l88o 



gLeaNixcjs in bee culture 



no 



them remain, and take the risk of having 

 them injured or stolen. I would not allow 

 any possible inducement to persuade me to 

 go on the gi'ounds on the Sabbath-day, and 

 take part in the proceedings. Sometliing 

 has been said about holding meetings on the 

 Exposition grounds. From what experience 

 I have had in holding meetings in similar 

 circumstances and places, I do not believe it 

 is advisable for any Christian to encourage 

 them. There are plenty of comfortable 

 churches in Xew Orleans, I am sure, and I 

 feel pretty sure, too, that those who love the 

 Lord will be found in those churches. Do 

 not let us stay away, friends, but let us go. 

 carrying Christ with us ; and if we tind cus- 

 toms different from our notions, let us strive 

 to do as Paul did when he said,— 



I am made all things to nil men, that I mig-ht hy 

 all means save some. And this 1 do for the p-ospel's 

 sake, that I mi^ht be partaker thereof with you. 

 -I. COK. 9:22,23. 



WIND-BREAKS, THIEVES IN THE API- 

 ARY, AND HONEY-PRODUCING 

 PLANTS. 



FRIEND LAWSON TELLS TS HOW TO KILL THE 

 ABOVE THREE BIRDS WITH ONE STONE. 



fRIEND RO0T:-Tn your issue of Jan. 1, 188.'), in 

 your answer to John F. Whitmore, concern- 

 in;? thieves in the apiary, you may well say 

 the laborers are few, while the harvest is 

 plenteous. We also have a promise to those 

 who help themselves. Suppose we take this prac- 

 tical side of the case; that is, hedpre in our apiary 

 with something that will be a har\est for the Ijets 

 twice ill the year, a protection agaiiist thievefi, a 

 wind-break tor the apiary, and a lastinjf pleasure to 

 the owner. This is a subject of vital importance, 

 not only to the apiarist, but to all who have inclos- 

 ures to make, as this combines cheapness, strenjfth, 

 durability, and will be defensive against the inroads 

 of men, stock, pigs, and rabbits, at all times. To 

 such I would recommend the Japan quince; two 

 varieties {Ctidonia Japnnica), scarlet Howering, and 

 (i'lldonia Japonicn alba), white flowering; also tlie 

 l'l)raciinth((. The two former have peculiar (lualifl- 

 cations for the position 1 would assign them as a 

 hedge. They have a rich, dark-green foliage, pro- 

 ducing in April a profusion of flowers which keep 

 the bees busy and happy (I have seen them in 

 bloom as early as March, and snow lying on the 

 ground). W'hat could be more attractive? They 

 ai-e defended by innumerable tliorns, which make 

 them impenetrable! against all interlopers; they 

 thrive in all kinds of soil and locations; thej- will 

 make a good defensive hedge in four or Hve years; 

 hear pruning admirably, and are not subject to in- 

 sect depredations, either in branch or root; and 

 lastly, they occupy but two feet on either side of 

 the row. Propagation of the abovt^ is similar to the 

 Pyracantha, hence I will speak of them together. 



The pyracantha is essentially a hedge-plant, which 

 can not be said of many others, especially the 

 Osage orange, which is, perhaps, the most familiar 

 example to most of your x-caders, growing some- 

 times to a tree in height, with strong roots extend- 

 ing to cither side for many feet, running so near 

 the surface, and exhausting the soil, preventing 

 the i)lauting of crops to within several feet of the 

 hedge-row. Not so with the Pumranthn; it requires 



but two feet and a half on either side of the row; it 

 is a beautiful evergreen, with a very rich dark- 

 green foliage, producing, in June, snowy -white 

 flowers, much frequented by the bees. In winter 

 it has a profusion or red berries, making it very 

 attractive. It is also defended by innumerable 

 thick set thorns, making it impenetrable to all alike. 

 Almost any kind of soil and location will suit it. 

 Like the former spoken of, it grows rapidly, bears 

 pruning admirably, and will be a defensive hedge 

 In four or five veal's. 



I Propagation is effected by suckers and prunings 

 of either hedges, cutting them up si.x inches in 

 length. Have the ground spaded or plowed, and 

 leveled off. Set a line; now strike the spade firm 



' against it, and downward at the same stroke, deep 

 enough to set the slips one inch below the surface. 

 The object of this stroke is to make firm the soil 

 against the line; set the slips six inches apart against 



; the straight side; fill up to near the top of slips, press 

 them in with the feet; till up now one inch over 



1 their tops, leaving it mellow and level. This must 



j be done not later than the middle of March. In the 



I following fall lift them, and set them out 15 inches 



I apart, alternating the plants as the work goes on, 

 making it attractive all along the row, the flowering 

 time of either being some three months apart. 

 Prune them well in. after the fall of the leaf, so 

 as to make them grow close and thick. The pyra- 

 midal form of training is to me the most practical, 

 as a shower can get at the surface of every side- 

 shoot, hence no dead limbs at the bottom. 



I have been minute in detail, as the time for ac- 

 tion is at hand, and perhaps many of i'our readers 

 may have the above in their gardens or lawns as 

 shrubs. They may go to work on them now. I have 

 been a practical horticulturist and apiarist for some 

 years, and have had the above hedges under my 

 care; I would assuredly recommend them as worthy 



I of consideration. With the help of a good gate and 



[ lock, it is what all apiarists need. 



1 It is seldom 1 take the pen to write what I know, 

 as my hand is more used to the pruniug-shears; 



' but should this effort do your readers some good, 

 you may hear from me again. J. J. Lawsox. 



Point Lookout Mt., Tenn. 



Tliank you. friend L. It is the men who 

 are used to pruning-shearsand sucli like iin- 

 l)lements. that we like to liave send us arti- 

 cles like yours. Every apiary should have a 

 wind-break of some kind, and we have at 

 consideralde expense planted evergreens all 

 aroiuid ours. We did not think of the 

 thieves nor the honey-posies when we did; it. 

 Xow, while 1 do not much fear the thieves, 

 1 shoidd be very glad indeed to have our 

 evergreens bear "llo'wers; but I did not know, 

 until you mentioned it, that that could be 

 managed. In regard to thieves. I believe it 

 is seldom that they venture into an inclosure 

 when it is surrounded by a hedge. It is a 

 sort of uncomfortable predicament for a 

 body to get into, and thieves are usually 

 cowards. Who can furnish us plants for 

 sale, and what are they worth? I have no- 

 ticed the Japan quince, but I did not know 

 before that it was a good hedge-plant. If I 

 understand you, the (piinees and evergreens 

 are to be planted alternately. The effect, it 

 seems to me, would be beautiful, and I do 

 not see why it wotdd not be just what we 

 want— usefiU and ornamental. 



