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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  September  23,  1897. 
is  particularly  suggestive  of  a  cat,  unless  it  be  the  head  seen  in  profile 
when  the  insect  is  reposing.  Probably,  however,  it  was  rather  some 
appearance  or  attitude  of  the  caterpillar  that  prompted  the  English 
name,  for  it  certainly  is  very  peculiar  in  form  and  marking.  One  of 
its  singularities  is  the  possession  of  a  pair  of  horns  at  the  tail,  which 
the  insect  raises  aloft  while  crawling,  and  from  which  it  can  thrust  out 
inner  horns  or  filaments,  but  they  have  no  power  of  wounding  or 
striking,  being  seemingly  only  flourished  to  create  alarm.  Now,  when 
the  jiuss  caterpillar  is  but  a  week  or  two  old  it  is  nearly  black,  and  has 
two  little  knobs,  like  ears,  standing  out  on  each  side  of  the  head,  and, 
if  in  repose  upon  a  leaf  with  the  two  horns  folded  together,  it  really 
does  much  resemble  a  crouching  cat  in  miniature. 
About  August,  or  a  month  later,  we  may  dimover  the  full  grown 
caterpillar  on  some  Willow  or  Osier,  but  the  species  is  not  so  abundant 
as  to  be  injurious.  Puminative  after  eating,  it  then  rests  with  both 
extremities  elevated,  and  the  head  drawn  back  into  a  curious  pink 
recess,  having  two  black  spots,  which  form  the  first  segment  of  the 
body.  Though  the  tail  is  harmless,  the  caterpillar  has  its  means  of 
defence,  and  if  provoked-,  can  squirt  from  an  orifice  under  the  chin  a 
pungent  fluid,  23robably  acid,  which,  should  it  touch  the  eye  or  lip, 
causes  sharp  smarting.  This  may  keep  off  insect  enemies,  jjerhaps 
birds.  The  cocoon,  constructed  upon  bark,  is  so  hard  that  it  will 
turn  the  edge  of  a  knife.  Allied  to  the  puss  (T)icranura  vinula)  are 
some  smaller  moths  called  kittens,  mostly  rare,  somewhat  like  it  in 
markings,  and  in  habit  similar.  Strolling  one  day  in  a  garden  at  West 
Kensington,  I  took  upon  a  Poplar  the  caterpillar  of  D.  bifida,  which  has 
more  variety  of  colour  than  the  larger  species,  and  feeds  only  at  night. 
I  should  hardly  hope  to  find  this  insect  now  about  London  suburbs.? 
September  brings  out  the  figure-of-eight  moth,  a  moderate  sized 
insect,  owner  of  the  long  Latin  name  of  Diloba  coeruleocephala, 
originated  by  the  blue  head  of  the  caterpillar,  on  the  crown  of  which 
are  two  black  spots.  The  body  is  green  and  yellow,  dotted  with  black 
warts  ;  therefore  it  is  conspicuous  upon  the  Hawthorn  hedges,  where 
it  feeds  in  June,  though  we  never  see  a  numl  er  of  them  together.  I 
have  taken  specimens  occasionally  off  the  Plum  and  Apple;  abroad 
the  species  is  well  known  as  a  foe  of  fruit  trees,  showing  partiality  for 
the  Peach  and  Apricot,  and  requiring  to  be  hunted  after.  In  fact. 
Continental  gardeners  not  only  seek  the  caterpillar,  but  also  t'.e  cocoon, 
made  of  silk  and  leaves,  which  is  attached  to  the  under  side  of  some 
twig.  The  moth,  which  has  its  English  name  from  two  wh  te  spots 
on  the  brown  fore  wings,  shaped  rather  like  the  figure  mentioned,  puts 
its  eggs  in  piatches  of  six  or  eight,  choosing  shoots  upon  which  the 
leaves  will  expand  earliest,  from  their  position.  These  eggs  remain 
thiough  the  winter,  and  hatch  about  April,  according  to  the  weather. 
When  the'  autumn  breezes  are  thinning  the  leaves  on  our  shrubs 
and  trees,  we  may  notice  upon  an  Elder  bush  or  a  Honeysuckle, 
perhaps  upon  the  Blackberry  or  some  fruit  tree,  a  twiggj -looking 
caterpillar,  of  some  shade  of  brown,  wdth  two  lit'le  points  at  the  tail 
and  seven  humps  along  the  body.  This  is  the  caterjnllar  of  the 
swallow-tail  moth,  Ourapteryx  sambucata,  very  ci nimon  in  the  South 
of  England.  We  come  across  it  also  feeding  upon  herbaceous  plants 
in  bordei's,  apparently  enjoying  a  change  of  diet;  but  feed  where  it 
may,  this  caterjrillar  invariably  seeks  a  tree  as  winter  approaches. 
Taking  a  place  in  some  angle  of  the  branches,  or  under  a  piece  o''  loose 
bark,  it  remains  motionless  till  April  is  well  advanced,  and  becomes 
a-  ult  in  June,  spinning  then  a  rather  slight  cocoon  of  silk,  into  which 
bits  of  leaves  are  worked;  it  is  usually  susj tended  like  a  hammock 
from  some  twig  or  branch.  During  July  the  largish  moth  flies  about 
gardens  and  hedgerows,  notable  from  its  i)ale  colour,  nor  is  it  difficult 
to  capture.  It  is  of  a  light  yellow,  streaked  with  olive  brown,  the 
hind  wings  having  two  short  tails.  However,  it  is  not  an  insect  we  are 
called  upon  to  destroy,  the  caterpillar  doing  no  mischief  worth  recording. 
The  smaller  brimstone  moth  (Rumia  cratsegata)  is  frequent  along 
country  roads  through  the  summer  season  at  intervals,  and  passes  also 
into  gardens,  owing  to  its  being  associated  with  the  Hawthorn,  the 
chief  or  only  footl  of  the  caterpillar.  In  colour  the  moth  is  a  much 
brighter  yellow  than  tlie  preceding,  with  conspicuous  red-brown  spots. 
The  caterpillar  is  brown  and  humped ;  it  may  be  taken  while  the 
moths  are  on  the  wing,  since  there  are  two,  if  not  three  broods  yearly. 
One  of  the  most  lovely  garden  moths  bears  the' name  of  the  Lilac 
Beauty  (Pericallia  syringaria).  It  is  not  plentiful  in  collections  of 
insects,  and  many  entomologists  would  be  grateful  to  any  gardener 
who  could  secure  for  them  caterpillars  of  the  species,  young  or  adult. 
It  is  not  possible  to  describe  the  moth ;  even  an  accurate  drawing 
hardly  exhibits  the  delicate  markings  and  varied  tints.  July  is  its 
month  of  appearance,  the  eggs  then  laid  upon  Lilac  (occasionally  the 
Privet  or  Elder  is  selected  by  the  parent).  Cater;  illars  hatch  gene¬ 
rally  the  same  year,  hybernatmg,  ’tis  said,  where  is  not  exactly  known  ; 
perhaps  they  live  together.  IMore  probably  their  winter  life  is  solitary. 
Small  and  greyish  brown,  they  escape  notice.  The  full-sized  cater¬ 
pillar  is  more  showy,  glossy  grey  or  rose  coloured.  Near  the  tail  end 
of  the  body  are  two  singular  hooked  lumps  of  yellow. 
Amongst  the  moths  which  have  the  misfortune  to  make  themselves 
the  victims  of  gaslights  the  thorns  are  prominent,  some  of  them  are 
familiar  even  to  the  London  gaslighter.  There  are  entomologists  who 
devote  leisure  time  to  searching  gas  lamps,  a  rather  difficult  pursuit. 
Owing  to  this  failing  of  theirs,  thorn  moths  are  often  seen  hovering  in 
gardens  near  lit-up  windows,  and  the  species  called  the  early  thorn 
(Selenia  illunaria)  feeds  upon  various  gaiden  plants  while  a  cater¬ 
pillar  in  early  summer,  the  moth  flying  during  April.  There  is 
nothing  thorny  about  any  of  these  moths,  seemingly  ;  the  name  was 
given  because  most  of  the  caterpillars  have  protuberances  which 
resemble  thorns  on  a  twig,  but  they  have  no  power  of  pricking.  The 
September  rhorn  (Ennomos  angularia),  with  angled  wings  of  brown 
and  yellow,  is  a  common  species,  which  occurs  even  in  London  suburbs, 
the  caterpillar  eating  Birch,  Elm.  and  Sycamore.  Later  still  in  its 
time  of  emergence  is  the  feathered  thorn,  which  is  abroad  in  October, 
taking  this,  and  its  Latin  name  of  Himera  pennaria,  from  the  beautiful 
plumes  which  adorn  the  head  ;  the  wings  are  of  a  rich  brown  lined 
with  white.  Nearly  allied  to  the  thorns,  but  stouter  in  body  and 
darker  in  hue,  is  the  hrindled  beauty  (Briston  hirtaria),  garbed  in 
brown  and  black,  which  sometimes  swarms  during  the  spring  about 
London  parks  and  squares,  leading  one  to  think  the  sr  arrows  do  not 
eat  the  caterpillar,  which  is  of  conspicuous  colouis.  It  lives  upon  the 
Lime  and  Elm,  but  sometimes  infests  the  Pear  and  Plum.  — 
Entomologist. 
MUSCAT  OF  ALEXANDRIA  GRAPES  SHANKING. 
Having  had  a  pretty  wide  experience  in  renovating  and  lifting  Vines 
w’hen  in  green  leaf,  and  also  during  their  resting  period,  I  may  be  able  to 
give  “  R.  M.”  (page  200)  some  assistance  in  the  prevention  of  Muscat  of 
Alexandria  Grapes  shanking. 
In  the  first  place.  What  is  shanking  ?  It  is  a  term  well  understood  by 
gardeners,  the  majority  of  whom  have  had  experience  of  it  at  one  time  or 
the  other  in  their  career.  A  house  of  Grapes  may  to  all  appearance  be 
doing  well,  and  have  got  over  the  critical  stoning  period.  The  cultivator 
is  looking  forward  to  having  some  well-finished  Grapes,  when  suddenly 
the  bunches  collapse.  At  first  it  may  be  only  a  few  mysterious  brown 
marks  that  are  observed,  but  in  a  few  days  the  stems  shrivel,  and  many 
of  the  points  and  shoulders  of  the  best  bunches  go  off  in  the  same  manner. 
Evidently  a  check  has  occurred  to  the  flow  of  sap,  which  I  have  not  the 
least  doubt  has  originated  at  the  root  of  the  Vine. 
If  a  mixed  house  of  Grapes  is  grown,  the  first  to  become  affected  with 
shanking  will  be  the  Muscats.  Some  varieties  of  Grapes  seldom  or  never 
shank.  They  may  be  overcropped,  and  otherwise  treated  badly  ;  instead 
of  being  black  they  may  be  red,  but  in  some  instances  that  have  come 
under  my  notice  shank  they  will  not,  although  the  next  Vine  being  a 
Muscat  of  Alexandria  will  be  shanking  badly.  This  clearly  proves  that 
the  latter  is  a  tender  variety,  and  requires,  where  it  is  possible,  special 
treatment.  This,  however,  is  not  really  necessary,  as  Muscat  of  Alexandria 
is  planted  largely  in  several  mixed  vineries  under  my  charge.  The  Vines 
have  been  planted  upwards  of  forty  years  ;  in  fact,  many  of  them  are 
inarched  on  other  varieties,  and  this  season  the  crops  are  probably  as 
satisfactory  as  at  any  time  during  their  existence. 
It  may  be  of  assistance  to  “  R.  M.’’  if  I  state  how  this  has  been 
brought  about.  'We  have  had  shanking  at  various  times,  but  not  to  any 
serious  extent.  Directly  this  is  observed  steps  are  taken  to  remedy  it. 
I  may  say  that  the  roots  are  inside  and  outside,  so  it  is  a  simple  matter  to 
provide  fresh  soil.  This  is  done  as  soon  as  the  fruit  is  cut,  and  if  possible 
before  the  leaves  fall,  these  being  kept  on  the  Vines  as  long  as  possible 
by  syringing  and  shading,  so  as  to  encourage  new  roots  to  form.  The 
old  soil  is  carefully  removed  from  one  of  the  borders,  and  the  roots  of  the 
Vines  placed  in  mats,  which  are  kept  constantly  syringed  as  the  work 
proceeds.  Ample  drainage  is  provided,  and  if  an  outside  border’,  never 
more  than  1 8  inches  of  soil  is  used.  If  it  is  possible,  keep  the  border  above 
the  level  of  the  surrounding  land.  By  this  means  every  ray  of  sunshine 
is  caught,  the  liorder  is  warm,  and  the  water  passes  away  readily. 
Grapes  grown  on  Vines  planted  in  a  border  of  this  description  will  rarely 
shank  provided  the  soil  is  right. 
Our  soil  is  on  the  strong  magnesian  limestone  formation.  But  lime 
made  from  the  stone,  although  answering  admirably  for  building  purposes, 
is  as  poison,  either  when  used  new  or  old,  to  all  vegetation  with  which  it 
comes  in  contact.  Was  the  limestone  used  by  “  K.  M.”  of  the  right 
quality  ?  The  loam  is  usually  cut  the  previous  autumn  and  stacked. 
'We  sometimes  use  a  heavy  and  light  loam  in  equal  proportions,  similar  to 
that  mentioned  by  “B.  M.,  ”  in  others  only  the  heavy  loam  has  been  used, 
with  no  perceptible  difference.  To  this  is  added  charcoal,  wood  ashes, 
and  broken  bricks  in  equal  parts,  the  latter  being  about  the  size  of  a  hen's 
egg,  the  fine  dust  being  sifted  out.  About  one  part  of  this  mixture  to 
twelve  parts  of  soil  is  used.  Bone  meal,  and  quarter-inch  bones  in  equal 
quantities  are  used  in  proportion  of  1  stone  (14  lbs.)  to  a  large  cartload  of 
soil.  This  is  well  incorporated,  and  placed  firmly  in  the  border.  The 
roots  are  spread  out  thinly  in  the  compost,  and  after  being  finished  off  the 
whole  is  covered  with  a  layer  of  litter,  or  bracken  sufficient  to  keep  out 
the  frost. 
If  “  E.  M.”  will  make  up  a  shallow  border  on  the  above  lines,  and  not 
use  any  horse  or  pig  manure,  which  in  his  case  doubtless  did  more  harm 
than  good  by  keeping  the  border  cold  and  stagnant,  he  will,  I  have  nu 
doubt,  be  able  to  grow  good  Muscat  of  Alexandria  Grapes  without  being 
troubled  with  shanking  for  some  time  to  come.  But  he  must  first  take 
steps  to  keep  the  Elm  roots  out  of  the  Vine  border,  or  they  will  soon 
impoverish  it  to  such  an  extent  that  it  will  be  impossible  to  grow  good 
Muscat  Grapes  without  constantly  renewing  the  border, — S.,  Yorks, 
