July  18,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
69- 
All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should  be  directed 
to  “  The  Editor,”  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers,  Fleet  Street, 
London,  E.C.  It  is  reqm  sted  that  no  one  will  write  privately 
to  any  of  our  correspondents,  seeking  information  on  mat  ten 
discussed  in  this  Journal,  as  doing  so  subjects  them  to  unjustifiable 
trouble  and  expense. 
Names  of  Plants  ( Fairlawn ). — 1,  Hedera  Helix  var.  Emerald  Green  ; 
2,  Cratasgus  Douglasi;  3,  Mimulns  glutinoeus;  4,  Calamintha  grandi- 
flora.  (A.  T.). — SoDchus  arveDsip.  ( A .  L.  G.). — 1,  Chicorium  Intybus; 
2,  Lysimachia  punctatum  ;  3,  Polygonum  Baldschuanicutn.  ( L .  R.). — 
Spartium  junceum.  (J.  A.). — 1,  Roses  should  be  sent  to  some  larye 
grower,  we  do  not  undertake  to  name  them  ;  2,  Asplenium  Triohomanes 
var.;  3,  probably  Hemerocallis  Middendorfiana ;  4,  Hemerocallis  flava. 
{A.  Balter ). — Probably  Dracunoulns  canariensis.  (R.  8.). —  1,  Nepeta 
suavis ;  2,  Stachys  Betonica ;  3,  Morina  longifolia ;  4,  Scabiosa 
cauoasica;  5,  Scabiosa  sylvatica.  (H.  S.). — 1,  Cephalaria  alpina  ;  2, 
Coronilla  varia;  3,  Lathyrus  latifolius ;  4,  Lythrum  Salicaria ;  5, 
L.  S.  rosea.  (St.  Andrews). — 1,  Oenothera  speciosa;  2,  Spiraea  digitata; 
3,  Poterium  officinale.  (R.  Jackson). — 1,  Helenium  autumnale  pumilum  ; 
2,  Isatis  glauca,  the  Woad. 
Nectarines  Shrivelled  (J.  A.). — The  cause  is  usually  lack  of 
nutrition  of  a  consolidating  nature  in  the  growing  stages,  combined 
with  a  deficiency  of  light  for  its  elaboration,  consequently  at  the  ripening 
stage  too  much  moisture  is  evaporated,  and  the  fruit  shrivel  in  con¬ 
sequence.  But  the  shrivelling  is  characteristic  of  some  varieties,  Lord 
Napier  being  very  prone  to  shrivel  at  the  apex  when  ripening,  while 
such  varieties  as  Elruge  seldom  do  so  under  identical  circumstances. 
The  shrivelling  in  the  present  case  is  due  to  the  recent  hot  droughty 
weather;  a  moist  condition  of  the  atmosphere  and  shade  from  the 
direct  rays  of  the  sun  would  have  secured  more  even  ripening,  and 
that  without  interfering  with  the  quality  of  the  fruit.  It  would  be 
well  another  year  to  give  the  trees  a  top-dressing  of  the  following 
mixture  when  they  start  into  growth  : — Dissolved  bones,  dry  and 
crumbling,  three  parts ;  nitrate  of  potash,  finely  powdered,  two  parts; 
ground  gypsum,  one  part,  mixed,  applying  4  ozs.  of  the  mixture  per 
square  yard,  and  pointing  or  scratching  in  very  lightly,  repeating  when 
the  stoning  is  completed.  The  house  should  be  well  ventilated  in  the 
early  stages  of  the  fruit  swelling,  so  as  to  secure  a  sturdy,  thoroughly 
solidified  growth  in  the  fruit,  shading  from  powerful  sun  during  the 
ripening  of  the  fruit. 
Apple  Leaves  Blistered  ( R .  C.). — The  leaves  are  very  seriously 
blistered  by  the  caterpillars  of  the  Pear-tree  blister  moth,  Tinea 
Clerckella,  a  minute  moth  whioh  appears  in  May  or  June  and  deposits 
eggs  upon  the  foliage  of  Apple,  Cherry,  and  Pear  trees,  most  commonly 
the  latter.  The  larvae  or  caterpillars,  hatching  from  the  eggs  in  the 
course  of  a  few  days,  penetrate  beneath  the  cuticle,  and  by  feeding 
upon  the  parenchyma  or  internal  substance  of  the  leaf  cause  numerous 
brown  blisters,  greatly  disfiguring  the  leaves  and  interfering  with  their 
functions.  When  full  growD,  which  is  the  case  with  the  caterpillars  in 
the  present  instance,  the  caterpillars  spin  cocoons,  one  each  for  itself, 
on  a  leaf  in  crevices  of  the  bark,  and  in  cracks  of  walls,  &o.,  and 
change  into  a  chrysalis  or  pupa,  and  remain  as  such  until  the  following 
season,  though  in  some  cases  there  are  probably  two  broods  in  a  season, 
the  latest  being  full  grown  in  September,  when  the  maggot  or 
caterpillar  spins  itself  a  cocoon  on  a  leaf  or  other  suitable  position 
before  alluded  to,  sometimes  letting  itself  down  to  the  ground  by  a 
thread,  and  forming  the  cocoon  on  fallen  leaves,  remaining  in  the  pupa 
state  until  the  following  spring.  All  dead  leaves,  therefore,  should  be 
removed  in  autunm,  and  burned  or  otherwise  disposed  of,  so  that  the 
chrysalis  may  be  destroyed.  It  is  also  advisable  to  spray  the  trees  and 
walls,  if  the  trees  are  against  such,  with  a  solution  of  oaustic  soda 
(97  per  cent,  purity)  and  commercial  potash  or  pearlash,  £  lb.  of  each 
to  8  gallons  of  water,  on  a  dry  day  when  the  trees  are  quite  dormant, 
the  solution  being  applied  at  a  temperature  of  about  140°.  This  is 
best  done  shortly  after  the  leaves  are  all  down,  mild  weather  being 
ohcsen  for  the  operation.  In  the  early  summer  the  trees  may  be 
sprayed  with  tar  water,  £  lb.  of  gas  tar  being  boiled  in  2  gallons  of 
water  for  half  an  hour  or  until  it  will  readily  mix  with  water,  then 
diluting  to  50  gallons,  and  applying  by  means  of  a  spraying  apparatus  ; 
suffice  that  the  foliage  be  coated  with  the  finest  possible  film  of  the  tar 
water.  The  smell  of  tar  is  hateful  to  the  moths,  and  they  seldom 
deposit  eggs  on  the  foliage  so  coated.  Syringing  with  paraffin  emulsion 
or  petroleum  softsoap,  2  ozs.  to  a  gallon  of  water,  is  also  useful  against 
the  pests,  and  where  spraying  with  Paris  green  is  practised  for 
caterpillars  the  tiny  creatures  in  eating  through  the  cuticle  take  their 
last  meal. 
Meadow  Broadspear  (M.  M.  R.). — In  the  absence  of  a  description,  or 
a  specimen  leaf  or  flower,  we  cannot  tell  you  what  plant  bears  this 
local  name.  None  of  the  authorities  we  have  consulted  mention  the 
name.  It  is  probably  a  native  Iris,  Gladiolus,  or  typhaceous  plant.. 
Does  it  grow  in  moist  places  ? 
Barren  Strawberries  (J.  B.). — It  is  difficult  to  say  whether  it  would 
be  best  to  root  them  out  or  leave  them  one  year  more.  If  you  have 
good  runners  from  fruitful  plants  (or  can  get  same)  by  all  means  renew 
your  bed.  It  is  generally  accepted  that  runners  from  barren  Straw¬ 
berries  form  unfruitful  plants. 
The  Mullein  Moth  ( Ento). — The  specimen  you  have  sent  is  the 
Mullein  moth.  During  this  month,  but  at  various  times  between  the 
end  of  May  and  August,  a  greenish  white  or  slaty -coloured  caterpillar, 
more  than  2  inches  long  when  full  grown,  mav  be  found  feeding  on 
the  various  species  of  Mullein  (Verbascum)  and  Figwort  (Scirophularia). 
On  each  segment  of  this  caterpillar  are  four  large  black  dots,  some¬ 
times  separate,  sometimes  running  together;  there  are  smaller  black 
dots  along  the  sides,  and  a  double  row  of  yellow  spots  on  the  back,, 
with  others  on  the  sides.  The  head  is  yellow,  spotted  with  black.  This 
is  the  larva  of  the  Mullein  moth  (Cucullia  verbasci  and  Nootua  verbasci 
of  some).  This  moth  appears  commonly  in  May.  It  is  about  2  inches 
across  the  expanded  fore-wings,  which  are  of  a  dark  reddish-brown 
colour,  clouded  and  lined  with  black,  and  with  a  large  white  spot 
on  each,  resembling  the  figure  3,  as  shown  in  the  accompanying 
drawing.  The  hind-wings  are  also  reddish-brown,  but  paler,  and 
sometimes  almost  white. 
The  female  lays  her  eggs 
on  the  Mulleins  and 
their  relative  species  of 
plants,  which  eggs  are 
hatched  iu  a  few  days  if 
the  weather  is  warm.  The 
caterpillars  when  of  full 
growth  we  have  already 
described,  and  they  then 
descend  into  the  roots  of 
the  plants  where  they 
have  been  feeding,  form¬ 
ing  cocoons  of  half-rotted 
leaves  and  earth,  so 
firmly  bound  together  as  to  resemble  small  hard  clods.  They  remain 
in  the  pupa  state  till  the  following  May,  or  even  for  two  years.  It  is 
curious  that  the  caterpillar  of  this  moth,  although  its  food  is  usually 
vegetable,  eats  with  muoh  apparent  satisfaction  the  skins  which  from 
time  to  time  it  casts  during  growth.  This  strange  repast  seems  even 
a  stimulating  dainty,  speedily  restoring  the  caterpillar  to  vigour  after 
the  painful  moulting  by  which  it  has  been  supplied  with  it. 
EDXTORXAX.  NOTICE. — Our  readers  can  greatly  assist  in  adding 
interest  to  the  pages  of  “  The  Journal  ”  by  their  kindly  contribution 
of  timely  notes  and  notices,  and  at  the  present  period  of  the  year 
there  may  be  photographic  examples  of  well-grown  fruit,  &o., 
growing  or  otherwise,  that  would  be  worthy  of  reproduction.  The 
Editor  would  be  pleased  to  have  such  subjects  for  consideration 
and  probable  use.  He  does  not  guarantee  to  pay  for  prints  unless 
by  special  agreement. 
Next  Week’s  Events. 
Friday,  July  19th. — National  Carnation  and  Picotee  Society  (Southern' 
Section)  Show  at  Crystal  Palace. 
Saturday,  July  20th. — Newton  Mearns  Rose  Society’s  Show. 
Tuesday,  July  23rd. — Durham,  Northumberland, and  Newcastle  Botanical 
and  Horticultural  Society  Exhibition  at  Newcastle  (two  days).;. 
Tibshelf  Rose  Exhibition. 
Wednesday,  July  24th. — Nottinghamshire  Horticultural  and  Botanical 
Show  (two  days)  ;  Strabane  Horticultural  Exhibition  (two  days)  y. 
Boston  (Lines.)  Exhibition  (two  days)  ;  Southern  Counties  Carnation 
Show  at  Southampton. 
Thursday,  July  25th. — Selby  Exhibition  ;  National  Sweet  Pea  Society 
(two  days)  ;  Bedale  Rose  Show  ;  Belfast  Rose. 
Phenological  Observations. 
July  19th  to  25th.  Plants  dedicated  to  each  day^ 
19 
Fri. 
Humming  bird  hawk  moth  seen. 
Golden  Hawk  weed. 
20 
Sat. 
Goat  moth  seen. 
Virginia  Dragon  head. 
21 
Sun. 
Musk  beetle  seen. 
Philadelphia  “  Lily.” 
22 
Mon. 
Bee  Orchis  flowering. 
Afrioan  “  Lily.” 
23 
Tu. 
Turtle-dove  last  heard. 
Dark  purple  Scabious. 
24 
Wed. 
Swallow-tail  moth  seen. 
Tree  Lupine. 
25 
Thr. 
Gooseberries  aod  Cherries 
Baneberry. 
at  their  height. 
Mullein  Moth. 
