46 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
July  15,  1897. 
Bpecimens  of  Apricots  from  a  wall  at  St.  Fagans  which  had  been 
seriously  damaged  by  the  caterpillars  of  the  above  species ;  there 
may  have  been  similar  instances  elsewhere,  though  not  reported. 
There  are  other  clear-wings,  some  tolerably  abundant,  several 
rare  and  local,  which  join  the  company  of  our  garden  insects  in 
the  summer  months,  attracted  by  flowers,  yet  which  have  bred 
elsewhere  in  plantations  or  shrubberies,  perhaps  on  waste  ground. 
A  few  seldom  travel  far  from  the  home  of  the  caterpillar  ;  the 
yellow-legged  species,  for  example,  which  occurs  in  Hyde  Park, 
probably  in  other  London  parks  and  elsewhere,  is  reluctant  to  go 
many  yards  beyond  the  Oaks  and  Elms  after  it  has  emerged.  But 
the  red-tipped  clear-wing  (8.  formicseformis),  sometimes  abundant 
enough  within  Osier  twigs  to  cause  damage,  likes  to  take  an  ex¬ 
cursion  on  the  wing,  and  when  an  entomologist  is  searching  for 
this  moth  amongst  the  Osiers  and  Willows  he  may  be  disappointed 
— the  insects  he  seeks  are  taking  the  air  elsewhere,  to  return  home 
at  dusk.  Gardens  near  parks  and  woods  may  invite  the  Birch- 
eater,  S.  culciformis,  another  species  that  is  red-belted,  and  thrives 
while  caterpillar  in  old  stumps  of  that  tree.  Much  larger  than 
these,  and  really  not  unlike  a  hornet,  is  the  hornet  or  Poplar  clear- 
wing,  a  midsummer  insect  that  has  scared  some  people.  But  the 
antennae  are  longer,  the  wings  rather  more  ample,  and  the  banded 
body  downy,  not  hard  to  the  touch.  Nor  does  it  produce  the 
warning  sound  which  gives  notice  of  a  hornet’s  proximity.  The 
caterpillar  lives  two  years  in  the  solid  wood  of  Poplars  or  Aspens, 
then  quits  it  to  make  a  cocoon  outside  of  silk  and  chips,  usually 
placed  near  the  foot  of  the  tree. 
Pass  we  now  to  another  moth  of  larger  size,  which  about  this 
season  we  may  happen  to  see  in  flight  after  dark,  or  resting  by  day 
upon  a  tree.  Though  its  wings  are  not  clear  they  are  partly 
transparent,  especially  in  the  females,  which  are  larger  than  their 
male  companions,  and  remain  out  till  the  middle  of  August,  the 
egg-laying  operation  taking  some  time.  This  is  the  leopard,  also 
named  Zeuzera  .^sculi,  but  it  has  no  marked  partiality  for  the 
species  of  .fflsculus,  being  rather  a  general  feeder  as  a  caterpillar. 
It  is  certainly  one  of  our  beautiful  moths,  the  snowy  white  of  the 
wings  and  thorax  being  thickly  dotted  with  black  or  bluish- black 
spots,  the  abdomen  is  also  banded.  Indeed,  the  first  observed 
specimens  of  this  moth  were  regarded  as  so  curious  during  last 
century  that  they  were  sold  at  half  a  guinea  each.  Probably  the 
insects  would  be  much  commoner  if  sundry  birds  did  not  seek  it, 
frequently  seizing  one  before  the  wings  are  expanded,  and  it  is 
chased  by  bats.  The  caterpillars  commence  life  by  feeding  on  the 
bark  of  some  tree,  but  soon  pierce  into  the  wood,  and  construct 
galleries  along  stem  or  branches.  They  work  on  for  nearly  two 
years  before  they  assume  the  chrysalis  state.  Before  changing 
each  caterpillar  (which  is  spotted  similarly  to  the  moth,  having  a 
horny  plate  behind  the  head)  makes  a  cocoon  of  wood  dust  close 
to  the  surface,  so  that  it  can  easily  emerge. 
Long  is  the  list  of  ornamental  trees  it  attacks  ;  amongst  the  trees 
of  our  orchards,  the  Apple,  Pear,  and  Plum  are  selected.  If,  for 
awhile,  the  fruit-bearing  power  seems  unatfected,  by  degrees  the 
branches  that  are  ruined  show  signs  of  the  attacks,  or  the  tree  itself 
becomes  feeble.  Indications  of  the  presence  of  these  caterpillars 
are  discernible  outside  the  burrows,  and  they  have  been  killed  by 
running  flexible  wire  into  their  holes  ;  also  by  the  injection,  with  a 
syringe,  of  liquid  ammonia  and  other  poisonous  fluids,  perhaps  at 
some  risk  of  mischief  to  the  infected  tree.  Blowing  the  fumes  of 
sulphur  or  tobacco  into  the  openings  has  also  been  suggested.  The 
still  larger  and  sombre-hued  goat  moth  (Zyleutes  Cossus)  occasion¬ 
ally  careers  slpwly  over  gardens  in  July,  having  bred,  it  is  likely, 
in  some  Elm  or  Willow  near,  for  these  trees  are  the  special 
favourites  of  the  caterpillar,  which  is  presumed  to  exist  three  or 
even  four  years  in  that  state,  doing  damage  to  many  trees.  It  has 
been  said  the  moth  has  been  captured  at  sugar  spread  as  a  bait  upon 
trees  or  palings. — Entomologist. 
SCHOOL  GARDENS. 
I  APOLOGISE  to  “  T.  D.  S.”  for  not  having  previously  answered  his 
request  for  further  information,  given  under  the  above  heading  at 
page  10.  It  was  needful  to  obtain  a  copy  of  the  Education  Depart¬ 
ment’s  code  of  regulations  for  the  year  to  get  the  required  knowledge. 
As  previously  intimated  the  subject  of  “  Cottage  Gardening  ”  is  a  special 
and  exceptional  one,  and  is  of  course  chiefly  applicable  for  use  in  rural 
schools.  These,  because  generally  so  poor,  hardly  care  to  take  a  subject 
that,  whilst  of  the  highest  practical  value  to  the  scholars,  is  such  a  poor 
grant  earner,  so  much  of  our  educational  work — to  our  shame  be  it 
*aid — being  dependent  not  on  its  ultimate  value  to  the  children  taught, 
but  to  the  managers  and  teachers  in  a  pecuniary  sense  now  in  a  rural 
school. 
But  whilst  grants  may  be  earned  in  history,  geography,  and  elementary 
science,  purely  academical  subjects,  cheaply — that  is,  at  the  cost  of 
a  few  books — such  very  important  technical  or  practical  subjects  as 
cottage  gardening,  dairy  work,  laundry  work  and  cookery,  cannot  be 
taken  without  there  being  in  the  first  place  considerable  outlay.  Thus 
in  cottage  gardening  the  grant  is  but  2s.  per  head  per  annum  if  only 
twenty  hours  instruction  be  given,  and  but  48.  per  head  if  forty  hours 
be  thus  employed.  Each  class  must  also  comprise  not  more  than  fourteen 
scholars,  whilst  it  is  obvious  that  a  practical  instructor  could  just  as  well 
teach  twenty  as  fourteen.  But  the  requirements  of  such  practical 
instruction  are  ground  for  gardens,  tools  for  the  boys,  manures,  and 
seeds  for  cropping  ;  also  a  tool  shed,  wheelbarrow,  and  water  appliances. 
The  provision  of  these  things  would  require  at  the  outset  an  outlay 
equivalent  to  all  that  a  class  would  earn  in  two  or  three  years.  Then 
unless  the  school  teacher  be  a  capable  gardener,  a  practical  gardener 
teacher  must  be  hired  to  instruct  the  lads  for  one  or  two  hours  per 
week. 
Thus  it  is  seen  how  very  heavily  the  suggested  subject  is  handi¬ 
capped  at  the  outset.  It  is  very  easy  to  understand  also  that  inspectors 
of  schools  of  the  ordinary  academic  class  would  look  askance  on  a  subject 
of  which  they  were  entirely  ignorant.  I  take  it  for  granted  if  "  T.  D.  S.” 
would  like  to  do  something  useful  in  this  direction  in  Birkenhead  he  had 
better  approach  some  of  the  School  Board  or  voluntary  managers  first, 
and  seek  to  induce  them  to  take  up  cottage  gardening  as  a  special 
subject  in  their  boys’  schools.  It  is  entirely  for  them  to  do  as  they 
please.  It  would  not  be  a  matter  for  surprise  if  on  the  threshold  of  his 
beneficent  labour  in  the  cause  of  real  technical  education  in  elementary 
schools  he  were  met  by  the  objection  that  the  subject  would  earn  little 
or  no  money. 
Still,  if  land  for  the  purpose  could  be  freely  placed  at  initial  dis¬ 
posal,  and  contiguous  to  the  schools,  one  difficulty  would  be  overcome, 
so  very  much  would  then  depend  on  finding  sympathy,  or  otherwise. 
County  Councils  in  their  Technical  Education  Scheme  have  not  to 
consider  grants,  and  can,  as  is  done  in  Surrey,  start  cottage  gardening 
for  lads  who  have  left  school  in  a  liberal  as  well  as  in  a  practical  way. 
Cottage  gardening  is  found  in  the  Year’s  Education  Code,  on  page  26, 
article  101,  section  K. — A.  D. 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
Drill  Hall,  July  13th. 
The  major  portion  of  the  exhibits  at  the  Drill  Hall  on  Tuesday 
were  composed  of  hardy  flowers.  Messrs.  Veitch’s  Gooseberries  and 
Mr.  Beckett’s  vegetables  made  a  handsome  display,  but  Orchids  were 
far  from  numerous. 
Fruit  Committee. — Present:  T.  Francis  Rivers,  Esq.  (in  the 
chair)  ;  with  Messrs.  G,  Bunyard,  P.  C.  M.  Veitch,  J,  Cheal.  A.  H.  Pear¬ 
son,  A.  Dean,  G.  H.  Sage,  G.  Wythes,  C.  Herrin,  and  H.  Balderson. 
Messrs.  T.  Rivers  &  Son,  Sawbridgeworth,  Herts, exhibited  a  splendid 
collection  of  Cherries,  comprising  a  score  of  distinct  varieties.  Almost 
all  the  varieties  were  represented  by  superb  frui's,  but  Frogmore 
Bigarreau,  Bigarreau  Noir  de  Guben,  G4ant  d’Hedelfinger,  Monstreuse 
de  Mezel,  Bigarreau  Napoleon,  Turkey  Black  Heart,  White  Bigarreau, 
Early  Rivers,  Elton,  and  Empress  Eugenie  were  certainly  the  hand¬ 
somest  (silver-gilt  Knightian  medal) 
A  collection  of  Lettuces  was  exhibited  by  Messrs.  J.  Carter  &  Co., 
High  Holborn.  Both  Cos  and  Cabbage  sorts  were  represented  to  the 
number  of  thirty-one.  With  so  many  it  was  difficult  to  decide  which 
were  the  best,  but  All  the  Year  Round,  Perpignan,  Continuity,  New 
York,  Grand  Admiral,  Victoria,  and  Tom  Thumb  amongst  the  Cabbage 
varieties,  with  Sugarloaf,  Baldwin,  Paris  Green,  and  Duiinett’s  Giant 
White  of  the  Cos,  were  some  of  the  best.  Ten  varieties  of  Turnips  were 
also  shown  by  this  firm,  and  included  Early  Milan,  Early  Munich,  Extra 
Early  French,  Golden  Rose,  and  others  (silver  Banksian  medal). 
Dpwards  of  fifty  dishes  of  Peas  were  sent  by  Messrs.  W.  W.  Johnson 
and  Son,  Boston.  Some  of  the  varieties  were  shown  considerably  too 
early,  the  pods  not  being  nearly  full,  while  others  were  quite  ready.  A 
few  of  the  best  were  Duke  of  York.  Gradus,  Boston  Unrivalled, 
Witbam  Wonder,  Telegraph,  Sutton’s  Excelsior,  Goliath,  Telephone, 
Sutton’s  Forcing,  and  Empress  of  India  (silver  Banksian  medal). 
Mr.  H.  Eckford,  Wem,  Salop,  staged  Peas  Diamond  Jubilee,  Wem 
Giant  Marrow,  Prior,  Ideal,  and  Pioneer,  all  of  which  were  handsome 
podded  varieties.  Messrs.  R.  Veitch  &  Son,  Exeter,  staged  Veitch’s 
Perfection  and  Goldfinder  Peas  and  Exhibition  Long-pod  Btaus. 
Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  Chelsea,  exhibited  a  box  of  Veitch’s 
Perfection  Strawberries  ;  and  Mr.  W.  Allan,  gardener  to  Lord  Suffield, 
Gunton  Park,  sent  two  boxes  of  Strawberry  Lady  Suffield. 
The  finest  exhibit  in  this  section  was  that  arranged  by  Mr.  E.  Beckett, 
gardener  to  Lord  Aldenham,  Aldenham  House,  Blstree.  Every  single 
dish  was  good  ;  some  were  perhaps  better  than  others,  but  there  was 
not  one  weak  on  the  table.  There  were  Potatoes  Rivers’  Royal  Ashleaf 
and  Sharpe’s  Victor ;  Cauliflowers  Webb’s  Mammoth,  Veitch’s  Autumn 
Giant,  and  Walcheren  ;  Lettuces  Sutton’s  Early  Mammoth.  Webb’s  New 
Wonderful,  and  Sutton’s  Superb  White  Cos ;  Carrots  James’  Intermediate, 
Early  Gem,  and  Sutton’s  Intermediate ;  Peas  Duke  of  Albany,  Telegraph, 
and  Carter’s  Early  Morn ;  Beans  Canadian  Wonder,  Ne  Plus  Ultra, 
Mammoth  Broad,  and  Leviathan  Broad  ;  Turnip  Sutton’s  Snowball ; 
Vegetable  Marrows  Moore’s  Cream,  Pen-y-byd,  and  Long  White ; 
Cabbage  Carter’s  Model  ;  Tomatoes  Polegate  and  Sutton’s  Perfection ; 
Cucumber  Beckett’s  Victory  ;  Onions  White  Leviathan  and  Red  Italian; 
Globe  Artichokes  Green  and  Purple ;  Radish  French  Breakfast ;  Beet 
Sutton’s  Red  Globe,  and  a  dish  of  Mushrooms  (gold  medal), 
Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  sent  a  collection  of  Gooseberries, 
comprising  standards,  bushes,  cup-shaped  and  gridiron-shaped  trees. 
They  were  splendid  examples  of  training,  and  were  carrying  large 
