The Canadian Horticulturist. 357 



fewer than the disadvantages. To those not having experience, no one need 

 hesitate to condemn such a hive ; the chances for blundering are too great, and 

 the box hive would be far better. The eight-frame Langstock hive — which is 

 not patented — is used more generally throughout America than any other ; in 

 fact, it would be safe to estimate that eighty out of one hundred are of this 

 design. Other hives of about the same capacity are probably just as good, as 

 far as results in honey production go, but supplies for this hive are more easily 

 purchased, and when the time comes that these hives are to be sold (that time, 

 however distant, is almost sure to come) they can be sold more readily in this 

 hive than any other. 



An old and successful bee-keeper, who has tried many hives, and who has 

 a hive of his own design in the majority, stated to me, " After all my experi- 

 mentation, I confers with regret that Father Langstock struck it just about right 

 when he made the first movable frame hive." Above all, do not get up an odd 

 sized frame of your own if you continue in the business. You will surely regret 

 it. Take, at least, some hive that is somewhat generally used. The chaff hive 

 may be sufficient protection for winter ; but a severe winter may come when it 

 is not. A single-wallei hive is cheaper, and if outside wintering is desired they 

 can be put in large boxes and packing placed between. 



Brant/ord, Ont. R. Y. Holter.man. 



FERTiLiifKRs FOR ORCHARDS. — The Michigan Experiment Station strongly 

 recommends unleached ashes for apple orchards, to be for several years the ex- 

 clusive application ; and in addition to this on light soils twenty loads of rotted 

 stable manure, and in other cases fifty pounds of nitrate of soda and two 

 hundred pounds of fine ground bone. In most instances ashes have proved 

 highly beneficial to orchards, but discrimination should be made with varying 

 soils, as in some cases it has greatly increased growth, while in others it has pro- 

 duced no sensible effect. The above authority, in recommending 50 or 100 

 pounds of nitrate of soda, and 100 or 200 pounds of muriate of potash and 400 

 pounds of ground bone, regarded 50 to 100 bushels of wood ashes as better to 

 take their place, and would supply at least one-half the phosphoric acid. The 

 only objection we would make to this prescription would be in strongly modify- 

 ing the substances and their (juantities, according to variations in the nature or 

 composition of the soil, to be determined by careful measured trials. 



P.\cking Apples for Market. — I use a table eight feet long with side 

 boards six inches high, that will hold two barrels of apples. Sort them into two 

 grades at least. For the first grade set two tiers of smooth, good-colored, 

 medium-sized apples, and fill up the barrel with apples that will run as good or 

 better. Shake them well, level off the end, press the head in so tight that there 

 is no chance for an apple to move, and after the head is nailed turn the barrel 

 upside down and put your name on it as guarantee of a No. i apple, to be sold 

 for what the buyer is willing to give.— Nelson Cox, at Farmers' Institute in 

 Ohio. 



