11 Feb., 1918.] Bee-Keejnng in Victoria. 107 



Collar Rot in Citrus Trees. — Cut away diseased bark until healthy 

 tissues are met with, and swab parts with carbolic acid and water m 

 equal parts. Covering wounds; with grafting wax, &c., facilitates rapid 

 healing. 



Chlorosis is recognised by the leaves showing pale yellow blotches 

 due to the lack of chlorophyll The best treatment for trees so affected 

 is an application of 1 lb. superphosphate with | lb. of sulphate of iron 

 per tree 



BEE-KEEPING IN VICTORIA. 



By F. R. Beuhne, Apicultvrist. 



XXVI. THE HONEY FLORA OF VICTORIA. 



(Continued fi-om page 307, Vol. XV.) 



The Bottlebkushes (CalUstemon). 



Ths Bottlebrushes are a genus confined to Australia. There are six- 

 teen species, eight of which are native to Victoria. They are closely allied 

 to the Honey Myrtles or Bottlebrush Tea-trees {Melaleuca), which they 

 i-esemble remarkably in their floral characters, differing from them, 

 however, in the length and breadth of their leaves and the length and 

 colour of the stamens of the flower. The features which distinguish the 

 Bottlebrushes from the Honey Myrtles or Bottlebrush Tea-trees are the 

 larger leaves as well as the longer stamens of the former, which are 

 always over half an inch in length while those of the Honey Myrtles do 

 not exceed half an inch. 



All the Bottlebrushes yield nectar and pollen, and although the 

 honey obtained from them cannot be considered of the best quality, these 

 shrubs are nevertheless of great value to the bee-keeper in the localities 

 where they grow, as they provide nectar and pollen in October, Novem- 

 ber, and December, according to the :.pecies, a time when both these bee 

 foods are most needed for the full development of the colonies. 



The Crimson Bottlebrush {CalUstemon lanceolattis) . 



The Crimson Bottlebrush is usually a tall tree, sometimes "attaining 

 a height of 30 feet, but occasionally the shrubs are low and bushy. 

 The leaves are lance-shaped, variable in breadth, usually pointed, and 

 from H to 2 inches long, but varying from 1 to 3 inches. The crimson 

 flower spikes are from 2 to 4 inches long, and not very dense. The 

 petals are greenish or reddish, and the stamens crimton, in some 

 speciniens deeply coloured, in others much paler, more slender, and 

 scarcely above half an inch in length. The Crimson Bottlebrush is found 

 in East GippsJand. It yields both nectar and pollen, and flowers 

 generally in October. 



The Scarlet Bottlebrush {CnlJistemon coccineus). 



A shrub very closely allied to the Crimson Bottlebrush. The leaves 

 are lance-shaped, rigid, almost pungent, from 1 to H inches long, the 

 mid rib prominent The flowers are scarlet, not very dense, stamens ^ 

 to 1 inch long, with yellow anthers. 



