1870.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 141 



10, and 12 are adapted for blooming in winter. If more extensive-growing kinds 

 were required, then there should be included Bignonia grandifiora, scarlet; Sola- 

 num jasminiflorum, white; Tacsonia Van Volxemi, crimson; Tacsonia molli3- 

 sima, rose ; and Cobaea scandens variegata. We think this selection will afford 

 you ample material for your purpose. 



Violets. — The culture of the Violet is exceedingly simple. In April the side 

 runners should be allowed to grow, and to encourage them to root freely they 

 should have light rich soil sifted among them. In May a piece of ground in a 

 north or west border, or in a partially-shaded situation, should be chosen, and 

 well dressed with any light rich manure. A good dressing of charred material — 

 such as burnt vegetable-refuse, charcoal-dust, or wood-ashes — should also be added 

 if it could be obtained, as it materially encourages the growth of a healthy, dark- 

 green foliage, and a profusion of fine large flowers. The runners should be care- 

 fully lifted as soon as they are well rooted, and be planted in prepared beds a 

 foot apart. They should not be allowed to suffer from want of water, and all 

 runners or side-shoots should be pinched off as soon as they appear. By the end 

 of September they will be found strong plants, and will lift with good balls, if 

 required to bloom elsewhere. I think they bloom earlier and more freely if 

 allowed to remain undisturbed. D. M. 



Freaks of Variegation. — We appear to be fast approaching a state of things 

 in relation to Horticulture, when we shall not have any description of green - 

 foliaged plant of which there will not also be its variegated counterpart. The 

 extent to which this characteristic has developed itself in hardy plants especially 

 is something remarkable, whether in the case of cultivated or wild species and 

 varieties. The variegated Plantain is a well-known instance ; and recently I 

 gathered from the roadside a plant of the Cineraria palustris showing partial 

 variegation, that has since developed into an entirely creamy-white-coloured 

 foliage. For the first time, to my knowledge, I have this winter met with a 

 variegated Sweet William, having well-defined streaks of white running the whole 

 length of the leaves ; and again, although not quite so novel in appearance, several 

 plants of variegated Primula have come amongst my batch of this popular winter 

 and spring flower. The mention of a variegated Cabbage will cause many to smile, 

 but I can assure them that as a white-f oliaged plant for greenhouse decoration in 

 the winter it is almost unrivalled, as the variegation is of the whitest character, 

 and might justly be described as snow white, the leaves being broadly edged-- 

 in fact, quite eclipsing the variegated Hydrangea. A. D. 



Bee-keeping. — I am glad to find you have begun a series of hints to bee- 

 keepers. I am sure it will be well received. After Mr Abbott's papers are finished, 

 a higher series might be introduced for those who are not quite novices ; and, 

 further, if you could give a chapter on the habits and character of, and the advan- 

 tages derived from, the culture of the Alp bee (or Ligurian), I am sure bee- 

 keepers will be much gratified. I obtained a hive of this newly-imported bee 

 last summer, and the circumstance having been noted in our local newspaper, it 

 was most interesting to notice how many bee-keepers came long distances to see the 

 Ligurian bees, and what expressions of delight they made use of on seeing them, 

 and also on handling the "bonnie beasts," as one of my visitors termed them. 

 I find some of my stocks are suffering from dysentery, owing probably to the 

 season. I have tried various methods of housing my stocks, but the old plan — 

 pins in the ground, and a good straw hood — is as good as any, as one can get 

 about the hive3 so much better ; and in handling the bees, the other stocks are 



