June  22,  1899. 
JOURXAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
507 
been  reported  that  Potato  haulm  was  seriously  injured  in  various 
localities  by  the  tunnelling  of  a  caterpillar,  and  one  species  at  least 
was  identified  last  year,  .\phi3  of  many  kinds,  the  too  well-known 
“  blight,”  was  abundant ;  this  group  of  insects  can  stand  cold  winds 
and  summer  drought.  Towards  autumn  very  numerous  complaints 
were  made  by  gardeners  and  Cabbage  growers  of  the  mischief  traceable 
to  caterpillars  of  the  white  butterflies,  which  occurred  in  ravenous 
multitudes.  But  on  the  other  hand  the  cornfields  suffered  little  from  , 
the  tiny  enemies  of  stem  and  grain.  Surface  caterpillars  were  about 
indeed,  yet  did  no  great  harm ;  and  the  host  of  leaf-devourers,  often 
complained  of  during  IMay,  were  conspicuous  by  their  scarcity. 
Coming  more  to  detail,  we  will  begin  with  the  Strawberries, 
which  are  just  now  arriving  in  the  markets — a  fruit  so  much  valued 
by  us  that  our  ire  is  roused  against  insects  that  audaciously  take  it 
from  our  mouths,  so  to  speak.  It  is  certain  the  beetles  complained 
of  have  in  some  neighbourhoods  seriously  reduced  the  crop.  Miss 
Ormerod  states  that  these  eaters  of  our  Strawberries  were  first  reported 
to  her  in  1894,  but  I  believe  ten  j'e.ars  before  that  they  were 
mentioned  in  these  pages',  one  species  in  particular  getting  from  some 
gardeners  the  name  of  “  Black  Bob.”  Very  dingy  indeed  most  of 
these  beetles  are,  if  not  all  of  them  black ;  the  chief  offender, 
Pterostichus  vulgaris,  is  wholly  black  and  glossy,  with  a  striated  back 
and  no  wings.  That  fact,  of  course,  prevents  such  beetles  from 
travelling  across  the  country.  Two  other  species  observed  on  the 
Strawberry  are  wingless  also,  or  have  them  undeveloped  usuall3\ 
The  second  in  importance,  however,  llarpalus  ruficornis,  possesses 
wings,  and  the  insects  have  been  seen  at  night  flying  in  parties,  after 
the  manner  of  cockchafers ;  this  species  is  of  a  reddish  brown.  What 
surprised  the  entomologists  was,  that  all  these  beetles  belong  to  a  family 
believed  to  be  thoroughly  carnivorous  or  predatory  in  habit ;  certainly 
the  larva3  or  grubs  are,  which  is  something  by  way  of  a  set-off.  The 
beetles  themselves  have  a  liking  for  meat  as  well  as  Strawberries  ; 
this  suggests  a  mode  of  trapping  them. 
During  daylight  they  hide,  after  sunset  they  may  be  searched  for 
with  a  lantern,  but  this  is  tedious  work.  Laxton  Brothers,  of  Bedford, 
state  it  is  more  satisfactory  to  bait  a  number  of  pudding  basins  with 
pieces  of  lights  and  sugar  water.  These  are  sunk  into  the  ground  level 
to  the  surface  at  night,  and  examined  next  morning.  By  another 
gardener  it  is  reported  that  thousands  were  caught  in  rows  of  con¬ 
densed  milk  tins  placed  along  the  beds,  with  half  an  inch  of  tar  at  the 
bottom.  Two  instances  are  recorded  last  year  of  Strawberries  being 
damaged  by  the  cockchafer  grub.  On  the  Continent  this  insect  is 
frequently  detected  lying  at  the  roots  of  these  plants,  seldom  here.  On 
our  island  it  is  too  well  known  as  a  foe  of  Turni[)s  and  other  root  crops, 
also  infesting  grasses,  and  attacking  young  trees  in  nurseries. 
“Black  Bob”  has  a  near  relative,  Pterostichus  madidus, which  has, 
for  thirteen  years,  been  noticed  as  a  cause  of  injury  to  Mangold  roots, 
attacking  them  at  night  during  June.  From  the  time  the  attacks  are 
made  they  are  overlooked,  the  beetles  hiding  by  day.  An  observer 
last  summer  noted  that  the  choicest  varieties,  and  most  valuable  for 
feeding  purposes,  are  singled,  the  plants  being  cut  off  just  above  the 
roots,  the  leaves  are  seldom  touched.  Evidently  remedial  measures 
must  include  the  destruction  of  the  grub  or  maggot  which  has  produced 
the  beetle,  if  that  can  be  secured  ;  at  present  the  habits  of  the  species 
are  scarcely  known.  A  much  smaller  beetle  was  noticed  again  in  May 
and  June,  1898,  injuring  the  crops  by  gnawing  little  holes  in  the 
germinating  plants,  so  that  they  die  before  appearing  above  ground,  or 
later,  biting  the  tap  root  and  leafstalks.  This  is  Atomaria  linearis, 
only  half  a  line  long,  blackish  or  brown,  possessing  wings,  and  is  busy 
in  the  day  occasionally,  as  well  as  at  dusk.  Where  the  species  has 
been  noticed  it  appears  by  myriads,  but  it  has  never  been  generally 
distributed,  though  Curtis  mentioned  it  many  years  ago  in  his  “  Farm 
Insects.*’ 
Last  year's  report  brings  out  some  facts  important  to  all  the 
possessors  of  orchards,  though,  as  a  rule,  shortness  of  crop  was  seldom 
traceable  to  insect  foes,  but  arose  often  from  other  circumstances.  But 
the  Pear  gnat  midge  was  more  abundant  and  injurious  than  in  any 
year  since  1883,  occurring,  however,  chiefly  about  South  England.  This 
insect  (Diplosis  pyrivora)  is  a  tiny  two-winged  fly;  it  has  black  head 
and  thorax  touched  with  grey,  the  body  brown  tipped  with  whitish 
hairs,  and  the  dusky  wings  have  a  fringe  of  hair,  there  is  an  ovipositor 
in  the  female.  During  spring,  they  deposit  eggs  on  the  blossom, 
sometimes  before  it  is  opened ;  the  grubs  hatch  speedily,  when  removed 
from  the  fruit  they  have  the  power  of  jumping.  One  remarks,  “The 
Pears  swell  up  to  the  size  of  a  sparrow’s  egg,  and,  if  you  cut  them  open 
just  below  the  eye,  you  find  about  a  dozen  of  these  small  maggots. 
In  a  week  or  fortnight  the  Pear  becomes  black  where  they  have  eaten 
the  inside  away,  then  they  disappear ;  usually  the  Pear  falls  to  the 
ground,  but  some  remain  as  deformed  fruit  on  the  tree.”  Of  course, 
all  fallen  Pears  should  be  burnt,  and  it  is  recommended  to  shake  trees 
that  are  attacked,  to  get  away  every  Pear  (hat  is  infectM  with, 
maggots.  Since  the  coco  ms  are  formed  on  the  earth  under  tlie  trees, 
skimming  olf  the  surface  .soil  in  the  autumn  Isas  been  recommended. 
But  Prof.  Smith  of  New  Jersey  reports  that  the  !  eat  remedy  is  a  good 
top-dressing  of  kainil  ;  an  almost  equal  result,  however,  was  attained 
by  free  sprinkling  of  nitrate  of  soda. 
There  is  an  Apple-haunting  insect,  which  probably  does  every  year 
a  certain  amount  of  mischief,  that  escapes  notice;  but  last  year 
several  complaints  were  made  from  different  localities.  Henceforth 
gardeners  must  keep  watch  for  it.  The  maggot  has  the  habit  of 
destroying  bunches  of  Apple  blossom  by  tuuneliing  up  the  shoi-t 
beneath  them.  The  moth  is  called  the  pith  moth,  Laverna  atra;  it  is 
minute  in  size,  deep  brown  streaked  with  white,  and  flies  in  July, 
when  the  eggs  are  laid.  Evidently  the  young  caterpillars  hybernate 
under  the  bark  of  an  Apple  twig,  then  in  May  bore  along  .the  wood  of 
a  growing  shoot,  devouring  the  pith.  Tliey  jmrsue  a  different  plan  to 
that  followed  by  the  red  bud  caterpillar,  which  infests  thp  Apple  in 
j\Iay,  and  first  feeds  on  the  blossoms,  spinning  them  together,  the  i 
finishes  off  upon  the  leaves.  This  insect,  common  on  the  Continent, 
is  seldom  noticed  in  Britain.  Little  can  be  done  with  either,  except 
to  pick  off  any  shoots  seen  to  be  afl’ecte  1  at  the  tips.  The  conspicuous 
caterpillar  of  the  huff-tip  moth  has  been  taken  upon  Apples  in  several 
places,  both  North  and  Soui.h  of  England. — Entomologist. 
FLOWERS  IN  DRY  WEATHER. 
A  WELL-KNOWN  book — which  I  must  confess  I  have  never  read 
— bears  the  taking  title  of  “  How  to  he  Happy,  (hough  INIarried.” 
Gardening  has  so  many  difficulties  that  one  would  think  a  volume 
entitled  “  How  to  be  Happy,  though  a  Gardener,”  would  run  through 
many  editions.  I  am  not  going  to  discourse  to  my  readers  in  tlie 
familiar  style  of  the  **  Chaplain  to  the  Forces,”  whose  wise  words 
(I  speak  from  y?«ro/e  knowledge  only)  have,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  brought 
peace  to  some  unhappy  households;  but  I  desire,  at  a  time  when 
drought  prevails,  to  see  what  nectar  and  comfort  one  can  extract  from 
the  flowers  of  the  time.  If  things  wilt  and  look  forlorn  for  want  of 
the  refreshing  rain  there  is  no  reason  why  we  gardeners  should  seek 
coolness  and  oblivion  in  that  slough  of  despond  which  seems  so 
convenient.  While  we  are  at  the  use  of  means  to  keep  our  favcurite.s 
alive,  we  may,  at  the  same  time,  think  happily  of  the  beauties  cf 
many  things.  Toil  there  may  be,  and  is ;  but  the  brilliancy  of  the 
sun  brings  with  it  much  of  charm  and  many  bright  features. 
The  time  has  gone  by  for  the  Poppy  to  be  looked  upon  with  dread 
or  despised,  as  in  the  Elizabethan  days.  We  may  not,  like  the 
ancients,  dedicate  it  to  Ceres;  but  we  look  upon  it  as  one  of  Flora’s 
gifts,  cairying  to  us,  in  its  brightness  and  gaiety,  joy  and  ilasting 
pleasure,  though  its  flowers  in  themselves  are  only  fleeting.  In  the.-e 
dry  days,  in  which  the  Poppy  appears  to  delight,  the  great  hloonis 
of  the  Eastern  Poppy  (Papaver  orieutale)  glow  in  the  strong  sunlight. 
If  we  use  this  Poppy  wisely  we  need  not  call  it  garish  and  gaudy. 
Smaller  and  different  in  every  way  are  the  flowers  of  Papaver  rupi- 
fragum  ;  more  delicate  and  fleeting  in  their  beauty,  their  soft  salmon 
colouring  is  less  obtrusive,  even  when  they  seem  to  reflect  from  their 
shining  crinkled  petals  the  sunlight’s  lays. 
As  one  grows  it  longer,  one  learns  better  to  appreciate  Mr. 
J.  Carrington-Ley’s  hybrid  between  P.  orientate  and  P.  rupifraguni 
Like  a  small  Oriental  Poppy  in  its  general  features,  there  is  about  it 
an  almost  undiscernible,  subtle,  pleasing  reminiscence  of  its  other 
parent,  which  gives  refinement  to  its  blooms.  Cheering  also  are  the 
flowers  of  the  other  Poppies,  such  as  those  of  the  dainty,  delicate,  little 
P.  alpinum  ;  the  more  roffiist  P.  nudicaule,  varied,  like  the  Alpine 
Poppies,  in  their  colouring ;  the  exquisite  bhirley  Poppies ;  or  the 
deep  scarlet,  jet-black  spotted  blooms  of  P.  umbrosum. 
To  no  flower  seems  the  dry  weather  more  welcome  Ihp  to  the  old 
double  white  Pink.  How  soon  rain  defaces  the  beauty  of  its  laciniated 
petals,  and  changes  their  grace  into  decay.  We  have  no  sweeter 
flower  than  this.  One  would  almost  .think  that  the  fringing  of  its 
petals  had  been  done  of  set  purpose,  so  that  there  might  be  more 
opportunities  for  the  diffusion  of  tliat  sweet  fragrance  which  is  so 
welcome  as  we  draw  near.  Did  the  long  drought  but  lengthen  our 
enjoyment  of  this  delicious  perfume  it  would  not  fail  to  bring  some 
balm  of  comfort.  ,  •  /m  • 
From  the  old  white  Pink  with  its  odour  to  the  Australasian  Glearia 
stellulata  seems  a  long  leap.  The  latter  has  no  fragrance  to 
recommend  it,  but,  like  the  songless  bird,  it  has  its  beauties,  it  it 
cannot  waft  to  us  a  perfumed  breath  it  can  give  us  the  snowy 
whiteness  of  its  lowlier  companion,  and  the  masses  of  Avhite  Uaisy 
like  flowers  look  cool  and  refreshing.  Like  the  Pink,  dry  weather 
prolongs  its  beauty,  and  one  can  but  think  with  some  apprehension  of 
these  great  sprays  of  flowers,  with  which  the  grey  bushes  are  so 
covered,  being  defaced  by  the  needed  rainfall.  Compared  with  it. 
