only fonr dead bees ; he moved into it two handsful from the other liivo, whore the swarm 

 was completely established, and which was too contracted for the groat number of bees 

 in it. 



" The hives were carried back to the places they usually occupied, and were found to bo 

 of full weight. 



" Tht'n an astonishing difference was proved in the account of tlie loss among the hives 

 which had passed the winter in the ground, and those preserved in the usual way. 



" In short, the hive of sixty-three pounds still weighed fifty-nine pounds ; the second, of 

 thirty-two pounds, had only lost fifteen ounces, while one of the other hives, which, in 

 autumn, had weighed fifty-two pounds, now weighed but thirty-nine, and another, which 

 previously weighed forty-two pounds ten ounces, was now but twenty-e'ight pounds ten 

 ounces. 



" M. Forstner has not been able to discover whether the bees consume less under ground, 

 or if, as is probable, they fall into a sort of torpid sleep, from which they rouse sooner than 

 other insects, on account of the hatching of the young bees. However that may be, the 

 swarms on which this experience rests were full of vigor, indefatigable after sweet riches, 

 and furnished, earlier than is common, very pretty swarms ; their honey was perfect. 



" The author of this experience adds, that to preserve field mice and moles from the 

 hives thus kept under ground, it is necessary to take precautionary measures, such as pro- 

 tecting the walls of the pit by an iron trellis." — Flore de Serres. 



Wistaria sinensis. — The following query and answer, cut from the London Cottage Gar- 

 dener, applies with equal force to this country : — 



" Climbers for Poles. — Would you have the kindness to inform me, through your ' Answers 

 to Correspondents,' whether a Climbing Rose or Wistaria would do for a bamboo pole ? 

 Perhaps you would guide me as to the most suitable, and as to the time of planting and 

 soil adapted for them f T. J. Watson. 



" [The answer to this question depends, first, on what part of this kingdom the bamboo 

 pole is to be set up. Anywhere in England north of London, we would not recommend a 

 pillar Wistaria. Secondly, what is the inquirer's taste ? Which plant does he desire to 

 cultivate ? If this bamboo pole is to be set up in the plains of Devon, or some such-like 

 plain, where a pillar Wistaria would grow and bloom as well as a pillar Rose, which of the 

 two would you prefer ? We would select the Wistaria, and prepare a border for it as we 

 would for a grape-vine, in every particular ; we would travel one thousand miles to find a 

 Wistaria worth planting. It would need to have been growing for the last three years in a 

 pot, and the last season's growth, to be over four feet. Ninety-nine Wistarias out of a 

 hundred, if pinched in pots, are not worth a groat the dozen. It seldom happens that a 

 Wistaria under 5s. 6d. is worth having as a gift. The fact is, people do not yet understand 

 the treatment of this tree. Our pillar Wistaria should be pruned exactly like a pear 

 pyramid.]" 



CuLTCRE OF THE RosE. — The time approaches for planting Roses ; with some of our readers 

 it is at hand. A word as to their culture is, however, always in season. If the ground is 

 light, it will be necessary to mix good strong loam with it, for they do not grow well in light 

 soil. Loam, therefore, is as essential as dung. They always grow best on strong land ; take 

 care, therefore, to supply strength by mixing loam as well as dung wherever you are going 

 to plant them. Presuming, then, that you are beginning, send to a respectable gardener, and 

 oon as they are ready to take up they will be forwarded. Supposing they are stand 

 sharp knife, and wherever the ends of the roots have been broken or chopped 



