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JOURNAL  OR  HORTICULTURE  A  XU  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
December  31,  1903. 
Insects  as  Garden  Adornments, 
At  this  season  of  the  year,  insect  life  generally  is  in  a  state 
of  repose,  rvaiting  for  the  expansion  of  the  spring  bnds.  Though 
a  few  insects  there  are  whose  liabit  it  is  to  make  appearance  on 
occasional  mild  days  during  winter,  some  moths,  for  instance,  and 
sundry  species  of  the  fly  order.  Beetles  are  nearly  all  dormant, 
yet  they  are  amongst  the  earliest  imsects  to  foretell  the  approach 
of  the  growing — often  blowing — season.  Gardeners,  however,  in 
thecour.se  of  their  operations  bring  beetles  into  view  about  this 
time.  +uming  them  over  with  the  soil,  shaking  them,  out  of 
autumn  flowers,  in  which  they  have  found  a  shelter,  and  disturb¬ 
ing  them  from  their  winter  quarters  under  the  bark  of  trees. 
Many  beetles  also,  during  their  larva  or  grub  .stage,  may  be 
found  inhabiting  solid  wood,  hollow  stems  and  roots.  It  is  not 
unusual  to  see  in  April  some  small  beetle  marching  about  with 
dents  upon  the  wing-cases.  These  have  been  catised  by  the 
pressure  upon  its  body,  during  the  winter  .sleep,  of  contracting 
bark,  and  come  out  all  right. 
Ladybirds,  of  which  we  have  a  number  of  .species,  two  being 
specially  familiar  to  us,  are  beetles  that  did  not  have  the  first 
half  of  their  name  from  their  ladylike  aspect,  but  because  they 
were  presumed  to  be  under  the  guardiamshii^  of  “  Our  Lady.” 
They  are  small,  but  pretty  insects,  and  of  notable  .service  to  the 
gardener,  also  sometimes  to  the  farmer,  their  favourite  food  being 
the  aphis  tribe  on  all  kinds  of  plants.  Probably  they  also  eat 
some  of  the  Acari  or  mites,  which  occasion  us  trouble  at  times. 
So  far  a.s  we  have  ob.served,  ladybirds  hybernate  under  bark, 
amongst  dry  leaves,  in  nooks  and  corners,  emerging  during  spring 
to  start  a  neAv  brood.  We  find  them,  however,  active  or  semi¬ 
active,  through  the  Avinter  months  in  houses  and  frames,  Avhere 
they  doubtless  caiDture  little  insects  that  may  be  about.  Tho 
commonest  species  is  the  two-.spotted  Coccinella  bipunctata,  the 
small  broAvn  grub,  Avhicli  is  even  more  ravenous  than  the  adult 
beetle.  Next  to  it  in  abundance  is  the  larger  C.  septempunctata, 
so-called,  but  the  number  of  spots  varies;  occasionall.y  Ave  notice 
a  specimen  that  has  none. 
Like  most  of  its  brethren,  it  exudes  a  fluid  of  an  unpleasant 
odour,  Avhich  had  repute  as  a  remedy  for  toothache.  These  are 
useful,  and  not  ugly,  but  there  are  prettier  ladybirds  to  be  seen 
in  gardens,  very  serviceable.  The  eyed  ladybird  (C.  ocellata) 
is  generally  found  on  trees ;  it  has  red  wing-cases,  upon  Avhicli 
are  eighteen  black  spots,  each  encircled  by  a  yelloAv  ring.  Then 
another  species  can  boast  twcnty-tAvo  spots,  not  ahvays  countable, 
and  yet  another  species  is  sometimes  a  cream  Avhite  Avith  black 
spots  or  black  AA  ith  spots  and  streaks  of  red. 
Many  of  the  long-horned  beetles,  of  Amrious  sizes,  that  are 
active  in  the  summer  sunshine,  running  over  leaves  or  floAvers, 
and  climbing  stems,  are  living  noAV  as  fat,  muscular  grubs  under 
bark,  or  in  decaying  Avood.  Those  of  the  AA’asiA  beetle,  or  Clytus 
arietis,  AA’hite,  flat,  Avith  .small  horny  heads,  often  tumble  by 
scores  out  of  some  O’ld  garden  post  that  is  being  pulled  up  as 
useless,  because  they  and  other  insect  borers  have  reduced  it  to 
rottenness.  June  is  the  month  tO'  see  the  beetles  in  full  vigour, 
skipping  amongst  the  foliage,  and  they  certainly  have  a  AAasp- 
like  appearance,  and  go  about  in  a  fussy  style. 
The  arrangement  of  colours  is  pleasing  to  the  eye,  the  head 
and  thorax  being  black  Avith  a  yelloAv  ring.  On  the  rich  broAvn 
of  the  Aving-ca.se.s  are  three  yelloAv  Ijands,  a  spot,  a  narroAv 
line,  and  the  tips  are  also'  yelloAv,  the  rather  long  legs  are  pale 
chestnut.  Another  lively  and  elegant  Avood  beetle  Ave  knoAv  only 
by  its  Latin  name  of  Strangolia  elongata  ;  it  is  vei-y  partial  to 
the  floAvers  of  umbelliferous  plants.  It  has  a  long  thorax  and 
tapering  AA  ing-ca.se.s ;  the  colour  is  pale  yelloAv,  chequered  Avith 
black  and  broAvn.  Under  bark  feeds  the  grub  of  the  handsome 
beetle  (yEdemera  cserulea),  of  a  greenish  blue  tint,  Avhich  has 
remarkably  stout  hind  legs,  suggesting  a  leaping  poAver,  Avhich 
the  insect  does  not  seem  to  exhibit. 
One  of  the  chafer  beetles  familiar  to  gardeners,  if  not  alAA  ays 
knoAvn  by  name,  is  the  June  bug.  Bracken  clock,  or  “  Cocker- 
bundy,'’  this  last  being  an  odd  contortion  of  the  Welsh  “Cock-y- 
bundu,”  it  is  .so  called  by  anglers,  Avho  find  it  a  good  bait. 
Its  .scientific  name  of  Phyllopertha  horticola,  tells  us  it  is  a  fi’e- 
quenter  of  gardens,  and  though  in  the  open  it  may  hide  amongst 
the  Fern  or  Bracken,  it  attacks  the  floAver  or  foliage  of  various 
plants,  and,  appearing  early,  it  sonietimes  damages  the  buds  of 
fruit  trees,  Avhile  expanding.  Its  destructiveness  checks  our 
admiration  of  its  beauty,  yet  it  is  a  pretty  insect,  the  head  and 
thorax  being  of  a  green  tint,  the  Aving-cases  reddish  broAvn.  The 
larva  is  also  one  of  our  foes,  .since  it  feeds  upon  the  roots  of 
grasses,  probably  those  of  the  Potato  and  other  garden  plants 
occasionally  suffer.  Larger  and  still  handsomer  is  the  Rose 
l)eetle,  another  of  the  chafers  Avhich  haunts  floAvers,  e.specially 
tho.se  of  the  PriA'^et  and  Rose,  but  it  does  not  seem  to  cause 
damage,  like  the  preceding  species. 
This  beetle  (Cetonia  aurata)  is  of  bright  golden  green, 
adorned  Avith  Avhite  streaks  on  the  Aving-cases.  ^\s  it  flies  it  pro*- 
duces  a  humming  sound,  and  it  is  the  habit  of  the  species  to 
assemble  in  parties,  Avhen  the  sun  is  shining.  It  is  curious  that 
tho  grubs  are  sociable,  too,  being  found  sometimes  by  scores 
on  decaying  trunks  or  roots.  We  once  noted  the  occurrence  of 
numerous  beetles  in  a  market-garden,  Avhich  indicated  that  tlio 
grubs  had  fed  on  something  there.  They  groAv  very  sloAvIy. 
Besides  the  troublesome  beetles,  of  Avhicli  there  are  many 
handsome  or  plain,  that  aao  must  noAv  pass  by,  avc  liaA'e  our 
friendiv  species,  that  are  AAorking  actively  for  our  benefit  a  good 
part  of  the  year.  Both  in  the  lai'Aml  and  mature  state  the  ground 
beetles  are  carnivorous.  The  black  and  muscular  larvfe  are  feeding 
noAv  underground,  seizing  a  variety  of  insects,  amongst  them  tho 
AvireAvorm  ;  they  also  eat  small  Avorms,  .so  that  it  is  Avell  not  to 
kill  them,  if  they  are  knoAvn  to  us.  Early  in  spring,  the  beetles 
are  abroad,  they  liaA-e  no  Avings,  but  are  very  agile  in  running, 
Avith  digging  poAvers,  too'.  An  abundant  garden  species  is  Carabus 
monilis,  it  has  a  copper-liued  thorax  and  metallic  green  Aving- 
cases,  Avhich  are  adorned  by  little  ridges  or  points,  Avhich  sug¬ 
gested  the  name.  The  sun  beetles,  particularly  of  the  genera 
Amara  and  Pcecilus,  hide  among.st  clods  and  stones  during 
Avi liter  ;  mostly  they  are  of  bright  colours.  It  is  considered  un¬ 
lucky  to  kill  one,  and  they  are  useful,  though  some  of  them 
are  guilty  of  attacking  ripe  StraAvberries.  Gardens  having 
grassy  spots  and  shady  nooks  may  be  found  in  summer  or 
autumn  musical  Avith  the  sounds  of  crickets  and  grasshoppers ; 
not  unpleasant  to  most  people.  One  amusing  circumstance  is 
that  the  chirp  or  call  is  not  easily  traceable  to  the  direction 
from  Avhich  it  comes.  Just  iioav  in.sects  of  this  tribe  are  mostly 
in  their  early  .stage  of  life — silent,  and  pirobably  toiqAid. 
These  insects,  the  crickets  especially,  exhibit  to  us  Nat  ire’s 
violin,  for  in  the  Avings  Ave  see  the  boAV,  string,  and  .sounding- 
board,  variations  in  the  notes  of  different  species  arising  fr-im 
the  size  or  .shape  of  the  ridge,  Avhich  is  the  boAv,  and  that  of 
the  drum  or  sounding-board.  The  elegant  great  green  grass¬ 
hopper  is  the  largest,  the  handsome.st,  if  not  the  loudest  of  our 
British  siiecies  of  the  tribe.  Leaving  coi5.ses  and  hedges  its 
chief  resorts,  this  insect  Avill  come  into  garden  precincts, 
perhaps  for  a  change  of  diet.  Though  it  is  a  feeder  on  leaves, 
the  Avilliiigness  it  sIioavs  to  eat  bits  of  raAv  beef  Avhen  in  captivity 
makes  us  surmise  it  may  .sometimes  devour  other  insects.  It 
is  full  2in  in  length,  Avith  long  antennse,  and  is  of  very  beau¬ 
tiful  green  colour,  Avhich  fades  Avhen  the  in.sect  dies.  A  small 
broAvii  species  of  grasshoppier  is  not  uncommon  about  gardens, 
occasionally  jumping  upon  .some  by-passer. 
Sometimes  a  party  of  field  crickets  settle  in  a  garden,  Avhere 
they  find  a  dry  bank  having  rather  loose  earth,  in  Avhich  they 
can  excavate  their  burroAvs,  often  a  foot  deep.  Each  insect  sits 
during  the  day  at  the  opening  of  its  burroAv  and  chirps,  coming 
forth  to  feed  after  sunset.  It  is  not  unii.sual  for  a  field  cricket 
to  enter  a  house,  and  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  the  hou.se 
cricket  occasionally  goes  out  into  the  garden  Avhen  the  Aveather 
is  Avarm.  —  Entomologist. 
- - 
A  Coinmendable  Method  of  Teaching. 
In  pursuance  of  his  duties  as  instructor  in  horticulture  to 
the  CoriiAvall  County  Council,  Mr.  C.  Ilott  has  commenced  the. 
practice  of  taking  parties  of  gardeners  and  others  interested 
in  gardening  to  private  places,  and  there  lecturing  on  the 
various  feattires  Avhile  moving  through.  Of  cour.se,  permission 
is  first  obtained.  Recently  at  The  Rookery,  Marazion,  he 
de.scribed  the  su.ccess  Avhich  had  attended  the  fruit  culture  in 
connection  Avith  the  technical  gardens  at  Gulval ;  and  Avhat 
had  been  done  there  could  be  done  at  Marazion,  AA-here  the 
climate  and  soil  Avere  mo.st  suitable  to  the  production  of  the 
best  results  in  fruit  groAving.  The  selection  of  trees  aa'us  treated, 
practical  demonstration  being  given  in  tree  planting,  and  the 
lecturer’s  remaiks  on  piuining  Avere  more  fully  explained  by 
the  effective  use  of  the  pruning  knife.  Air-  and  light  Avero 
great  factors  in  the  proper  development  of  healthy,  fruit-bear¬ 
ing  trees;  under  no  circumstances  should  .strong  dres.sing  be 
added  to  iioaa  ly-planted  trees,  and  damaged  roots  should  bo 
removed  before  planting  by  being  cut  back.  Proceeding  to 
the  fine  Peach  Avail,  the  lecturer  dealt  exhaustively  Avith  the 
planting  and  pruning  of  Peach  trees,  pointing  out  the  advan¬ 
tage  of  summer  pruning  for  fruit-bearing  purposes.  The 
lecturer  also  dealt  very  effectively  Avith  the  selections  and 
culture  of  Potatoes,  remarking  that  he  regretted  that  in  Coru- 
Avall  .so  little  attention  Avas  given  to  the  groAving  of  late 
Potatoes.  There  ought  to  be  sufficient  good  quality  Potatoes 
groAvn  in  the  county  to  supply  the  county.  This  could  be  AA-ell 
and  lucratively  accomplished.  Attention  Avas  then  draAvn  to 
the  adv-antage  Avhich  market  gardeners  Avould  derive  by  tho 
cultivation  of  Asparagus,  Avhich  crop  is  inexpensive,  but  A’ery 
profitable  as  Avell  as  continuous,  requiring  very  little  attentioii, 
and  AA’hen  once  planted  Avould  continue  for  forty  or  fifty  yeai's. 
Peas  Avere  next  dealt  AA'ith,  the  lecturer  expressing  himself 
favourable  to  the  Mari’OAvfat  type ;  and  for  cRvarfs,  his  oav  i 
preference  Avas  for  William  Hir.st,  Cro.sley  Gem,  SherAvood,  and 
Biitish  Queen.  The  lecturer  concluded  Avith  an  eulogy  as  to  the 
splendid  condition  of  the  gardens,  Avhich  reflected  greatly  on  the 
skill  of  Ml'.  IMattheAvs,  the  head  gardener,  and  his  assi.stant.s. 
