  insure  soil 
cleanliness,  and  by  supplying  the  elements  the  plant  needs  for  its 
nutrition,  fortify  it  against  disease.  This  advantage  chemical  fertilisers 
have  over  natural  manures — they  furnish  nothing  that  feeds  vegetarian 
insects,  but  on  the  other  hand  kill  many,  in  some  cases  most,  and  in  not 
a  few  all  the  current  pests  of  crops  lurking  in  the  soil.  In  no  other 
country  are  our  manure  dealers  so  alive  to  the  interests  of  the  farmer 
and  gardener  as  in  England.  It  rests  entirely  with  cultivators  whetner 
they  will  take  advantage  of  their  opportunities  or  otherwise. 
Then  there  is  the  question  of  insecticides.  Their  name  is  legion,  and 
of  their  components  we  know  far  less  than  of  fertilisers,  for  there  is  no 
guarantee  needed  in  their  case,  and  they  may  be  anything.  There  are, 
however,  several  of  which  the  name  alone  is  a  guarantee  of  safety  and 
efficacy.  Besides,  many  have  stood  the  test  of  years,  and  are  as  certain 
(and  often  cheaper)  as  those  of  the  operator’s  own  compounding.  More, 
they  are  handy,  and  in  many  cases  not  otherwise  obtainable,  except  by 
a  process  of  manufacture  costing  more  than  the  stuff  is  worth,  and  after 
all  of  unknown  strength  and  uncertain  efficacy. 
I  think  it  necessary  to  make  these  remarks  as  preliminary  to  a 
series  of  articles  on  the  destruction  of  insects — a  very  wide  subject, 
and  one  not  likely  to  be  exhausted  while  cultivation  lasts.  There  is  no 
need  for  it  in  Nature,  where  checks  to  increase  maintain  an  even  balance, 
but  it  is  different  when  man  supplants  natural  by  artificial  cultures. 
— Gr.  Abbey. 
(To  be  continued.) 
FUCHSIAS  FOR  CONSERVATORY  DECORATION. 
The  value  of  the  Fuchsia  for  conservatory  decoration  during  the 
summer  and  autumn  months  is  so  well  known  that  it  is  quite  unnecessary 
to  occupy  space  with  dwelling  on  its  merits,  so  I  will  at  once  proceed  to 
give  cultural  details  which  I  trust  may  be  of  interest  to  some  readers  of 
the  Journal  of  Horticulture.  There  is  nothing  new  to  be  said  about 
rooting  the  cuttings,  though  it  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  observe  that 
those  taken  from  plants  which  have  been  started  in  a  gentle  warmth  will 
FIG.  54.— TECOPHYLIEA  CYANOCROCUS  LEICHTLINI. 
root  more  freely  than  others  taken  from  plants  that  start  into  growth 
without  artificial  aid.  The  most  important  point  is  to  root  them  quickly. 
Insert  the  cuttings  in  March,  and  place  them  in  3-inch  pots  directly  they 
are  rooted,  keeping  them  growing  briskly  from  this  time  until  coming 
into  flower.  A  light  and  rich  compost,  consisting  of  equal  parts  of  loam, 
peat,  and  decayed  cow  manure,  with  a  liberal  addition  of  silver  sand, 
will  be  found  suitable. 
To  promote  a  free,  healthy  growth,  a  temperature  of  about  60°  to  65°, 
accompanied  with  abundance  of  humidity,  and  a  slight  shade  during  the 
hottest  part  of  the  day,  will  be  necessary.  In  watering  use  clear  tepid 
water  until  after  the  last  shift,  wheu  the  pots  become  full  of  roots,  and 
then  give  abundance  of  weak  liquid  manure,  which  should  be  made  from 
sheep  or  cow  manure.  I  would  strongly  recommend  that  they  be 
trained  pyramid-shape,  as  plants  when  trained  in  this  way  have  a  lighter 
and  more  graceful  appearance  than  when  grown  in  bush  form.  It  has 
been  my  good  fortune  to  have  had  sole  charge  of  a  collection  of  these 
beautiful  decorative  plants  in  au  establishment  where  they  were  grown 
largely  for  exhibition  as  well  a3  for  decoration,  and  I  may  say  that  it  is 
a  sight  not  easily  to  be  forgotten,  as  when  the  plants  are  in  full  bloom 
they  resemble  at  a  short  distance  a  fountain  in  full  play.  Some  varieties 
will  form  well-shaped  pyramids  with  very  little  stopping,  but  others 
must  have  constant  attention  to  insure  handsome  specimens.  I  have 
made  note  of  the  fact  that  the  older  varieties  as  a  rule  make  the  best 
shaped  plants,  though  a  few  of  the  newer  ones  may  be  grown  well  if 
attended  to  closely. 
To  grow  these  plants  to  the  height  of  3  feet  by  the  beginning  of  the 
month  of  August  from  cuttings  rooted  in  March  is  comparatively  easy  if 
the  lines  here  laid  down  are  closely  followed  by  the  cultivator.  A  good 
place  to  store  the  plants  when  at  rest  is  a  fairly  dry  cellar  or  under  a 
stage  in  the  greenhouse,  taking  care  that  they  do  not  become  too  dry  at 
