,apeyrousia

C 409]

Larch Aphis

isy-crimson flowers, pendulous, bell-
laped, and very waxy in substance,
uite one of the most glorious of all climb-
ig plants. Discovered early in the 19th
jntury in Chile. Named after the first
ife of Napoleon—Josephine de Lapa-
sria. The plant is not hardy in the
sneral sense, but succeeds out of doors in
lany parts, and has been growing for a
amber of years against a north wall in
garden not far from Oxford, one of the
)ldest towns in the country.
Culture.—The soil need not be deep,
3 in. being ample, but moist, well drained
ad very porous. A mixture of coarse
ranite or grit (not limestone), sand and
eat; and kept open by stone chippings,
roken sandstone, and especially clinkers,
he roots of Lapageria have a peculiar
>ndness for clinkers. The shoots should
e carefully trained to strings in prefer-
ace to wire; on no account use galvanised
dre as the shoots have a great aversion
> its nearness. The flowers appear about
uly or August and continue for many
reeks. They may be obtained in clusters
r in long trails. If garlands are desired,
be shoots should be left to lengthen; but
: the strong shoots are pinched when they
egin to show broad leaves, clusters of
lany flowers will result; sometimes as
lany as a dozen may be seen hanging
jgether. Pruning consists in removing
be shoots that have flowered unless
eeded to extend the plant. Weak
rowths may also be cut away. Propagate
»y layering. They may take a year
r more before rooting and being ready
o lead a separate existence. Strong
jrowths cut from the plants and placed
a. a warm close frame or propagating case
ciU also root. Seed germinates freely in
• warm house. Slugs are keen on the young
hoots which spring from the base.

L. rosea. The only species. There are
everal garden varieties, some larger and
iner than others.

L. r. alba,. Pure white flowers.

LAPEYROUSIA (la-pe-ni-si-a. Iridese).
Haif-hardy bulbs of little importance
aorticulturally.

Propagate by offsets.

SPECIES. ,

L. cofym&owi. Blue and white flowers
in May. &-12 in.

L. grandiflora. Bed flowers with a
yellow eye.

L. fissifolia. Itose and pink flowers in
August. 6-9 in,

LARCH. See LABIS.

LARCH APHIS (Cliermes lands}.
There is some divergence of opinion on the
life-history of the Larch Aphis, but the
common theory is that it hibernates in the

Many trees are attacked by special kinds of
Aphis and one has chosen the Larch. Spray-
ing with insecticide is the best remedy. It is
similar to woolly aphis in appearance.

female state on the trunk of the trees under
a covering of a white cottony wooL In the
spring these females move, and having
taken up suitable positions they lay their
eggs, which are glued together. On bateh-
ing out the young Ghcrmes quickly grow,
giving rise to further generations. As each
. individual covers itself with wool, the tree
soon becomes unsightly, and, with the con-
stant sucking of the sap, the needles are
weakened, turn yellow and fall off; young
trees may be killed outright,

METHODS OF CoirrBai*.-—Treatment
should be undertaken in the winter, when