1870.] LUPINUS CALIFORNICUS. 69 



collect it. By the time the population of such a bee-colony is sufficiently 

 numerous to collect a surplus of honey daily, the spring honey-harvest 

 is over, and the queen discontinues depositing her eggs accordingly, 

 and at the end of the season it will be a weak stock again, alternating 

 thus : in spring, weak in numbers ; in autumn, weak in provisions. 

 They may possibly throw off a swarm once in a year or two ; but it is 

 sure to be weak and late, and unless under very favourable conditions, 

 it will be only one more weak stock. Whereas, if three weak stocks 

 had been united in autumn, and placed in one hive, they would 

 have had ample provision and plenty of bees ; the queen would have 

 commenced laying eggs at the beginning of February, and by the time 

 the fruit-trees were in blossom they would be a strong stock, in a con- 

 dition for gathering honey, or swarming, as might be most desired by 

 the bee-master. Besides which, there would be two spare sets of combs 

 in the hives from which the weak stocks had been driven, available 

 for early swarms, which might be placed in them if desired. 



It is not, however, always in the power of the bee-master to prevent 

 swarming, especially in straw hives, although he may reduce the pro- 

 bability of it to the lowest minimum by giving increased space for 

 oviposition and stowage. All weak stocks may be made strong by 

 gentle continuous feeding in early autumn and early spring, because, 

 while food is abundant and the weather mild, the queen will continue 

 to deposit eggs, and all the bees are enabled to remain at home as 

 nurses. C. N. Abbott. 



(To be continued.) 



LUPINUS CALIFORNICUS. 



This I believe to be one of the best Lupinus cultivated in the United 

 Kingdom, and one that seems to be little known to practical gardeners 

 and the lovers of flowers generally. Some three years ago I received 

 four seeds of it from Mr Draper of Seaham Hall, Sunderland, who 

 then designated it his favourite Lupine. I was so situated at the 

 time that I could not grow the seeds in the season that I received 

 them, but sowed them in small pots in the spring of 1868, and, to 

 make sure of germination, placed them on a slight hotbed. The seeds 

 were good, and germinated freely, and when the plants were large 

 enough, and hardened off, they were planted out in the borders. They 

 grew vigorously all through the summer, and by the autumn the plants 

 were 3 feet high, and about 3 feet in diameter. L. Californicus naturally 

 produces a single stem the first year, which branches freely on all sides? 



