lo March. 191-.] Orcliard and Cardcji Xotcs. 179 



queen should be removed and one from a gentler stock introduced. There 

 are. however, occasions when even the best tempered bees will sting more 

 or less viciously. For instance, when a honey flow has suddenly cea?ed 

 and bees have had access to honey other than the nectar in flowers ; or 

 when a colonv has become hopelessly queenless, which means that they 

 have no queen and no brood to raise one from. The remedy in the first 

 case is never to allow bees access to honey outside the hive, and not to 

 open hives when robber bees are seen hovering round. In the second, give 

 the queenless colony a comb of Ijrood from another hive, or introduce a 

 queen. 



To reduce the effect of a sting to a minimum it sliould be quickly 

 removed, when very little of the poison will have entered the puncture. 

 The sting itself is a sharp-pointed and barbed hollow shaft connected 

 with the poison sac in the body of the bee. When the sting has entered 

 the rubberlike human skin it cannot be withrawn on account of the barljs, 

 and in the effort of the bee to free itself the sting with the poison bag, 

 and the actuating muscles attached, is torn from the abdomen. The 

 muscles may be seen to continue working sometimes for many seconds 

 after the sting has become detached from the bee and it is therefor ad- 

 visable to immediately remove it from the skin. This is best done by 

 scraping it away with the fingernail or if both hands are engaged rubbing 

 it off on your clothes. On nO' account should a sting be picked o& with 

 the finger tips because that cann.ot be done without pressing the poisoii 

 bag and injecting the whole of its contents into the skin. 



To neutralise the effects of a sting a number of remedies are recom- 

 mended. The blue bag is the most commonly advocated cure — I am no', 

 at all sure whether green or yellow would not do as well. 



Ammonia is certainlv more effective, but it has the disadvantage of 

 irritating the bees, and more stings are likely to be the result. Washing 

 the part stung with soap and water allays irritation, whil.st if manv stings 

 have been received bathing with hot water will diffuse the poison, lessen 

 the pain, and reduce the swelling. For the average individual the best 

 thing to do is to quickly remove the sting and think no more about it. 



(To' he confiniced.) 



ORCHARD AND GARDEN NOTES. 



E. E. Pcscoit. Principal. Horticiilfural School. Biinilcy. 



The Orchard. 



Green Manure. 



As emphasized in last month's notes, the importance of a cover crop 

 for green manure should not be overlooked. Where the physical properties 

 of the soil require improving, or where the soil needs humus, this class 

 of crop is an urgent necessity. 



The sowing of the crop should not be delayed, so that a good herbage 

 may be produced before the cold of winter stops the growth. Tt is gene- 

 rally found that it is far better to secure as good a growth as possible in 

 the autumn. 



Cultivation. 



Late in the month, or early in April, a start may be made with the 

 autumn ploughing. Advantage .should be taken of the first rains to get this 

 ■work done. 



