1870.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 209 



morrow to provide for itself ; and surely in the middle of June it was 

 not unreasonable to suppose that they would be able to gather food at 

 some times during the days ; but the weather was so cold, and it 

 rained so incessantly for nearly three weeks, that the poor things 

 could not work at all, and were literally starved to death. In the 

 case of old stocks, instances occurred where the queens did not hatch, 

 or were lost on their wedding-journeys, and they of course dwindled 

 away. Hundreds of stocks have perished already from the above 

 causes, and many more will perish during the present winter if left to 

 themselves. I have seen many stocks and swarms, but I have not 

 seen one natural swarm of 1869 which has filled its hive with combs, 

 or with sufficient bees to staud the winter without aid, so great was 

 the shock received in the month referred to. 



HINTS FOR AMATEURS.-MAY. 



Where ground is extensive in proportion to the hands employed to 

 carry on the operations, much energy and tact will be required to keep 

 the work forward, which will (for a time) increase daily. Weeds will 

 grow rapidly if the weather is showery and warm, and to keep them 

 under they should be hoed as early as they appear above ground. 

 They are then easily destroyed, and raking is not required among the 

 crops, which does harm by closing the surface of the soil. The more 

 frequently the hoe is used surface-stirring, the less will the crop suffer 

 from drought. However, if the use of the watering-pot is really 

 necessary, it should be applied thoroughly and done with, stirring up 

 the battered ground again as soon as practicable. Timely attention 

 to the sowing and planting of succession crops must not be neglected. 

 Thinning will also be among the more important operations. If 

 crops, such as Carrots and Turnips, come through the ground very 

 thickly, it will be beneficial to pull out patches, to prevent the young 

 seedlings drawing up weakly before a proper thinning can be given. 

 Asparagus will soon be ready for cutting. Some prefer taking off 

 everything as it appears through the ground, and when cutting is 

 over the whole is allowed to grow untouched. Others always leave a 

 number of the more weakly shoots to grow on, with the view of 

 strengthening the roots, and cutting the strong shoots for use. The 

 latter system we believe the safest on cold late soil, where ripening of 

 the "grass" is late in autumn. Asparagus is in good condition when 

 the green tops are 4 or 5 inches long. Tough blanched stalks, so 

 often met with, and small green tops, are a poor apology for this delicious 



o 



