are alike compounded of carbon, hydro-
gen, oxygen, and nitrogen, with a small
addition of saline matters. The general
consideration of MANURES will be found
under that title, and other relative infor-
mation under the heads DUNG and VE-
GETABLE MATTERS ; and in this place we
shall confine our attention to some of the
most available of strictly animal matters.
See also the article BONES.
Blubber, or fat of the whale, contains
train oil, composed of
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen
68.87
16.10
15.03
with a little animal skin and muscle.
40 gallons of train oil, mixed with 120
bushels of screened soil, grew 23 tons
of turnips per acre, on a soil where 40
bushels of bones broken small, and 80
bushels of burnt earth, produced only 21
tons.
Fish generally, such as sprats, herrings,
pilchards, five-fingers, and shell -fish,
owe their powerful fertilizing qualities
not only to the oil they contain, but also
to the phosphate of lime in their bones.
From 25 to 45 bushels per acre are the
extreme quantities to be applied broad-
cast, but if in the drills, with the crop
16 bushels are ample. They are benefi-
cial to all the gardener's crops, but espe-
cially to asparagus, parsnips, carrots,
sects, onions, and beans. Shell -fish
should be smashed before being applied.
Blood is a very rich manure, and has
>een applied with especial benefit to
vines, and other fruit trees. The blood
f the ox contains about eighty per cent.
ANI
[47]
ANI
of water, and twenty per cent, solid mat-
ter. The latter contains in 100 parts
when dried
Carbon, . 51.950
Hydrogen, 7.165
Azote, . 17.172
Oxygen, . 19.295
Ashes, . 4.418
The ashes contain various salts, as chlo-
ride of sodium (common salt), phosphate
of lime, with a little oxide of iron. Sugar-
baker's skimmings owe their chief fertiliz-
ing qualities to the blood used in clarify-
ing the sugar, and which is combined
with vegetable albumen, and extractive.
Woollen Rags cut into very small
pieces, are a good manure, decomposing
slowly, and benefiting the second as
much as the first crop. Hops and tur-
nips have been the crops to which they
have been chiefly applied. Half a ton
per acre is a fair dressing. Wool is com-
posed of
Carbon, . . . 50.653
Hydrogen. . . 7.029
Azote, . . . 17.710
SSE&) 24 - 608 .
It leaves a very slight ash, containing
minute quantities of muriate of potash,
lime, and probably phosphate of lime.
Feathers and hair closely resemble it in
their components. Horns are composed
of
Carbon, . . . 51.578
Hydrogen, . . 6.712
Azote, . . . 17.284
besides minute proportions of sulphate,
muriate and phosphate of potash, phos-
phate of lime, and other less important
matters.
Shells. Those of the following are
thus composed :
Phos-
phate of
lime.
Carbo-
nate of
lime.
Animal
matter.
Ovster,
1.2
98.3
0.5
Lobster,
7.0
63.0
30.0
Hens' Eggs, .
5.7
89.6
4.7
They have all been found good in a
pounded form, as manures for turnips ;
and must be for all other plants, and on
all soils where calcareous matters are
deficient.
ANISCA'NTHA. (From anisos, unequal,
and akantha, a spine. Nat. ord., Che-
nopods [Chenopodiacese]. Linn. 4-T0-
trandria \-monogynia). Evergreen under-
shrub ; cuttings of young shoots, a little
hard at bottom, in April' ; peat and loam.
Summer temp., 50 to 65 ; winter 45.
A. divarica'ta (straggling). 2. New Holland.
1824.
ANISA'NTHUS. (From anisos, unequal,
and anthos, a flower. Nat. ord., Irids,
[Iridacese]. Linn. 3-Triandria 1-mono-
gynia] . This is now a synonyme of Ant ho-
ly za. Greenhouse or frame bulbs, requir-
ing protection in winter ; offsets ; peat
and loam. Summer temp., 50 to 60 ;
winter, 40 to 45.
A. cuno'nia (Cunon's). 2. Scarlet. June.
Cape of Good Hope. 1756.
quadrangular ris (quadrangular). 2. Yellow.
April. Cape of Good Hope. 1700.
spiff ndens (splendid). 2. Scarlet. June.
Cape of Good Hope. 1828.
ANI'SE, (Tragiumanisutri). Half-hardy
annual, used for garnishing or seasoning.
Sow during April in pots plunged in a
hotbed ; remove to a warm, light border
in May. Thin the plants to six inches
apart. The seed is ripe in August or
September. It does not bear transplant-
ing. ^
A'NISEED-TREE, Illicium anisatum.
ANISOCHI'LUS. (From anisos, unequal,
and cheilos, lip. Nat. ord., Labiates
or Lip worts [Lamiaceas]. Linn., 14-Didy-
namia \-gymnospermia). Stove biennial ;
seeds in heat, or cuttings in sandy soil,
under a bell-glass. Summer temp., 65
to 75; winter, 55 to 60.
A. carno'sa (fleshy). 2. Lilac. August. East
Indies. 1778.
ANISO'MELES. (From anisos, unequal,
and melos, a member. Nat. ord., Labiates
[Lamiaceae]. Linn., l-Didynamia 1-
gymnospermia}. Chiefly evergreen under-
shrubs ; cuttings of stove species in
April in heat, under a bell-glass. Green-
house species under glass, without heat.
Sow the annual in March in heat ;
loam and peat. Temperature same for
stove plants, 55 to 75 ; winter, 50 to
60. Greenhouse winter, 45.
A.furca'ta (forked). 1. Blue. August. Nepaul.
1824. Greenhouse.
A. malaba'rica (Malabar). 2. Violet. August.
East Indies. 1823.
ANI
[48]
AXO
A. moscha'ta (musk). 2. Purple. August.
New Holland. 1824.
ova'ta (ovate-leaved) . 2. Pink. August.
East Indies. 1823. Stove annual.
ANISO'PIA horticola, is a beetle which
often attacks the#x>se flowers about June.
Its maggots live under turf, and feed on
its roots.
ANNUALS are plants which live but
one year, and, consequently, require to
be raised from seed annually. By a par-
ticular mode of culture some of them
may be made to live longer. Thus mig-
nonette will continue to bloom for two or
more years if not allowed to ripen its
Hardy Annuals, or those requiring no
protection, are sown where they are to
remain in the open borders from the end
of February to the beginning of May.
To flower late in autumn some may be
sown in the middle of June. Whether
sown in patches or broad masses, whether
mixed or separate, must be left to the
taste of the sower guided by his know-
ledge of the colours of the flowers. These
should be well contrasted. Every patch
should be properly labelled, which is
easily done by having some deal laths,
one inch broad, planed smooth, cut into
nine-inch lengths, and painted white. On
these the name can be written with a
lead pencil.
Half-hardy Annuals, such as require
artificial heat while seedlings, are sown
in a gentle hotbed in March and April.
The seedlings, when an inch or two long,
to be transplanted into another gentle
hotbed, or greenhouse, to remain until
the middle of May, then to be trans-
planted into the borders, and attended
like other annuals..
Tender or Greenhoitse Annuals, requir-
ing artificial heat and shelter during their
whole growth, are sown early in March,
on a gentle hotbed ; to be transplanted
into another like the half-hardy, and
thence into pots, to remain in the green-
house. Some of them, if moved into a
warm border in June, will bloom freely,
and even ripen seed.
ANODONTIA' (From a, not, and odontos,
a tooth, in reference to the stamens.
Nat. ord., Crucifers [Brassicacese]. Linn.
\5-Tetradynamia. Allied to Alyssum).
For general management, see Alyssum.
A. dasyca'rpa (thick fruited) . L Yellow. Julv.
Siberia. 1819.
edtfntulum (toothless). 1. Yellow. July.
Hungary. 1820.
hulimifo'lia (Purslane-leaved), f . White.
June. South of Europe. 1820.
macroca' rpa (long-fruited). L White. June.
France. 1823.
obova'ta (ohovate). . Yellow. June.
France. 1830.
rupe'strc (rock). 4. White. June. Naples.
1825.
spino'na (thorny). ^.1 White. June. South
of Europe. 1683.
ANOSCTOCHI'LUS. (From anoikios, open,
and cheilos, a lip, in reference to the
spreading apex of the lip. Nat. ord.,
orchids [Orchidaceae]. Linn. 2Q-Gynan-
dria, \-monandrid). Division of the
roots ; lumpy peat ; a little loam and
charcoal ; and well drained. Summer
temp. 65 to 85 ; winter, 55 to 65.
A. seta' ecus (bristlv). L White Green. June.
Java. 1836.
var. pi'ctus (painted-bristly).
The natives of Ceylon, where it grows
in the hedge-rows, admire it much, and
give it the regal name of " The King of
the Woods," and well it deserves the
title ; but yet the leaves are the only
part that attract our admiration. The
flowers, though various, are not at all
beautiful ; but the leaves are the most
beautiful of all the leaves in the world.
The ground colour is of a dark velvety-
green, tinged with a metallic lustre,
curiously inlaid, as it were, with streaks
of golden net- work. If examined with a
moderate microscope, when the sun is
shining, this golden net-work is really
glorious, having the appearance of the
richest rubies. But no description can
do justice to the beauty of the leaves of
this plant. The variety named pictus,
or painted -brought home, we believe,
by Mr Gibson from the Khorca hills,
India has a broad stripe of yellow down
the centre of each leaf, in addition to the
golden net-work. It is equally beautiful
with the original species, but, if anything,
more difficult to cultivate. Messrs Low
and Co., of the Clapton Nurseries, have
imported another variety from Borneo, of
a stronger growth, and on that account
worth cultivating, though not quite so
beautiful as the other two varieties. (Cot-
tage Gardener, iii. 224).
ANOMATHE'CA. (Vrwaanomos, singular,
and theca, a capsule, or seed-pod. Nat.
ANO
[49]
ANT
ord., Irids [Iridaceae]. Linn. Z-Trian-
dria, \-monogynia). Very neat, ixia-likc,
dwarf bulbous plants, which flower in
the open borders all summer in any light
garden soil ; ripen seeds freely, and re-
quire the protection of a frame in. winter.
Propagated from seeds and offsets ; light
sandy loam and common soil ; bulbs re-
quire, in most places, to be kept in a
frame, or in stored bags, during winter.
A. cruenta, especially, is well fitted for
a flower bed, or for the window sill.
A. crue'nta (bloody). 1. Crimson. July. Cape
of Good Hope. 1830.
jun'cea (rushy). 1. Lilac. May. Cape of
Good Hope. 1791.
ANO'NA (From menona, its local name
in Banda. Nat. ord., Anonads [Anona-
ceoe]. ~Linn.l3-Poh/andria,6-polygamia).
Tropical evergreen trees and shrubs ;
cuttings of ripened wood, in strong heat
under a glass in April ; rich loam. Sum-
mer temp. 60 to 80; winter, 55 to
60.
A. amplexica' ulis (stem -clasping) . 12. Yellow
green. Mauritius. 1824.
asia'tica (Asiatic). 12. Yellow green. Asia.
1816.
cherimo'lia (Clierimoyer) . 18. Brown. Au-
gust. South America. 1739.
cine'rea (grey). 15. Yellow green. West
Indies. 1818.
gla'bra (smooth-fruited). 16. Brown. Au-
gust. Carolina. 1774.
laurifo'tia (laurel-leaved). 15. Brown.
West Indies. 1773.
longifo'lia (long-leaved). 20. Yellow green.
Guiana. 1820.
mexica'na (Mexican). 12. Yellow green.
Mexico. 1823.
muco'sa (mucous). 12. Yellow green. East
Indies. 1820.
murica'ta (muricated. The sour sop). 10.
Green yellow. West Indies. 1656.
oUusifo'lia (obtuse-leaved). 15. Yellow
green. West Indies. 1810.
paludo'sa (marsh). 4. Green. Guiana.
1830.
palu'stris (marsh. The cork- wood). 15.
Yellow. West Indies. 1731.
puncta'ta (spotted). 12. Yellow green.
Trinidad. 1818.
reticula'ta (netted). 20. White Green.
South America. 1690.
Senegal & 'nsis (Senegal). 10. Yellow green.
Guinea. 1824.
squamo'sa (scaly. The sweet sop). 20.
White. Green. South America. 1731.
ANO'PTERUS. (From ano, upwards,
and pteris, a fern, alluding to the semb-
lance of the leaves. Nat. ord., Escal-
loniads [Escalloniacese]. Linn. 5-Pen-
tandria, \-monogynici). A greenhouse
evergreen shrub ; cuttings under a bell-
glass in heat ; sandy loam and peat.
Usually in a cold pit or greenhouse, but
should be tried on a wall with slight
winter protection.
A. glandule? sus (gland-leaved). 3. December.
White and pink. Van Diemen's Land.
1846.
ANSE'LLIA. (In honour of Mr. Amell,
the botanical collector who accompanied
the ill-fated Niger expedition. Nat. ord.,
Orchids [Orchidaceao]. Linn., 20-Gynan-
dria, \-monogynia. Allied to AGANISIA).
A stove orchid. Divisions ; turfy heath
mould and broken potsherds. Temp, in
summer, 60 to 85, with plenty of mois-
ture at root and top ; winter, 55 to 60",
and kept dry.
A. Africa' na (African). 2. Brown, green,
and yellow. February. Fernando Po.
1844.
ANT. (Formica). To drive this insect
away, dig up its nests and haunts, and
mix the earth with gas-lime. To kill it,
pour over the nest at night a strong de-
coction of elder leaves. To trap it, smear
the inside of a garden pot with honey,
invert it over the nest, and when crowd-
ed with them hold it over the steam of
boiling water ; or turn a flower-pot, with
its hole stopped, over the nest; the ants
build up into it, and the whole colony
may be taken away in a shovel. They
may be kept from ascending standard
and espalier trees, by tying a piece of
wool round the stems and the supporters.
ANTENNA' RIA. (From antenna, feelers,
in reference to the downy heads of the
seeds. Nat. ord., Composites [Asteraceae].
Linn. IS-Syngenesia, l-superflua). Root-
division and seeds ; common light soil.
In most places the Nepaul species require
the protection of a cold pit in winter.
A.alpi'na (Alpine). 1. Pink. June. Alpine.
Europe. 1775.
carpa'tica (Carpathian). 1. Pink. June.
Carpathian mountains. 1775.
contofrta (twisted-leaved). 2. White. July.
Nepaul. 1821.
dioi'ca (dioecious). 1. Pink. June. Bri-
tain. 1821.
hvperbo'rea (northern). 1. Whitish. June.
IsleofSkye. 1821.
margarita' cea (pearly). 2. White. July.
England. 1821.
plantagi'nea (plantain-leaved). 1. White.
July. Virginia. 1759.
tripling rvis (three-nerved). 1. White. Au-
gust. Nepaul. 1823.
ANT
[50]
ANT
A'NTHEMIS. Chamomile. (From An-
themon, a flower, in reference to the
great number of flowers produced. Nat.
ord., Composites [Asteracese]. Linn., 19-
Syngenesia, 2-Superflua) . "With a few ex-
ceptions, they are hardy plants. Division
of plant, and seeds ; common soil. _ The
single flowering A. nobilis is superior to
the double for medicinal properties.
HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS.
A. alpi'na (Alpine). 1. White. July. Aus-
tria. 1824.
apiifo'lia (parsley-leaved). 2. White.
July. China. 1819.
Barrelic'ri (Barrelier's). 1. White. Aug-
ust. Italy. 1825.
carpa'tica (Carpathian). 1. White. June.
Carpathia. 1820.
chamoim'lla (chamomile). 1. White. July.
South of Europe. 1807.
coronopifo'Ua (buck-horn leaved). 1.
White. May. Spain. 1818.
fruticulo'sa (shrubby). 2. White. Aug.
ust. Caucasus. 1820.
_ aloWsa (globose). 1. White. July. South
of Europe. 1570.
amndiflo'ra (great-flowering). 1. White.
July. South of Europe. 1825.
ibdrica '(Iberian). 1. White. August.
Iberia. 1820.
incrassa'ta (thick peduncled). 1. White.
July. France. 1818.
w (Kitaibel's). 1.
White. June.
Hungary. 1823.
Marshallia'na (Marshall's). 2. Yellow.
July. Caucasus. 1816.
melampo'dia (black-footed). 1. White.
August. Egypt. 1819.
monta'na (mountain). 1. Purple. July.
Italy. 1759.
metro? a (rock). 1. White. July. Italy.
1825.
pube'scens (soft-haired). 1. White. July.
South of Europe . 1 803 .
pure' thrum (pellitory of Spain). 1. White.
May. South of Europe. 1570.
riqe'scens (rigescent). 2. White. August.
Caucasus. 1805.
Rudolphia'na (Rudolph's). 1. Yellow
July. Caucasus. 1824.
saxa' tilis (rock). 1. White. July. Hun-
gary. 1807.
tincto'ria (Dyer's). 2. Yellow, June
Britain.
tomento'sa (downy). 1. White. July
Levant. 1795.
ANNUALS.
altissi'ma (tallest). 4. White. July. South o
Europe. 1731.
austri'aca (Austrian). 1. White. Aug
ust. Austria. 1759.
chi'a (Chian). 2. White. June. Chio
1731.
-co' ta (cota). 1. White. April. Italy
disco i'dea' (discoid). 1. Yellow. June
Italy. 1800
4..fa'llax (uncertain). 1. White. Julv.
1825.
fusca'ta (brown scaled) . 1. White. July
Portugal. 1805.
mariti'ma (sea). 1. White. July. Me-
diteranean. 1800.
ml'xta (mixed). 1. White. August.
France. 1731.
mucronula'ta (hard-pointed). Italy. 1836.
ruthe'nica (Russian). 2. White.' June.
Taurida. 1823.
Triumfe'tti (Triumfetti's). 1. Pale yellow.
August. Switzerland. 1819.
EVERGREENS.
no'bilis (noble. Common chamomile). 1.
White. August. Britain.
no'bilis flo' rc-i)le' no (double). 1. White.
August. Britain.
puncta'ta (dotted). 1. White. August.
Barbary. 1818. Biennial.
See CHAMOMILE.
ANTHE'PHORA. (From anthos, a flower,
and jphoreo, to bear. Nat. ord., Grasses
~Graminacea3]. Linn., 3-Triandria, 2-
Digynia). Seed in March or April.
Peat and loam. They are pretty, and,
with the exception of requiring a green-
house in winter, as easily managed as
any other grass.
A. e'legans (elegant). Apetal. August. Ja-
maica. 1776.
villo'sa (soft-haired). August. W.Indies.
1824.
ANTHE'RICUM. (From antlios, a flower,
and kerkos, a hedge, in reference to the
tall flower stems. Nat. ord., Lilyworts
[Liliaceae]. Linn., 6-Hexandria, \-Mo-
nogynia). Few orders of plants are less
ably arranged by men of science, and
still less understood by the gardener than
the " beautiful" Order of Lilies. With
the exception of A. serotinum and A.
sulphureum, which are hardy, they are
mostly low greenhouse herbaceous plants,
with tuberous and fleshy-bundled roots.
Propagated by suckers, offsets, and
seeds. Sandy loam with abundance of
drainage, and requiring the frame or
greenhouse in winter. The genus BUL-
BINE is now added to this.
A. albucoi'des (albuca-like). 1. White.
July. Cape of Good Hope. 1788.
bipedmicula'tum (two peduncled). 1. White.
May. Cape of Good Hope. 1825.
canalicula'tum (channelled-leaved). 1.
White and green. May. Cape of
Good Hope. 1774.
ntfum (rusty). 1. Copper. June.
Cape of Good Hope.
cceru'leum (bluish). Blue. May.
CTO'CCM/H (saffron). 1. White. June. Cape
of Good Hope. 1800.
ANT
[51]
ANT
A.falca'tum (sickle-shaped). 1. WMte. July.
Cape of Good Hope. 1825.
filifo'lium (thread-leaved). 1. White. May.
Cape of Good Hope. 1820.
niifo'rme (thread-form). 1. White. April.
Cape of Good Hope. 1775.
flcxifo'lium (zig-zag leaved). 1. White.
June. Cape of Good Hope. 1795.
floribii' ndum (bundle-flowered). 1. White.
April. Cape of Good Hope. 1774.
fra' grans (sweet-scented). 1. White. May.
' Cape of Good Hope. 1795.
graminifo'lium (grass-leaved). 2. White.
June. Cape of Good Hope. 1794.
hirsu'tum (hairy). 1. White. July. Cape
of Good Hope. 1820.
longiftflium (long-leaved). 1. White. July.
Cape of Good Hope. 1824.
pUo'sum (long-haired). 1. White. July.
Cape of Good Hope. 1825.
piumo'sttm (feather-petaled). 1. White.
March. Chili. 1829.
pomer-idia' num (afternoon). 2. WTiite.
June. Cape of Good Hope. 1819.
revolu'tum (revolute). 2. White. October.
Cape of Good Hope. 1731.
sero'tinum (late-flowering). 1. White. July.
Britain.
spira'le (spiral). 1. White. May. Cape of
Good Hope. 1824.
squa'meum (scaly). 1. White. July. Cape
of Good Hope. 1820.
sulphu'reum (sulphur). 1. Purple yellow.
July. Hungary. 1823.
trifle/rum (three-flowered). 1. White. Sep-
tember. Cape of Good Hope. 1782.
undula'tum (waved). 1. White. June.
Cape of Good Hope. 1825.
vcsperti'num (evening). 2. White. June.
Cape of Good Hope. 1803.
villo'sum (loose-haired). 1. White. July.
Cape of Good Hope. 1826.
AN-THOCE'KCIS. (From anthos, a flower,
and kirkis, a ray. Nat. ord., Figivorts
[ Scrophulariaceae] . Linn. , \-I)idynamia,
Z-Angiospermia). Cuttings of ripened
wood in April, placed in sand under a
glass, set at first in a cool place, and
afterwards placed in a mild bottom heat.
Sandy loam and peat well drained.
Summer temp., 55 to 65 ; winter, 45
to 50.
A. a'IMcans (whitish-leaved). 3. White. June.
New Holland. 1824.
ilicifo'lia (holly-leaved) . 6. Yellowish-
green. June. Swan River. 1843.
littor&a (shore). 3. White. June. New
Holland. 1803.
visco'sa (clammy). 6. White. May. New
Holland. 1822.
ANTHOCLEI' STA. (From anthos, a flower,
and cleistos, shut up. Nat. ord., Loganiads
[Loganeaceae]. Linn. 5-Pentandria 1-
monogynia). Cuttings in heat ; peat and
loam. Summer temp., 65 to 80 ; win-
ter, 55 to 60.
A. macrophy'lla (long-leaved). 20. White
Sierra Leone. 1820.
A'NTHODON. (From anthos, a flower,
and odon, a tooth. Nat. ord., Hippocra-
teads [Hippocrateacese]. Linn. 3-Tri-
andria \-monogynia}. Tropical evergreen
shrubs ; cuttings of half-ripened wood,
under a bell-glass in hotbed ; sandy loam
and peat. Temperature as for preceding
genus.
A. elli'pticum (elliptic). 12. Yellow green.
Rio Janeiro. 1818.
panicula'tum (panicled). 12. Yellow green.
Rio Janeiro. 1818.
ANTHELO'MA. (From anthos, a flower,
and loma, a fringe. Nat. ord., Margra-
viads [Margraviaceae]. Linn. 13-Polyan-
dria \-monogynia). A stove evergreen
shrub; cuttings of ripe wood, under glass,
in sand and in heat; light rich loam.
Temperature as for preceding.
A. mon to! no, (mountain). 10. New Holland.
1810.
ANTHOLY'ZA. (From anthos, a flower,
and lyssa, rage, in reference to the open-
ing of the flower like the mouth of an
enraged animal. Nat. ord., Irids [Irida-
ceae]. Linn. 3-Triandria \-monogynia).
Bulbs requiring the assistance of a frame
or greenhouse in winter, or to be planted
deep enough beyond the reach of frost in
a dry sheltered situation ; light sandy
soil ; offsets. See ANISA'NTHUS.
A. cethio'pica (Ethiopean). 3. Scarlet and
green. June. Cape of Good Hope. 1759.
monta'na (mountain). 1. Brown. June.
Cape of Good Hope. 1759.
prcea'lta (very tall). Orange. February.
Cape of Good Hope. 1759.
ANTHOMY'IA, a genus of fly very inju-
rious to the gardener. The principal
species arc the following :
A. ceparum (onion fly).
In light soils, especially, the onion is
liable to suifer from the grub or larva of
this fly (Anthomyia ceparum or Scato-
phaga ceparum of some writers). The
gardener who sees his young onions,
when about the thickness of a straw,
turning yellow, and the leaves sunk down
upon the ground, may at once know that
they are the victims of this insect. Even
when of larger growth the onion is still
liable to suffer from its attacks, and even
up to the time of the bulb's full growth.
If the outer coats of a young onion thus
destroyed are stripped off, the grub is at
ANT
[52]
ANT
once detected ; but if the onion is older
the grubs are often numerous. In both
cases they will be found feeding on the
very heart of the onion. The grub varies
from about a quarter to half an inch
long, is fleshy, shining, whitish, cylin-
drical, tapering from the head to the tail,
and divided into twelve segments. The
pores through which it breathes are yel-
low, and in the first segment. In about
throe weeks from the time of being
hatched it changes into a chesnut-colour-
ed, oval puparium, or case, within which
is the real pupa. From this, in about a
fortnight, the perfect fly comes forth, of
the size of the cross lines, and appearing
as magnified in our drawing. This is
the female, and is entirely of a pale ashy
colour, covered with black bristles. The
male has a black line down the middle
of the abdomen. The antenna? and legs
are black ; the wings are transparent,
almost colourless, but irridescent pink
and green. The female inserts her eggs
within the leaf sheaths of the onion, close
to the ground. She continues to lay her
eggs from May to September, producing
several broods during that period. The
latest brood remains in the pupa state
through the winter, so that all old decay-
ing store onions should be burnt up as
spring advances. The best preventive of
this grub is to sprinkle gas-lime between
the rows of seeding- onions its fumes
being offensive to the fly. It may be
well, also, to try spreading powdered
charcoal among them in a similar way,
for the fly is said to deposit her eggs in
this powder as readily as in the onion
plants.
A. brassica, cabbage fly, says Mr.
Curtis, is found through the summer,
and is the parent of a maggot which has
been known to lay waste whole fields of
cabbages by diseasing the roots on which
they feed, as well as at the base of the
stalk:. Successive generations are feed-
ing until November ; the latter families
lying in the pupa state through the win-
ter, and most probably some of the flies
survive that season, secreted in holes and
crevices. When the cabbage-leaves as-
sume a lead or yellow colour, and droop
in mid-day from the eflect of the sun,
such plants being diseased, should be
taken up, carried away, and burnt, and