394 
journal  of  horticulture  and  cottage  gardener. 
April  30,  1896. 
on  the  scene  of  invasion  until  the  invading  hosts  have  become  fat 
and  thriving  on  the  juices  of  the  attacked  plant.  That,  however, 
is  no  reason  why  carnivorous  insects  should  not  be  encouraged, 
bred,  and  placed  where  they  will  reduce  the  enemies  of  cultivated 
crops.  Every  useful  insect  on  wayside,  hedgerow,  common, 
copse,  and  woodland  plant  or  tree  is  of  value  to  cultivators  of 
the  soil,  while  in  neglected  gardens  and  orchards  their  value  is 
incalculable. 
But  where  due  precautionary  steps  have  been  taken  there  are 
few,  if  any,  of  the  pests  of  crops  to  be  dealt  with  until  the  blossom 
of  fruit  trees  has  advanced  into  fruit ;  nor  are  there  any  useful 
insects  of  consequence,  for  it  is  solely  a  question  of  host  and  of 
parasite,  and  the  whole  matter  resolves  itself  into  one  of  killing, 
not  of  sentiment.  The  black  ladycow  is  the  first  to  come  out  in 
the  spring,  and  is  worth  all  the  rest  of  the  ladybirds  put  together, 
its  larvae  being  as  active  as  cocktail  beetles,  and  much  like  them  in 
colour  and  form,  only  very  much  smaller.  In  strange  contrast  to 
these  are  the  larvae  of  the  Syrphus  flies,  the  former  being  very  bold 
and  the  latter  as  refractory  as  the  “  shrew.”  But  even  these  “  come 
to”  with  hunger,  then  the  leech-like  grub  will  set  to  work  as 
fearlessly  as  a  ferret  at  a  rat. 
Of  the  doings  of  carnivorous  insects  volumes  might  be  written 
and  their  habits  made  clear  by  illustrations  from  life.  To  the 
cultivator  of  the  soil  such  aids  are  invaluable,  but  their  place  is  in 
the  wilderness  garden,  pleasure  grounds,  hedgerows,  and  woodlands. 
There  they  do  much  to  lessen  the  hordes  of  feeders  on  vegetation, 
and  whence  they  are  instant  in  season  to  migrate  to  where  food  is 
most  plentiful  and  of  a  more  acceptable  kind.  Such  is  my  experi¬ 
ence  of  useful  insects.  Protect  them  by  all  means,  for  they  do 
immense  good  at  no  cost  and  cannot  increase  inordinately,  as  when 
their  essential  food  fails  they  must  perish.  This,  in  the  case  of  the 
cultivator,  is  with  the  enemies  of  his  crops,  and  the  only  trust¬ 
worthy  agent  in  cultivation  is  the  well-directed  brain  and  practised 
hand. 
Where  due  precautionary  meaiures  have  been  taken  there  will 
be  little  to  fear  from  insects  until  the  plants  have  made  some  growth 
and,  in  the  case  of  fruit  trees,  have  set  the  fruit.  Then  it  matters 
not  how  careful  the  cultivator  has  been  or  what  preventive  measures 
have  been  adopted,  there  is  danger  of  invasion,  the  parasite  always 
smelling  out  its  host  and  coming  from  quarters  where  cultivation  is 
neglected  or  unknown,  and  no  repressive  measures  beyond  those 
of  Nature  adopted.  It  i3  no  use  relying  on  “  friends  ”  in  such 
case.  The  attack  comes  as  certainly  as  the  season,  and  the  grower 
must  have  a  keen  eye,  and  when  the  first  of  the  invading  host  is 
seen  mark  it  for  prompt  destruction.  All  attacks,  or  nearly  all, 
have  small  beginnings,  and  the  grand  secret  is  to  keep  them  so, 
killing  the  enemies  before  they  have  time  to  injure  the  plant  or 
ruin  the  crop  by  unrestricted  increase. — G.  Abbey. 
(To  be  continued.) 
WHETSTONE,  EDGBASTON,  BIRMINGHAM. 
Pleasantly  situated  on  the  southern  boundary  of  Edgba3ton  is 
Whetstone,  the  residence  of  G.  H.  Kenrick,  Esq.,  the  more  than 
usually  interesting  abode  of  one  of  midland  England’s  opulent  manu¬ 
facturers  and  public  benefactors.  He  cherishes  much  that  pertains  to 
horticulture,  and  has  a  strong  penchant — like  his  illustrious  cousin  of 
Highbury — for  Orchids,  of  which  he  has  a  fairly  extensive  collection, 
remarkable,  though,  more  for  choiceness  in  variety  than  for  individual 
specimens.  The  locality  is  noted  for  its  diversified  arboreal  scenery 
especially,  extending,  as  it  does,  over  a  large  area,  and  dotted  here  and 
there  with  mansions,  each  embosomed  in  a  park-like  demesne. 
Claiming  prior  notice  is  the  peculiar  position  and  attributes  of  the 
mansion  of  Whetstone,  and  situated,  as  it  is,  at  the  junction  of  Somerset 
and  Farquhar  Roads,  its  carriage  front  faqade  forms  the  hypothenuse 
of  the  thus-formed  triangular  space,  which  in  most  such  cases  is  planted 
with  trees  and  shrubs,  whereas  in  this  case  a  boundary  fence  and 
shrubbery  have  been  entir  ly  ignored  in  favour  of  a  large  space  of  grass, 
enclosed  by  a  “  dressed  ”  low  stone  wall  about  a  foot  high,  surmounted 
with  a  broad  flat  stone  curbing  next  to  the  public  footpath,  with  the 
carriage  drive  running  parallel  with  the  front  of  the  mansion,  and 
terminating  at  the  side  of  the  roads  already  named.  It  is  an  object  of 
great  attraction  to  the  passer-by,  and  ready  access  to  the  front  door  is 
augmented  by  the  abolition  of  entrance  gates.  This  uncommon  arrange¬ 
ment  is  known  as  the  “  American  style.”  To  a  stranger  especially,  view¬ 
ing  it  for  the  first  time,  a  sense  of  insecurity  from  intrusion  and  a  want 
of  privacy  is  engendered,  and  altogether  its  outre  appearance  savours  of 
some  public  institution  or  private  hotel,  strikingly  novel  and  pleasingly 
attractive  as  it  otherwise  is.  The  mansion,  a  large  and  substantially 
built  edifice  of  a  modified  Gothic  style  of  architecture,  is  flanked  on  the 
right-hand  side  by  a  high  conservatory  extending  to  the  boundary  of 
Farquhar  Road,  and  is  furnished  with  window-like  recesses,  filled  in  with 
specially  made  large  porcelain-like  slabs  to  resemble  glass,  on  which  are 
beautiful,  painted  representations  of  plants  and  flowers,  the  deception 
being  so  good  that,  even  at  only  a  short  distance  away  to  the  observer, 
it  is  difficult  to  imagine  that  they  are  real  windows  at  an  obtuse  angle 
with  this  wall.  The  outer  wall  of  the  corridor,  in  connection  with  the 
Orchid  and  other  houses,  runs  for  about  60  yards  parallel  with  the 
Farquhar  Road,  and  has  been  substantially  and  ornamentally  built,  and 
is  terminated  by  the  garden  entrance  gates,  whilst  beyond  extends  the 
kitchen  garden  wall. 
Pushing  the  knob  of  the  electric  bell  wire  the  writer  was  quickly 
admitted  by  one  of  the  assistants  from  the  commodious  potting  house, 
and  through  which  speedy  entrance  is  effected  into  the  glass  corridor 
already  mentioned.  It  is  an  imposing  structure,  and  is  well  furnished 
with  large  Camellias  and  other  suitable  plants,  growing  in  a  wide  border 
at  the  base  of  the  back  wall,  up  which  a  variety  of  climbers  are  trained 
and  continued  under  the  span-roofed  corridor.  Workmen  were  busy 
ve-arranging  the  electric  light  wire  system  extending  the  length  of  the 
corridor,  owing  to  the  supply  being  newly  acquired  from  the  depot  in 
Birmingham,  instead  of  by  the  long  established  engine  and  “  plant  ”  on 
the  premises.  Connected  with  the  corridor  are  seven  span-roofed  houses, 
including  such  as  the  Phalaenopsis,  the  Dendrobium,  the  Cattleya,  the 
Odontoglossum,  and  the  Rose  houses,  the  remainder  being  devoted  to 
miscellaneous  stove  and  greenhouse  plants.  At  the  time  of  our  visit  a 
few  days  ago  there  was  not  a  profusion  of  Orchids  in  flower,  but  there 
were  evidences  of  having  been  a  recent  display,  and  also  of  a  forth¬ 
coming  show.  Suffice  it  to  say  the  stock  of  Orchids,  which  includes 
several  of  the  choicest  kinds  extant,  was  in  a  thriving  condition,  and 
reflected  much  credit  on  Mr.  Macdonald’s  skill. 
In  one  house  we  noticed  a  large  batch  of  Crotons  in  beautiful  colora¬ 
tion,  as  also  were  several  specimens  of  exotic  Ferns,  including  grand 
plants  of  Nephrolepis  davallioides,  Davallia  fijiensis,  and  D.  polyantha. 
The  Rose  house  was  gay  with  a  large  assortment  of  Roses,  conspicuous 
amongst  which  was  a  large  plant  of  W.  A.  Richardson,  with  dozens  of 
expanded  blooms  on  it.  The  Sikkim  Rhododendrons  are  a  feature  here, 
and  all  the  year  round  blossomB  of  them  are  to  be  obtained  according 
to  the  season. 
Hippeastrums  of  the  best  and  latest  introduced  varieties  form  another 
feature,  and  very  striking  was  a  collection  of  several  of  the  newest  and 
best  varieties  of  ornamental  foliaged  Begonias.  The  conservatory  was 
gay  with  a  large  assortment  of  flowering  plants.  Palms,  Tree  Ferns, 
and  Cyclamens  of  fine  quality  were  very  beautiful,  and  best  named 
tuberous  Begonias  were  just  emitting  their  growths.  Two  large  frames 
filled  with  healthy  Chrysanthemums,  including  several  of  the  latest 
novelties  for  exhibition  purposes,  were  suggestive  of  honours  in  store. 
Mr.  Kenrick  is  also  a  lover  of  alpine  and  hardy  herbaceous  plants,  of 
which  there  is  a  large  complement  around  the  diversified  pleasure 
grounds.  There  is  no  formal  flower  garden,  but  the  beds  are  disposed 
here  and  there  at  the  most  salient  points  of  view  from  the  windows  of 
the  mansion  ;  they  were  gay  with  Hyacinths  and  gave  promise  of  a  fine 
show  of  Tulips  ere  long.  Prominent  at  the  farthest  end  of  the  grounds 
is  a  large  “  Heathery  ”  that  has  been  recently  enlarged,  and  when  fully 
established  it  will  have  a  very  fine  effect  with  its  “  hill  and  dale”  outline. 
Not  the  least  interesting  portion  of  the  gardens  is  a  comparatively  young 
Apple  and  Pear  orchard  interlaced  with  rows  of  specimen  Rhododen¬ 
drons,  and  bulbs  springing  up  amongst  the  grass,  such  as  Narcissi 
and  Snowdrops,  add  to  the  effect.  Various  other  improvements  are  in 
contemplation  about  the  grounds. 
Altogether  much  credit  reflects  upon  Mr.  Macdonald  and  his  willing 
assistants  in  the  exercise  of  their  varied  duties. — G. 
GLORIOSA  SUPERB  A. 
This  is  one  of  those  useful  plants  that  deserves  to  he  grown  on  a 
much  larger  scale  for  yielding  flowers  during  the  summer.  The  blooms 
of  good  varieties  are  always  admired,  and  look  wonderfully  well  in  a 
cut  state  for  light  arrangements  in  vases.  The  plants  are  easily  grown. 
The  peculiar  shaped  roots  should  at  this  period  of  the  year  be  shaken 
out  of  the  old  soil  in  which  they  have  previously  been  grown.  Pots  10  or 
12-inch,  according  to  the  number  of  tubers,  ought  to  be  well  drained, 
and  filled  to  within  3  inches  of  the  top  with  soil  made  moderately  firm . 
The  tubers  may  then  be  laid  in  and  the  pots  filled  with  soil,  leaving 
room,  for  watering.  This  plant  is  not  very  particular  about  compost.  Peat 
and  loam,  with  a  liberal  quantity  of  sand,  will  do  very  well,  or  good 
loam  three  parts,  one  part  good  leaf  mould,  coarse  sand,  and  about  one- 
seventh  of  decayed  manure  is  also  suitable. 
Careful  watering  is  needed  after  potting.  If  the  pots  can  be  plunged 
where  they  will  receive  slight  bottom  heat  and  be  slightly  covered  with 
cocoa-nut  fibre  refuse,  this  prevents  the  application  of  water  until  the 
plants  begin  to  grow.  After  they  start  the  supply  of  water  must  be 
increased  as  the  growth  extends.  If  strings  are  arranged  for  growths  to 
cling  to  they  need  very  little  attention  in  training,  as  once  the  shoots 
are  started  on  the  strings  they  invariably  look  after  themselves,  though 
occasionally  a  shoot  will  get  out  of  place  if  not  looked  after. 
While  growing  the  plant  requires  a  fair  amount  of  light.  It  does 
not  appear  very  particular,  as  we  have  grown  it  well  over  Cattleyas, 
also  in  the  stove,  and  the  lower  temperature  of  the  Palm  house. 
During  the  summer  an  intermediate  structure  will  suit  very  well, 
nevertheless  it  thrives  best  when  grown  in  plentv  of  heat  and  moisture. 
After  growth  the  plant  requires  a  thorough  and  lengthened  rest.  The 
tubers  may  he  stored  for  fully  three  months  in  moderately  dry  soil  in 
an  intermediate  temperature.  We  generally  store  the  tubers  away  in 
the  pots  in  which  they  are  grown.—  0.  M, 
