a 
1843.] 
THE GARDENERS’ 
CHRONICLE. 
391 
built ; afterwards the flues are built with bricks on edge, 
Yunning about six inches from the front wall, and return- 
ing about the same distance from the back wall. Afver 
the flues are covered, the whole is chambered over with 
rough flags, resting on rough stones, a few inches above 
the flues, with the same inclination as the lights. The 
Soil is then laid on the flags. ‘The fireplace is built rather 
lower than the bottom of the flues; and the front may 
either be made straight with the front wall, or be put at 
the end, and covered very thick with stones and clay, to 
Prevent the heat from escaping; or a light may be put 
Over it, with a partition between it and the rest of the 
frame, as it will be too hot unless a loose brick be kept 
in the front and back walls, which may be taken out to 
Cause a current of cold air to pass through the chamber, 
The fireplace is fitted up with a front, having an ordinary 
iron-door at the top and another beneath, with a venti- 
lator for the ash-pit ; and will only need attending to 
morning and evening, if the faces of the doors and frame 
are nicely ground or filed so as to fit each other exactly, 
and adead plate three or four inches broad be placed 
between the grate and frame. frame constructed on 
the above plan costs a mere trifle in fuel with us, as we 
can get the best coals delivered at 33d. per ewt.; or we 
Can get coke, which comes in fully as cheap and does 
Rot make so much smoke. I have a common brown ware 
bottle, which holds from two to three gallons, walled in 
by the side of my fire, with a tap to come to the outside 
Of the wall; so that I have constantly hot water to mix 
with the water with which I water my frame. Any fur- 
a information will be willingly given by—A Coittager’s 
end. 
Bees.—Will you allow me through the medium of the 
Gardeners’ Chronicle to inform one of your correspond- 
ents, Mr. Devonport, that a pamphlet will be shortly 
Published by Mr. R. Tyas, of No. 8, Paternoster Row, 
descriptive of the “bar and frame hive,’’ invented by 
Myself, a slight sketch of which appeared in the Chronicle 
Of last May. You will thus relieve your correspondent 
“E.M. W.”) from the necessity of sending a lettered 
description of the “ bar and frame hive,” and much oblige 
+ Augustus Munn. 
_Bees.—Having seen a query in the Gardeners’ Chro- 
Nicle for May 20 respecting the early swarming of Bees 
this year, I beg to say that [ bought a swarm on the 
d May, the weather being cool at the time. Would the 
Writer of the article signed ‘A. Pettigrew, Wrotham 
Park,” be kind enough to give the dimensions of the hives 
© recommends, and also state how he manages to take 
away two-thirds of the Bees with the queen, leaving the 
Other third? I should also be glad to be informed what 
Plan is to be pursued in one of Nutt’s Bee-boxes, in 
Which the Bees have been at work nearly three years, and 
the comb in the middle box is become very dark and thick. 
Is it recommended ever to remove it, or to change the 
Queen, as hinted in the above-mentioned article? I find 
4n our immediate neighbourhood, that one swarm was taken 
On the 29th April, and another on the Ist May.— A Lady, 
estbury, Wilts ——I had a very strong healthy swarm 
Of Bees sent to me on the Ist May last, which are doing 
Yery well, and I consider them an unusually strong swarm, 
Was also staying at a friend’s in Nottinghamshire on the 
ay, and saw a hive preparing to swarm, and also 
a report of a swarm at Tirley, about eight miles 
from here, as early as the 3d week in April.--R. P. H., 
Ledbury, 
Guano.—The great object in the use of Guano seems 
to be to apply water to it shortly after it is employed. 
It i¢ were mixed with a small proportion of some salt, 
aving a tendency to deliquesce, or to attract moisture 
from the atmosphere, might it not be useful ? such, per- 
“ps, as Nitrate of Soda. Possibly a small quantity of 
fommon salt, or a portion of well-rotted dung, say 10'Ibs, 
to 1 owt, of Guano; or possibly a similar proportion of 
®ow-dung would answer the purpose.—J. Fors. 
Thawing Plants.—At p. 318, ‘J. M.’? admits the 
*etdness of my argument, but seems to doubt my prac. 
a Al'T can say is, that I have adopted it, and found 
thavite equal to my expectations ; and I would also state, 
Na am deeply impressed with the utility of looking at 
pene’ laws for instruction, and would direct “J. Mw 
my ~.Same source instead of ‘submitting implicitly to 
Y better judgment,”’ which will be the more sensible 
Course to pursue, because he will find his faith strength- 
Filo 
tare and his judgment improved. Suppose I were to 
he him that sand had an affinity for the sun’s rays—that 
“tis communicated by it to matter in contact with it— 
int rendered soluble for plants ; and if in excess, nutri- 
Bee 8) “J. ML.” would not believe it, because he did not 
wig ery thing going on, though it is oly consistent 
ities ure’s general laws. Surely | J +. under- 
em: S that water thrown upon ice will expand if at a 
frore “Tature of 40°, and that the abstraction of frost 
®xpe, a plant is regulated by the heat at command. To 
The ct more than this would be to expect impossibilities, 
On yy Stones with which ‘J. M.”’ expresses himself 
for dulness of apprehension will in some degree account 
But oY misunderstanding his remarks on Apricot-trees, 
a ollow up my previous statement, it is said, that it 
mde aetice with some gardeners to put pans of water 
ey tiie on walls to counteract the heat; that is, as 
Deen ah to retard the blossom, but how far it has 
Mecide > G is another question—perhaps ‘‘ J.M.” can 
asured, Bees,— Shropshire Subscriber’? may be 
Warm, that drones always appear previous to the first 
Swarms Hough in'smaller numbers than before the after- 
a Pear; eave the hive. As to the time of their first 
the Benge’ Much depends on the condition of the hive and 
*80n, for the old queen that leads off the first swarm 
is very cautious, and will not quit in stormy weather. 
This season the drones appeared in one of my hives 8 days 
before the swarm came forth. I do not think it is 
advisable to kill the drones, at least before the Bees 
begin to slaughter them; and even then it is of little 
consequence, for they will do it effectually-—even the egg- 
grubs in the drone-cells do not escape their fury. Drones 
have appeared very early this season. The reason is ob- 
vious: the fives are in good condition, by the previous 
season being favourable for Bees. think this remark is 
applicable to ‘*W. R. M.’s’’ inquiry why his Bees 
swarmed on the 1st of May—the first I have heard of this 
season. Since then the weather has been unfavourable. 
The first swarms, however, will be stronger, and perhaps 
the after ones weaker, for during the delay more Bees were 
hatched to increase fresh colonies.—J. Wighton. 
Hawthorns,—There is a Thorn-tree here full of dark 
pink (excepting one small tuft of pure white) blossom, on 
the same branch; the blossom is pink both above and 
below the white tuft, and no budding or grafting has been 
practised. Can any reason or cause be assigned for so un- 
usual a circumstance ? The land is cold and strong loam, 
with a clay bottom; the tree is growing about 100 yards 
from the Mersey.—T. J. 
Fumigation.—I have tried various experiments for 
using Tobacco in frames, &c., and the particulars of 
the method I now adopt may assist your correspon- 
dent “Junius.” Fora 3-light frame used for Cucum- 
bers or Melons—I place a piece of lighted candle, about 
4 inches in length, in the mould in front of the bed, 
and put 3 small flower-pots round the candle, laying 
on the pots over the candle some wire-work, (the remains 
of an old garden-sieve,) about a foot square; I then lay 
on about ljoz. of strong common Shag Tobacco, not 
damp, and in about 15 minutes the frame will be well 
charged with smoke, and the candle may then be removed. 
I’find the above method to answer well, and to be safer 
than using burning embers amongst plants ; it also requires 
far less trouble for small frames or pits.—Jas. Drewett. 
——I have tried for some time pasta similar plan to that 
lately given in the Chronicle, and have always succeeded. 
I have rolled the Tobacco in a cotton rag, and have sus- 
pended it by a string about 3 feet from the ground, and 
it has never failed to burn out well, and with good effect. 
I. Le Bode 
Wrens.—It is a common belief in different parts of the 
country that a pair of Wrens in one season builds two 
nests, and only one of them is used. There are various 
reasons given by schoolboys and others for the Wrens 
acting in such a manner. Some assert that one of the 
nests is for the male Wren to sleep in; others that the 
one nest used for rearing the young is placed in a more 
exposed situation, to turn the attention from the habita- 
tion of the young ones ; and persons who attend to birds’- 
nesting give marks how to distinguish between the true 
nest and the false one before the eggs are laid. They say 
that in the nest where the family is intended to be reared 
there are always feathers in the bottom of it; the other 
nest is without them. Perhaps some of the readers of the 
Chronicle may be able to give some information on the 
subject, and oblige those who take pleasure in knowing 
the habits of the feathered tribe.—Peter Mackensie. 
The Khdt Plant-—A correspondent has favoured us 
with the following extract from a letter, dated Yaush, in the 
dominion of Shoa, 29th Nov., 1842. “I have the satis- 
faction to forward you a few dried sprigs of the 
Abyssinian plant Khat, pronounced like our English 
word cart without the 7 being heard. It comes from 
the neighbourhood of the town of Mastola Wariano, in 
Bpabsie, and was obtained during my late visit to that 
place. Ihave not yet seen the tree to which they belong. 
I wished when at Mastola W4riano to visit the district 
where it grows, but I was told that at Mota, whither I 
was then proceeding, it was found in yet greater plenty, 
the inhabitants building their houses of the branches, it 
being in fact the only wood for that purpose, When I 
got to Mota, where I expected to remain a few days, I was 
obliged to return at once, unless I wished to lose the 
escort of a party o! across the i 
where it is unsafe for a single traveller. I therefore 
postpone my personal inspection of it till I visit Damét, 
whither I am going as soon as I have despatched the 
messenger who carries this; and I did so with less 
reluctance, as I was told the KhAt was not yet in blossom, 
and therefore I should not learn much more of it than I 
know at present. This plant is what in a former letter 
I mentioned as being T'ea,—I cannot speak positively as to 
the correctness of the identification, but my impression is 
in favour of it, from my general recollection of the Tea 
Plant, and from the resemblance of these leaves to the 
Camellia sasanqua. Of the Khat, I learn there are two 
varieties, red and white, distinguished by the colour of | 
the wood and young leaves; and, though I am not quite 
sure of this, the flower also. It appears to be a shrubby 
tree. Its size for building purposes need not be very 
large, as the houses are little more than wattles covered 
with mud. In Damét I shall make a point of becoming 
better acquainted with it. The Déjezmach told me that 
it grew in great quantities at Btitela about a day’s journey 
from Gridera, his capital, and that there also the houses 
were built of its branches. It is made no other use of 
except by the Mahommedan merchants, who chew the 
leaves, and say that they prevent sleep. P.S.—I have 
just been putting a few of the loose leaves in my mouth, 
and if they are not Tea there never was anything more 
like it. Dec. 6th.—I have heard to-day just as I was 
closing this that the Mahommedan merchants have trans- 
ported the Khat to the other side of the Obai, and that it 
now grows in great quantities in the country of the 
Yedjou Gallas. Still it is not used as an article of 
trade.” [This plant is not Tea, but the Catha edulis of 
Forskihl, now called Celastrus edulis. According to 
that author itis the Kat or Gat of the Arabs, by whom it 
is cultivated in Yemen along with Coffee. They eat the 
green leaves with greediness, believing them to have the 
power of causing extreme watchfulness, so that a man 
may stand sentry all night long without drowsiness. The 
also regard it as an antidote to the plague, and assert that 
a person wearing a twig of it in his bosom, may go among 
the infected with impunity; they even believe that the 
plague cannot appear in places where the tree is culti- 
vated. ‘‘ Nevertheless,” says Forskihl, ‘* the taste of the 
leaves does not seem to indicate such virtues.” Bové 
found it in the Pasha’s garden, cultivated under the name 
of Kaff. The accompanying woodcut is taken from one 
of his specimens. “ But,’’ says a learned friend, ‘ Bove 
probably misread the Arabic name of the plant, and hence, 
usb Katt, for wy Kat (C3, co K). The 
leaves gathered when the plant js 3 years old, are sold as 
Kat mubarreh, or inferior Kat. The following year the 
young shoots are gathered, and fetch a higher price. They 
taste like a fresh filbert. The Kat, when quite fresh, is 
very intoxicating, (Botta, Voyage dans l’Yemen, p, 99):5 
but its ordinary effect is to exhilarate the spirits, to pro- 
mote good humour and vivacity of mind.” We have tried 
the quality of the infusion in hot water, but are unable to 
say anything in its favour.] 
Bees.—A curious case concerning Bees has come under 
my observation. On the 9th of March, 1842, an old 
Abele was blown down from the western side of a hill. 
It had long been thought that Bees hived in its hollow, 
and so it proved. _ The top of the tree, containing a large 
stock of Bees, (surmounted by a shattered nest and mxch 
rubbish) was carefully removed to a neighbouring kiteben- 
garden, where they worked merrily all the summer, and 
in July threw off a swarm, which has thriven well. Refore 
winter, the hollow of the tree, above the comb, was well 
cleaned out and plastered up, and the place of exit and 
entry which the Bees had made for themselves, through a 
holewhere oncehad grown a branch, was reduced with mor- 
tar and lead plates, and the tree placed ina sheltered place. 
Till March, the Bees were observed occasionally working 
about their home, and they seemed pretty strong. Then 
they were missed suddenly, and on splitting open the tree, 
no live ones, and hardly a dozen dead bodies were found. 
There was a great deal of comb—somevery ancient, and 
10lbs. of honey. Intermixed with this was ell manner 
of dirt, and two owls’ eggs, quite surrounded by the comb. 
‘These eggs were brought into the neighbouring house, and 
were not of unpleasant odour at first, but in a short time 
were extremely offensive, and on being opened, a young 
owlet was found, that once must have been quite ready to 
peck the shell. A few days after the Bees left their tree, 
there was observed in the house (in which Bees are known 
to bein the roof) a very large number of Bees, dead and 
dying. Now, 1 would ask the following questions :— 
Why did the Bees go, and where? Had their departure 
any connection with dead Bees in the neighbouring house ? 
When were the owls’ eggs laid?—by whom hatched, or 
rather sat upon? Were they kept from decomposition by 
the comb stopping out outward air ?—Tizy, 
Daphne cneorum.—I beg to inform your correspondent 
that the most successful way of cultivating the above 
fragrant hardy Daphne is to plant it in an exposed airy 
dry situation, in peat and road-sand. If the ground is 
naturally low and wet, ‘a barrowful of broken tiles, stones, 
&c. must be put into the hole, an} on the top of them 
