OLD FRIENDS WITH NEW NAMES. THE Irish Farmer's Gazette is right about synonyms and pseudonyms, but is not right in saying that Rivers' Royal Ashleaf is the same as Myatt's Prolific. Lord Portman's gardener, Mr. Leach, told me that at Bryanston they preferred Myatt's Prolific to the Royal Ashleaf. The raiser of Mona's Pride sent it to me from the Isle of Man, and I say that it is not the same as the old Ashleaf. Mona's Pride is a much larger Potato and has much stronger haulm; it is a great cropper, and does not require such high cultivation as the old Ashleaf. It is inferior to it in flavour; moreover, its haulm and foliage are more frost-resisting. The Lapstone, Pebble White, and Yorkshire Hero, though much alike, are not the same. They are all three here. The last two are evidently derived from the Lapstone. Haigh's Seedling properly is the Copper-nosed Kidney, from which the Lapstone was derived. Both having been raised by Haigh, may therefore be called Haigh's Seedling. Major Haigh, who was an army boot and shoe contractor, died at Bardsley, near Leeds, about 1855 or 1856. I consider the old Ashleaf and the Lapstone for quality and flavour to be still the best two Potatoes. The old Ashleaf requires protection for its haulm and foliage in spring. I do not keep it now, but I used to grow it successfully by protecting the haulm with wooden troughs like the roof of a house, raising the ends on bricks as the plants grew. Keep the foliage dry, and Potato plants will bear many degrees of frost.-W. F. RADCLIFFE.

RECENT GLEANINGS ABOUT INSECTS.

In reply to a correspondent, Mr. Newman remarks, in the "Entomologist," that the common and annoying little moth Hyponomeuta padella, the larva-webs of which overspread Hawthorn hedges and fruit trees, has not yet had its history clearly made out. Haworth, who called it " Padi," described five varieties, while Stainton, our latest authority on the small Lepidoptera, sees no notable differences between those that feed on the Apple and the Hawthorn, and we do not know positively what is the continental type. Guenee has a "Malinellus," which Mr. Newman thinks may be our Apple-feeder. One of the assistants of Messrs. Mander, of Wolverhampton, discovered in a nodule of Sierra Leone copal a living larva, seemingly of a beetle, the cavity being considerably larger than the body of the insect, yet hermetically sealed from the outward air. Two curious questions suggest themselves: "How Idid it get in?" and "How long had it lived in such a position?" The Rev. G. C. B. Madden records a singular change of instinct on the part of bees. In the district of San Francisco there were formerly no hive bees. Some swarms were introduced there, and in their customary manner they stored-up honey for the winter; winter, however, did not, as a matter of course, come as they anticipated, and it was found that thenceforth they ceased to lay-up stores, and only employed themselves in their usual labours for the continuance of the race, and obtained food as they required it. Some further observations on the subject of controlling sex in butterflies have been published in the "American Naturalist," and Mr. Riley adduces evidence tending to upset Mrs. M. Treat's inferences based on her own experiments, though he compliments the lady entomologist on her diligence, and adds that "most naturalists will be proud that a lady has set the example of making such investigations." As to this conclusion we are not so certain. It does not appear that any facts noted by Mrs. Treat go to upset what is still regarded as a fundamental principle by anatomists and physiologists-viz., that the sex is determined at the moment of conception. In that case each egg of a butterfly or moth leaves the body of the parent insect with the germ within it of the future male or female, and in the overwhelming majority of insects these are in equal proportions throughout each brood, though it may happen that the progeny of a particular insect here and there may show an overwhelming preponderance of one sex over the other. From the experiments made by stinting larvæ in quantity of food resulting in the production of more males, Mr. Riley only concludes that the females being the larger mostly, and therefore needing more nourishment, are diminished necessarily by this treatment in larger proportion.

That distinguished entomologist Mr. H. Doubleday has lately expressed his opinion in severe terms, though not stronger than the occasion requires, on the mischievous and dishonourable practice of foisting foreign specimens into so-called collections of British insects, which is now rendering it almost impossible to verify the authenticity of most specimens of rare Lepidoptera.

Concerning aphis honey Mr. F. Walker writes in the "Entomologist:"-" Bees find their honey comparatively prepared for them in flowers, but the honey by the medium of aphides has various beginnings. It is extracted from the crevices of old Oak trees, from the twigs of young Oak trees, from the roots of Grass, of Sow Thistles, and of Parsnips, from the Nettle and the Bramble, from the Ivy and the Honeysuckle, from the Willow and the Poplar, from the Bog Myrtle and the Sea Aster, and its sweetness has abundance of other sources." What a pity it is in these scarce times that we cannot utilise aphis honey as an article of food!

A specimen of the exceedingly rare Sphinx, known to collectors as the Orange-tailed Clearwing (Sesia allantiformis), has been taken by Mr. Bryant at Greenhithe, the locality where the first authentic British example was captured by the late Mr. Chant many years ago. As late as the 7th of October an individual of the Silver-striped Hawk-moth (Charocampa Celerio) was taken on the wing at Bolton.

BELGIAN HORTICULTURE.-No. 6.

M. LOUIS VAN HOUTTE'S NURSERY.

AFTER giving a general idea of this establishment, it is possible to summon a few particulars that may be of interest. Not a few have seen this world-renowned place, but the majority of your readers have had to content themselves with the descriptions of others, neccessarily vague and disjointed, for it is difficult to know where to start, and once started, even more so to know when to stop. However, by way of finding a starting point it may be said, as there is no attempt at outside show, there are no grand specimens artistically grouped to create a striking impression inside. The establishment lacks the towering Palms of Linden's and the noble tree Ferns of Verschaffelt's; not that there are not fine and valuable plants of these and other subjects new and rare, but they are scattered over a great extent of houses, as if the health and comfort of the particular plants were more thought of than mere effect. It is evidently not the forte of this nursery to "go in " for covering a large area with a limited number of sensational occupants, the object being rather to raise by hundreds of thousands everything in demand, and so as to be easy of transmission to nearly all parts of the world. It is pre-eminently a plant-manufactory-by no other expression can it be understood so well.

Here, for instance, are Camellias manufactured to a greater extent, perhaps, than in any other nursery on the earth's surface. These alone are a sight to see: On one side a batch of 150,000 cuttings, striking apparently with the greatest freedom and absence of loss; on the other, 100,000 recently "worked," all in glass cases or frames in a temperate structure. In sunken brick-pits are stocks potted-off and plunged, rooting through and over the sides of the pots to perfection. Again, there are thousands of plants shifted-on after grafting, and standing out of doors in shady places, but free from "drip." One batch of 80,000 in bud, for sending-off the same autumn, were remarkable for their promise and luxuriance. They were standing between tall upright Poplars, which had been planted in lines from east to west, and at distances so that the shadow of one row reached the base of the other-the very place for a Camellia forest. Most gardeners are aware of the free growth and exuberant aspect of Belgian Camellias, and are also aware of their frequent retrogression shortly after being subjected to the change the plants meet with in England. Their luxuriance is called plethora, induced, as is commonly supposed, by being planted out in the open ground, grown quickly, lifted, and potted. This is not so. I was told that I should see Camellias turned out in the open (prepared) ground and growing like Laurels. In this one nursery were, at the least, 500,000 Camellias in pots-plunged, it is true, many of them were, but yet each was potted; nor in any other place did I find any really planted out, save a hundred or two under glass in one nursery, and these were below par as to health. In saying this I do not assert that they are not plethoric as we understand the term, only that it is not induced by planting-out. It is but reasonable to suppose,

or stages one above another, with an outer edging to each to prevent the fruit from falling-off. The staging in the fruitroom at Loxford Hall is 3 feet wide, one stage being placed above another; the distance between is 1 foot 9 inches. The staging is of white pine, and is formed of laths made of inch deals; the laths are 13-inch wide, a space of 1 inch being allowed between each. The stages are easily fixed. Upright posts of deal, 2 inches square, reaching from floor to ceiling, are ranged in line; 3 feet from the wall cross-bearers, 13 inch square, with one end in the wall and the other fixed to the upright posts, are placed at the proper distances, the laths being nailed to these cross-bearers. If the house is wide enough a table may be fixed in the centre, on the same principle as the side stages. The fruit keeps best if laid-out on these stages not more than two deep, all the better if only one deep. Fruit intended to be kept in good condition after February should be packed in barrels or boxes amongst dry sand, each specimen being wrapped-up separately in soft paper. I have also kept fruit with straw laid under and over it, also laid out on cloths, but the above is what I consider the best. Of course, although it is recommended to build the fruit-room on the shady side of the wall, it does not follow that no other position will answer; facing east would be next best, then west, and south worst of all. A fireplace should be built in the room, though it will not be necessary to use it often. It will require to be lighted should very severe frost set in, as should the fruit become frozen it will soon decay. Where the garden is but small, and only a small quantity of fruit to be kept, it may be stored in the dwelling-house in any convenient and suitable place, the main essential being that all fruit should be laid in an airy place for two or three weeks after it is gathered, all decaying fruit being removed as soon as it is perceived. Amateurs and others who have been successful in keeping fruit well under adverse circumstances would confer a great favour on many readers if they would publish through the columns of this Journal the means used.

-J. DOUGLAS.

[The accompanying are drawings of a fruit-room, in which the later varieties of Pears in particular were kept in extraordinary condition till an advanced period of the season. Fig. 1 is a view of the interior, fig. 2 the ground plan, fig. 3 the longitudinal section. The reference letters are in all cases the same.]

NOTES ON VILLA AND SUBURBAN GARDENING. INSECTS AND DISEASES OF PLANTS.-Plants in rooms, especially Geraniums and Roses, are very liable to be attacked by aphides. These may be removed by tobacco smoke or tobacco water, and, where the smell is not offensive, smoke blown from a common tobacco-pipe is as effectual as any other method. Camphorated water may be used by those who dislike the smell of tobacco. Mildew occasionally, though rarely, attacks house plants, and its appearance shows that the plant has been in impure air, or otherwise improperly treated. Sulphur or camphor will effectually remove the mildew; and a scaly insect of the coccus tribe, which appears occasionally on Oranges, Camellias, and similar plants, may be removed by a sponge and water. PLANTS AND FLOWERS IN ROOMS.-Many persons have a dislike to plants in houses as being unhealthy, and as their dislike is in a great measure groundless, I may notice it. Dr. Priestley was the first to show that the leaves of plants absorb carbonic acid gas by their upper surfaces, and give out oxygen by their under ones, thereby tending to purify the air in as far as animal life is concerned, because carbonic acid gas is pernicious to animals, and oxygen is what that life requires. It is in the light, however, that these operations are carried on, for in the dark plants give out carbonic acid, and this may be one reason why plants grown in the dark have little or no charcoal in their substance. It does not appear, however, that any of the scentless products given out by plants are injurious to human beings, because those who live among accumulated plants are not less healthy than others, though many persons feel dislike, and even pain, from the odours of particular plants in a way not very easily accounted for.

they indulge in to a very considerable extent. We may safely conclude, then, that plants admitted into rooms to the extent they are in general can produce no effect injurious to the health of the majority of people, but, on the contrary, will afford amusement to the mind and exercise to the body. The mind flowers, but much more so still if the study of their respective will be agreeably exercised in contemplating the beauty of the parts, nature, and structure, in a botanical and physiological point of view, be at the same time attended to. An agreeable and rational exercise will be provided for the body if the proprietor, particularly if of the softer sex, take the entire management of the little window garden.

Plants in rooms turn not only their leaves but their branchesto the window by which the light entered, and a plant may, by turning it at intervals, be made to bend successively to all sides; but such bendings weaken the plant, and thus it is an excessive always, of course, in proportion to the brightness of that light or unnatural action. This turning of the plant to the light is as compared with the other sides of the plant. Flowers, too, open their petals to the light and close them in the dark, or in some cases, as in that of the Crocus, when a cloud passes over the sun. The same flower, and also some others, will open their petals to the light of a lamp or candle, and close them again when that is withdrawn.

It follows, as a necessary consequence, that in rooms plants should be placed as near the window as possible, that the window should have a south aspect, and that they should be as seldom tance from the windows, plants should be frequently changed, as possible shaded with blinds or otherwise. If placed at a disand to place them on tables or mantel-shelves is bad management. As the weather has been very changeable lately, particular attention is required for protecting everything that is likely to be injured by frost. When the nights are sharp and cold all the plants should be drawn back from the window, or set down on the floor of the room. Pelargoniums, owing to the late mild weather, will now be nice plants if they have been well treated, and must be carefully watered. If they incline to grow-up weak and spindly the points of the shoots may be nipped-off; they should be watered sparingly, and allowed to have plenty of air every fine day.

VEGETABLES.-If not done last week, a sowing of Radishes may be made on a warm border if the weather is favourable, but the beds must be carefully covered in severe weather, as directed last week. Vacant ground, if any, may be dug, and everything that will forward the spring work should now be done before that busy time arrives.

FRUIT. If any fruit trees remain not pruned it is not yet too late to perform that operation. Gooseberry and Currant-pruning to top-dress the bushes a little. must be completed as soon as possible. After pruning it is well To accomplish this, draw a little of the surface soil away with a hoe, then apply the manure, and finally soil the whole over about 2 inches deep. FLOWERS. This changeable weather is very unfavourable to flowers, and they will require much attention. If severe frosts set in, China Roses, &c., trained on the cottage trellis should have some protection, for, being in a forward state, they will be injured. Spring flowers, as Anemones, Tulips, Crocuses, &c., if any, must also be looked after and protected with fern or straw. PLANTS PROPER FOR WINDOW CULTURE.-As the situation of these plants is different from what they occupy in their natural state, it becomes necessary to select such as are capable of accommodating themselves to circumstances; and as the unfavourable circumstances of house plants are chiefly want of free and pure air and of light, and in those species which are accustomed to long seasons of repose in the winter, the want of a uniform temperature, these circumstances must be kept in mind in the selection. Rooms, especially in crowded cities, are the most unnatural, and on that account the worst situations in which plants can be placed, and therefore, if healthy plants, and an abundance of bloom are sought, variety must be sacrificed. Plants which will continue healthy for a long time in the confined air of rooms are generally those which have a peculiar surface or texture in the foliage, such as many of the Aloes, Cactuses, and Mesembryanthemums, among what are called succulent plants.-W. KEANE.

LOCAL PLANTS.

MANY years have passed since in a far distant land the writer of this delivered, among other botanical lectures, one on "Local Plants." He referred to Primula imperialis, only found on Pangerango Mountain in Java, in the damp shade of thickets at an elevation of 9000 feet. He referred to the Kerguelan Cabbage, which a naval friend said was found nowhere except on that island. *

these were once islands enclosed by the sea.

Saxifraga cernua is found nowhere in Britain except on the

summit of Ben Lawers; there also occurs, and nowhere else in the world, the Lichen Verrucaria Hookeri; there also, and nowhere else, occur the Moss Gymnostomum cæspitosum. Draba rupestris and Alsine rubella occur nowhere in Britain except here and in a place of Sutherlandshire. Oxytropis campestris is found in Britain only on one cliff, of Clova, in the Braemar Mountains; Trifolium Bocconi only on the Lizard in Cornwall. So in other lands there are hermits of the vegetable world, which prefer being separated from all their relatives. Examples of these are the Sicilian Horehound (Marrubium peregrinum); the Blue-bottle Thistle (Carduus

cyanoides); the Crimson Grass Vetch (Lathyrus Nissolia); the Elegant St. John's-wort (Hypericum elegans); and the Heathleaved Sun Rose (Helianthemum Fumana). These and some others, it has been well observed, "stand quite insulated, and seem as if they would disappear, did not Nature, in a manner often inexplicable, provide for their continuance." But the most remarkable we have not yet mentioned-namely, Forstera sedifolia, on the summits of the loftiest mountains of New Zealand; Melastoma tidorensis, on the crest of Mount Tidor, in the Molucca Islands; and Disa cornuta, on a few spots near the summit of Table Mountain. Whole natural orders are

similarly limited in their places of growth. Meyen observes that the singular group of the Cactaceae is properly peculiar to the torrid and subtropical zones of the New World; two species only have yet been found in East India and China, and there in the interior of the country, at considerable altitudes. However, the form of the Cactus has its representative in the Old World; for on its eastern, as well as its western side, we have Euphorbiæ, which we should certainly consider Cacti were we without the knowledge of their organs of fructification; as Euphorbia neriifolia in Southern China, which the Ipomoea Quamoclit twines round and decorates with its scarlet flowers, just as Loranthus aphyllus does the Cerei of Chili. Euphorbia canariensis and Euphorbia balsamifera represent the Cactaceae in the western part of the Old World. It is equally inexplicable why the Old World only should pos

Melocactus.

Cactus, or Gauos.

sess the true Erices, while the Erica coerulea, not a true Erica, comes in their place in the New World.

The mention of the Cactacem reminds us of another of their peculiarities. No artificial treatment, no other quarter of the globe, can produce them of the same gigantic growth as in the places of their nativity. We see them in their pigmy forms in the Royal Horticultural Society's conservatory, and we have seen them larger in the stoves of England and in the Calcutta Botanic Garden, yet there they are all dwarfs compared with those seen in their Mexican places of birth. "It is to the genus Cereus," says Figuier," that the gigantic species indigenous to Mexico and California belong. The stem of this vegetable wonder, flanked by its branches, resembles an immense candelabrum, 15 yards high. In the engraving* we give * Figuier's "Vegetable World," Cassell's edition.