limestone gravel very freely. Lime seems necessary as an ingredient in their composition; consequently, it should be had, if practicable, in the state of carbonate: if quicklime is spread, a considerable time must elapse before it returns to that state." In another place, Mr. Boyd remarks, "That plants derive some proportion of earth from the soil in which they grow, cannot be denied: at the same time, it must be admitted, that the carbonaceous principle, in some form or other, appears absolutely necessary to the production of good crops." (p. 392.) It will happen, at times, that the honour of a discovery will be contended for: for instance, the discovery of oxalic acid, which some say was made by Bergman, others by Scheele; and some would rob Priestley of the honour of the discovery of oxygen gas and nitrogen gas, and ascribe this to Lavoisier. I think it but right to state, that the honour is due to Mr. Boyd, for laying before the public, upwards of thirty years ago, the principle that no soil will continue fertile that wants calcareous matter.Peter Mackenzie. West Plean, Jan. 7. 1837. Green Purple Legumes. 020 Tarragon, dried, per doz. bun. Mint, dried, per doz. bunches Kidneybeans (forced), per hun. 0 2 60 3 6 Marjoram, per doz. bun. 099990034+066000 Savory, green, per doz. bun. 6 0 0 Rosemary, green, per doz. bun. 0 0 36 Stalks and Fruits for Tarts, 005 Edible Fungi and Fuci. 16 Morels, per pound 0 2 0 Truffles, English, per pound 0 0 0 Apples, Dessert, per bushel: Pickling, &c. 0 1 6 Rhubarb Stalks, per bundle Fruits. Baking Nonpareils Reinette de gris American 036 Sorrel, per half sieve Royals 0 5 0 Pears, Dessert, per dozen : Bonne Chrétienne Beurré rance Almonds, per peck Strawberries, forced, per oz. 0 8 0 Chestnuts, French, per peck 006 Pine-apples, per pound 0 0 8 090 Grapes, per pound: 0 4 0 Sweet Almonds, per pound. 009 Nuts: 0 3 6 016 0 0 3 Brazil, per bushel Spanish, per peck Barcelona, per peck Observations. The continued prevalence of cold weather up to this period has materially retarded the progress of vegetation: our supplies have been very limited. Nevertheless, no great improvement in prices has been effected, in consequence, I presume, of the general depression which has more or less prevailed throughout the metropolis. The supply of potatoes was materially interrupted during the past month, by the prevalence of boisterous wind, which interfered with the regular navigation coastwise, in consequence of which the prices were considerably elevated, but have now nearly resumed their former standard. Carrots are now in demand, with a moderate supply. Turnips are rather scarce, and going out of season. As yet we have had but few early cabbages: the crop is said to be much affected by the unsettled weather throughout the winter. Coleworts are scarce, and realise a good price. Broccolis are generally short in supply, nothing very particular having been offered for some time past. The prospect for vegetables for the ensuing months is by no means favourable. The supply of fruit has been moderate: apples have been furnished steadily. Prices have not varied materially, but few foreign have been imported this season. The crop of winter pears was very small; the supply has consequently been limited. Some few forced strawberries have been produced, of middling quality. Hot-house grapes are, as yet, scarce; but, as the quality of those offered is indifferent, the price is moderate. Oranges, throughout the season, have been irregularly supplied, in consequence of interruption by bad weather: prices have been higher than usual. Chestnuts and Spanish nuts have also been less abundant than usual. The crop of filberts was comparatively small, therefore few are left on hand: but little demand has existed, throughout the season, and prices have generally been steady and moderate. — C. G. M. March 21. 1837. ART. IV. The London Horticultural Society and Garden. MEETING, Feb 7. 1837.- Elected. The following gentlemen were elected Fellows:- George Cooke, Esq.; Sir P. G. Egerton, Bart., M.P.; Mr Richard Forrest, and Christopher Rawson, Esq. Read. A paper on the Cultivation of Cinnamon in England, by Mr. W. Buchan, gardener to Lord Bagot. Monthly Meteorological Journal. A statement showing the highest and lowest state of the barometer, the thermometer, and the amount of rain, as observed in the garden of the Horticultural Society, between the 1st. of January and 7th of February, 1837, was read; and notice was given that a monthly statement, similar to the above, would be suspended in the meeting room in future. A Silver Knightian Medal was awarded to Mr. Glenny, for his varieties of E'pacris; and a Banksian Medal, to Mr. W. Buchan, for his cultivation of the cinnamon. Exhibited. Blood oranges, and Tangierine ditto, from Malta. Seeds of cinnamon, for cultivation in the open air in England, in favourable localities, from Mr. W. Buchan, gardener to Lord Bagot. Oncidium carthaginénse, Phàius grandifolius and Brùcea maculàta, Pancràtium speciòsum, and Billbérgia iridifolia, from Mrs. Lawrence. E'pacris impréssa, E. campanulàta álba, and E. púngens; Veltheimia viridiflòra, Poinsettia pulchérrima, and camellias, from Mr. Glenny. From the Garden of the Society. Plants. Eulòphia lùrida, Echevèria gibbiflora, and Helléborus odòrus.- Fruit. Pears: Beurré rance, Easter beurré, and Rouse lench; all which have ripened more early than usual. Apples. Kitchen: Royal reinette, northern greening, Yorkshire greening, Alfriston, royale rouge d'hiver. Kitchen and desert: Golden russet, London pippin. Desert: New rock pippin, Haggerstone pippin, court pendu plat, reinette du Canada, Dutch mignonne, gros faros, red everlasting (which is more for show than any other merit: it retains a bloom for a long time on the fruit), fenouillet rouge, and pigeonnet (the last an apple esteemed in France, and by some people in this country, but not generally so.) Cuttings of the following Fruits were distributed. Plums: Saint Martin's quetsche, an excellent late purple plum, received into the garden from_the late M. Fischer of Göttingen; and reine Claude violette. Cherries: Late duke, and Elton. Pears: Beurré Bosc, Hacon's incomparable; about the size of Gansell's bergamot, which keeps till December, and is of excellent flavour. The tree bears well as a standard. Feb. 21. 1837.-Papers Read. On the cultivation of the Melon in open Frames, by John Williams, Esq., C.M.H.S. On the Cultivation of Figs, by T. A. Knight, Esq. Exhibited. Epacris impréssa from W. Bromley, Esq., F.H.S. Tropæ'olum brachyceras, from the Rev. G. Cumming Rashleigh. Oncidium bifòlium, Grevillea sulphùrea, Euphorbia spléndens, Azalea índica álba, A. póntica odorata, and a new white Cyclamen, from Mr. Glenny. Lycium aggregatum, from Sir G. T. Staunton, Bart. Camellias, from John Allnutt, Esq. Miscellaneous collection of plants from the Hon. W. F. Strangways. Cut flowers from Mrs. Marryat. From the Garden of the Society. Plants. Azalea indica phœnícea, A. i. álba, Oncidium ampliàtum, Helléborus odòrus. Fruit. Pears: Easter beurré, beurré rance, Dowler's seedling, ne plus meuris. Apples: Rhode Island greening, api gros, fenouillet rouge, northern greening, and American pippin. Grafts of the following Pears were distributed: Nelis d'hiver, monarch, Broom Park, and Eyewood. A Silver Knightian Medal was awarded to the Rev. G. Cumming Rashleigh, for the Tropa olum brachyceras. March 7. 1837.- Read. A paper on the Management of Fruit Trees, by C. Williams, Esq., C.M.H.S. Exhibited. Rhododendron Russellianum, from Mr. Gaines of Battersea. Beurré rance pears, from Mr. Jarvis of Turnham Green. Dendrobium fimbriàtum, D. Pierárdi, and D. pulchellum, from Messrs. Loddiges. Callistemon sp. nov., from Mr. Henry Pratt, gardener to William Harrison, Esq. A collection of cut flowers, from the Hon. W. F. Strangways. A new Thunbérgia, Grevillea arenària, Scóttia dentata, Dillwýnia junipérina, Epacris nivalis, E. campanulata, Ardísia crenulata, Gloxínia cauléscens, Gesnèria Douglasii, Brunsfélsia americàna, Ipomoea Horsfall, Dendrobium pulchéllum, Solanum sp., and Lechenaúltia formòsa, from Mrs. Lawrence. Styphèlia tubiflòra, Phàius grandifolius, Andrómeda floribúnda, Fúchsia microphylla grandiflora, Corræ'a pulchella, Hòvea purpurea, and camellias in pots, from Mr. Glenny. From the Garden of the Society. Plants. Callistachys ovata, Euphorbia Myrsinites, Azalea indica phœnícea, Sisyrinchium grandiflòrum. - Fruit. Pears: beurré rance, ne plus meuris, and Easter beurré, from standards; bellissime d'hiver, a very good stewing pear; and Easter bergamot. Cuttings of emerald; Comte de Lamy, a very sugary melting autumn pear; (Knight's) winter crassane, which fruits abundantly on a dwarf standard, and is as handsome and high-flavoured as the old crassane is on a wall; Brabant bellefleur, figured in Hort. Trans., 2d s., vol. i. t. x. p. 295.; and early purple Guigne, figured in Hort. Trans., 2d s., vol. i. t. iv. p. 144. Medals awarded. A large silver medal was awarded to Messrs. Loddiges, for their three species of Dendrobium. A silver Knightian medal to Mrs. Lawrence, for Ipomoe'a Horsfállü; one to Mr. Gaines, for Rhododendron Russellianum; one to Mr. H. Pratt, for a new species of Callistèmon; and one to Mr. G. Glenny, for the Andrómeda floribúnda. THE GARDENER'S MAGAZINE, MAY, 1837. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. ART. I. A Series of Articles on the Insects most injurious to Cultivators. By J. O. WESTWOOD, F.L.S., Secretary to the Entomological Society of London. No. 3. THE TURNIP SAW-FLY. ONE of your correspondents (J. B. W., Vol. XII. p. 711.) having recently enquired for an account of the economy of "the small black grub which lately made such havock amongst the turnips," and the same insect having been selected by the Council of the Entomological Society as the subject of the Prize Essay for the year 1837, I have determined on making this destructive insect the subject of the present article; not only with a view of detailing what is already known concerning it, but also for the purpose of noticing several particulars relative to its economy which it is desirable should be ascertained. About the year 1760, and again in 1782, as we learn from a paper by Mr. Marshall, published in the Transactions of the Royal Society for 1783, many thousands of acres of turnips, in certain parts of the country, were entirely destroyed by this insect. In 1818, it again appeared in great numbers, and to a still greater extent in 1835 and 1836. The destruction is produced by the voracious larva, or grub, of this insect, which, from its colour, is called the nigger, or black grub; and a field of turnips infested with it is said to have the "blacks." These larvæ (fig. 73. a, b)are of a cylindrical form, and of a slaty or greenish black colour; having a darker-coloured line down the back, and a longitudinal pale grey or dull yellowish line, succeeded by a dark slate line; the under side of the body being also pale-coloured. The body is transversely wrinkled, independently of the articulations. The head is black, armed with the ordinary apparatus of a masticating insect; namely, an upper and under lip, two horny jaws, and two coriaceous under jaws, acting transversely. The three VOL. XIII.- No. 86. following segments are furnished with three pairs of short articulated legs; the fourth segment is footless; but the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th segments are provided with short fleshy prolegs (making twenty feet, together with the articulated legs), similar in construction but more numerous than those of the lepidopterous insects (butterflies and moths). Indeed, this caterpillar has so much the appearance of a lepidopterous caterpillar, that, unless its transformations had been traced, it might have been supposed that the injury was produced by the progeny of a moth. It has, however, the habit, when alarmed, of rolling itself in a spiral manner (fig. 73. a), joining its head to its tail, like one of the cylindrical centipedes (Iùlide). The larva, when full grown, is rather more than half an inch in length, and is about as thick as a small crow-quill. Of the devastating powers of the larva, the following extract from Mr. Yarrell's memoir upon this insect, published in the Transactions of the Zoological Society, will give a sufficient idea :"The crops of turnips in the counties of Kent, Essex, Sussex, and part of Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, and Wiltshire, were considered a failure; and so long did the various broods continue their attacks, that the produce of a second, and even of a third, sowing did not escape destruction; nor was it till the occurrence of the rains in September, after an unusually dry summer, in many districts, that the mischief ceased. Some farmers, who sowed for turnips again immediately after the first rain, were as successful as the lateness of the period would admit. It has been observed of those turnips that suffered in the leaf from the attacks of the black caterpillar, but not sufficiently to produce the death of the plant, that the turnip itself had become pithy, and of little comparative value. So great was the failure of the turnip crop generally, that in some of the counties on the coast, where water carriage was available, ship-loads of turnips were said to have been contracted for from the Continent to supply the deficiency." The whole crop of turnips near Dover is said by Mr. Saunders (Trans. Entomol. Soc., vol. i. p. 76.) to have been destroyed, "twenty or thirty caterpillars being found on a single plant, and scarcely a vestige of green remaining; the caterpillars then seeking subsistence on the harder parts of the leaves, such as the tendrils and nerves, which they at first refused." A crop of turnips, near Godalming, is described by Rusticus (Entomol. Mag, No. 14. p. 339.) as having, "in two short days, been swept from the face of the earth. The land was every where as bare as on the day it had been sowed. There was no speck of green for the eye to rest upon. It was a wild and universal desolation; and the black crawling vermin that had caused the ruin were clustered in bunches on the ground, and on the remnants of the turnips." The turnips which escape |