On the Hornet. 



217 



on the depth of the soil, and the number of worm-casts in a 

 given space, and partly on the state of the weather. Least will 

 be required in shallow soils, moderately dry ; and most in deep 

 soils, either very wet or very dry. When lime is not at hand, 

 potash, soda, or urine may be used ; and a decoction of the 

 leaves of walnut trees, of those of hemp, tobacco, or potatoes, 

 after being partially dried and fermented, will have the same 

 effect. Hand-picking may also be resorted to ; but this requires 

 to be performed in the nighttime, when the worms are on the 

 surface of the ground, or immediately after rain. Worms in 

 pots may either be removed by striking the sides of the pots which 

 will disturb the worms, and cause them to rise above the surface, 

 or by turning out the ball on 

 the one hand, and picking off 

 the worms, which seldom fail to 

 come to the outside. To pre- 

 vent worms from entering pots, 

 a small cap {jig. 34. of the natu- 

 ral size) has been invented by 

 Mr. Barron, which, when placed 

 over the hole in the bottom of Fig- 34. 

 the pot, admits the escape of 

 water, and effectually prevents the entrance of worms. It has 

 been in use at the gardens at Elvaston Castle for several years. 

 Oyster shells may be used as substitutes for this cover.] 



Cap for covering the Holes in the 

 Bottoms of Pots. 



Art. VII. On the Hornet. By John Wighton, Gardener to 



Lord Stafford. 



Having troubled you on different occasions with communications 

 about bees, 1 have now some observations to make on hornets. 

 During the season before last, a hornet took possession of an 

 empty beehive in the apiary of these gardens, which stood be- 

 side other hives containing bees. When I first observed the 

 nest of the intruder, it was about the size of a pigeon's egg cut 

 in half. It was fixed inside to the top of the hive, and then 

 contained three cells. Two more cells were added on the fol- 

 lowing day, and an egg deposited in each of the five. In about 

 four days the eggs were hatched ; but in the mean time more 

 cells were formed with an egg in each, and the nest of course 

 enlarged. When I turned the hive upside down to examine the 

 nest, the hornet always seemed afraid, and would skulk behind 

 the nest : but after the brood came forth, the hornet lost all fear, 

 and I began to think of the old saying, that nine hornets could 

 sting a horse to death, and I thought it prudent to watch the 

 opportunity when the hornet went abroad, to examine the nest. 



