1843.] 
THE GARDENERS CHRONICLE. 
519 
W. Jardine. At present I cannot give his own words; 
the following will, however, explain his meaning :— 
‘When Bees hang in a cluster outside the hive, 
Sweep them into an empty one containing a bit of brood- 
. comb, and place it immediately where they stood; then 
carry the full one to another part of the garden; the 
returning Bees will enter and remain, though with 
Surprise, in the treasureless hive.’ There can be n 
necessity for either plans after the first swarm, although 
ir W. J. experimented after the first swarm; but it is a 
Tare occurrence for Bees to cluster before the second 
Swarm. When it does happen it is better to give more 
room, than to force away part of the Bees ; for as soonas 
the queens come forth, repeated swarming may happen, 
and the stock will thus be reduced to weakness, or what 
Sir W. J. calls ‘* puny stock hives, which give much 
trouble, and cost a great deal more than they are worth.” 
“'P2? mentions that ‘‘ Bees have no eggs later than 
August.” If he were to ask his friend that squeezed the 
110 lbs. produce from one hive, perhaps he would tell him 
that not only eggs but much brood is often squeezed out 
amongst honey in October. As the drones are in general 
destroyed before August, he probably believes in the old 
Notion, that the drones sit upon the eggs; hence they 
are called sitters. But it may be asked, where are the 
sitters in the winter, at the time that ‘* P.’”’ notices 
“ Bees drawing together and leaving a semicircle of brood 
uncovered, which dies, notwithstanding the warmth of 
the hive, the stench of which compels Bees to forsake 
their hive ?’’ He observes also, ‘ that this back-gone 
brood increases all the summer.’? Without a proper 
degree of heat, the brood of course must die, and would 
Soon become dry and crisp without stench, and cleared out 
before other eggs were deposited in the cells, in a way 
Similar to that by which drones’ cells are cleared of brood 
at the time their slaughter begins.—J. Wighton. [Our 
readers will agree with us that this is enough of argument. 
Mr, Pettigrew intends shortly to state, without argumenta- 
tion, his own views of Bee management. 
Bees.—The diversity in the temper of Bees mentioned 
by “Omicron” at p. 501, is owing simply to traffic in 
the apiary. If the most ferocious Bees were placed in a 
public thoroughfare for the space of a fortnight, they 
Would become very mild-tempered ; and if peaceable, 
Unoffending Bees were not to see men or cattle for the 
Same space of time in summer, no person could approach 
their hives without danger. The most peaceable Bees 
will Wage war with a person if there be any visible per- 
§piration on him. No Bee-keeper ought to attempt to hive 
@ swarm when he is perspiring. It were better to shade 
the swarm, and sit in a cool place for a few minutes. 
new a man who, after having run a mile,—though he 
Was or should have been conscious of the danger,—never- 
theless attempted to take a swarm from a hedge or bush, 
ut was stung so severely that he was carried from the 
Scene in a highly sick and dangerous state.—.A. Pettigrew. 
——I think that “A.J. S.’ is right in the opinion 
that he was deccived in the condition of his two stocks of 
Bees at the time of purchasing them. As regards the 
weak stock having deserted the hive in June, it is rather 
an unusual occurrence. However, I think it might be 
owing to scout bees, from a colony about to swarm, having 
taken possession and destroyed the rightful owners, The 
drones would, of course, share the same fate, or perhaps 
the dead ones at the front of the hive were slaughtered 
from the other stock. In general, scout bees remain only 
during the day, clearing out old or deserted hives. This 
May account for none being foundin ‘ A. J. S.’s” stock, 
When it was examined in the evening. It may be alleged 
that fresh swarms only enter deserted hives. This, how- 
£ver, is not always the case. A swarm of mine lately took 
Possession of a weak stock’s abode, under the leads on a 
wer, about a quarter of a mile from their old home. As 
the combs in « A.J. §.’s”’ hive are fresh, they would be 
of great use, especially to a weak swarm, without ‘ taking 
out €very other comb.” If what I have said is wrong 
respecting the desertion of the weak hive, I may safely 
Observe: that poverty was the cause of its failure.—J. 
Wighton—In answer to an inquiry from ‘‘ Apis’”’ at p. 
05, beg leave to state that a few years back, as I was 
Passing through a field in which grew a great. number of 
trees, my attention was attracted by the humming of Bees 
ound aWhitethorn. On examination, I discovered what 
thought to be a Fungus, but on closer inspection I found 
© my astonishment a great number of Bees as busily 
dae eyed as though they had been ina hive. On cutting 
ie the combs, I found both honey and young Bees in 
the asset state. How long they might have taken up 
mae abode there I cannot venture to say; it was then the 
tee of August.—A Bath Subscriber. [But where were 
© Bees? in the ground—in a Whitethorn—or jn a 
Ungus ?] 
we Weating.—These being the days of moral reform, when 
if tewers will soon be compelled to relinquish our call- 
8 for one of more innoxious character, the idea occurred 
Baie that some of the casks might be turned to another 
number hat of heating Vineries, _&ey by having a 
nee of them placed end to end, with short Pipes con- 
their S them, so as to maintain a healthy circulation of 
fda be mebriating contents. If this theoretical adapta- 
i € atall practicable, itmay probably be of use to some 
Your readers.—F. Y, 
° 
i 
servi [In order to render this system 
eee the pipes connecting the barrels must be of 
ake and of considerable length ; otherwise, wood being 
ie Pe nanctor of heat, but little warmth will be thrown 
Ri. © surrounding atmosphere. ] 
fee the spring I performed the operation of 
Aree ae two plants, a Gooseberry-bush and a Pome- 
hibit- no dite’, whilst the shoots above the incision ex- 
erence in appearance from the rest on the 
plant, the shoot (in both cases) next below the incision 
has grown with astonishing rapidity and vigour ; so much 
So, that these shoots, besides being of very much greater 
length are of more than twice the thickness of any other 
of the same age. Is this consistent with the notion that 
“yinging ’’ confines the sap above the incision by checking 
its descent?—Z. B. [No. But the probability is that 
the ringing has checked the curren: of sap upwards; in 
what way this has taken place could only be determined 
by inspecting the specimens. ] 
Mulberries.—Among the many edifying articles in the 
Chronicle, 1 have not seen any notice respecting the 
growth of Mulberries in pots; and | am surprised that no 
gardener has given any information on this subject. 1 
have five small plants from 18 to 30 inches high; and 
such a tree in miniature, with a hundred ripe fruit on it, 
would, if of no other value, be pretty to set on the table 
with the dessert, for the ladies to pick their own fruit from. 
A plant may be brought into a bearing state in five or six 
years, and will bear forcing in a high temperature, having 
fruit nearly ripe by the time that their leaves open in a 
natural state out of doors.—W. S. D., Coventry. 
Plants for Edgings.—Amongst the plants which have 
been mentioned in the Chronicle as suitable for edgings 
im shady situations, Cotyledon umbilicus has not been 
mentioned. I never met with this plant abundantly any- 
where except in this part of the country. t looks re. 
markably well when grown in patches.—Thomas Sellers, 
Pennoyre. {It will only thrive, we believe, in the damp, 
mild climate of the West and South of England.] 
Sirawberries.—I perceive at p. 502, that you are still 
of opinion that mowing off the leaves of Strawberries is a 
bad practice. I should feel obliged to you, or any prac- 
tical reader of the Chronicle, that will inform me o: 
any new plan that would be likely to succeed better ; until 
then I shall not be easily persuaded to forsake my present 
system. What I before stated are facts, not easily con- 
tradicted. I have found, after the leaves have been taken 
off, that, with the assistance of manure, the beds have been 
well feathered with foliage, which is,'I consider, a great 
protection, and the only means of insuring a good crop 
the following season. But as I grow six different: sorts, 
viz., Downton, Keen’s Seedling, Royal Sovereign, Myatt’s 
Pine, Elton, and Alpine,—which last two sorts do not 
cease from bearing before the latter end of September or 
beginning of October,—you nearly agree with meas to the 
time when the manure should be laid on, as 1 mow off 
the leaves as soon as the fruit is gathered —D. Z. 
Chamomile.—At p. 479 I observe that “J. W. T.” asks 
why his Chamomile produces single flowers. If he will 
plant it on poor sandy ground, well trodden, so that every 
part is as hard as a gravel walk, he will find that his Cha- 
momile will bloom double and abundantly.—Z. C., St. 
Peter’s-street, Cambridge. 
Improved Garden Pots.—I herewith send you draw- 
ings of two garden-pots which I consider will be found 
valuable ;—-the one 
for growing specimen. \) 
plants in, the other MY 
for striking cuttings ~ 
in. When Mr. 
Brown’s pots were 
first announced, I 
was much pleased 
with the invention, 
and considered that 
they would be of 
great service to plant- 
growers in the cultiv. 
ation of specimen 
plants, Heaths, New 
Holland plants, &c., 
as affording shelter 
to the roots from the && 
scorching heat of the 
sun’s rays; but al- 
though it appeared 
so desirable an im- 
provement to me, i 
nevertheless — consi-~ 
dered that a pot con- 
structed as here re- 
presented, would be 
of greater import- 
ance, and make Mr. 
Brown’s invention Nec. 
more perfect, as it would afford a complete drainage as 
well as preserve the roots from the sun; I think it would 
be found valuable in forwarding the growth of specimen 
plants, as must be obvious to any plant-grower, who will 
immediately see the utility of it, as the roots of the plants 
would be kept cool, and an excellent drainage secured. 
The propagating pot, No. 2, will be found of great value 
to nurserymen or others in the propagation of tender 
cuttings, &c. This could be made with or without Mr. 
Brown’s improvement, but I think it would be prefer- 
able with it. What I consider the chief superiority of 
this plan over the common pot is this: that when the 
pot is plunged in heated materials, the barrel of the pot 
would form a hot-air chamber, thereby always imparting 
a genial glow of warmth to the sides of the pot, and thus 
stimulating or quickening the vegetative powers of the 
cuttings placed therein.— William E. Rendle, F.H.S., 
Plymouth. 
Moss Rose.—I have a standard White Moss Rose on 
its own bottom, which grew last year nearly eight feet 
high. The top has been foreshortened about 18 inches, 
and the standard is now about 6} feet high, literally covered 
with upwards of 30 well-formed buds, and not one yet 
expanded. No one can imagine the beautiful appearance 
oe 
| \ 
N < 
ASN 
\Vi Pp 
Wii 
which the plant has, by being supported on its own stem. 
Do any of your Teaders remember to have seen the 
White Moss growing similar to the one I have described ? 
J. E., Rotherham. 
Potatoes.-—In answer to “*S, H.’s” inquiry, p. 445, I 
beg to state that my Potatoes were planted about the 20th 
of March, and are Ash-leaved Kidneys. I procured them, 
about four years since, from Nottinghamshire, where they 
are known as Aldbury Kidneys.— 2. R. R. 
New Budding Knife.—Thinking that any little im - 
provement tending to facilitate the operation of budding 
would be interesting to some of your readers,-—T send you 
the pattern of a Budding-knife made after my own shape, 
and which, from the rapidity which it allows of being 
turned in the hand, and its ready application to the bark, 
enables the operator to insert a bud nearly ‘half as fast 
again as he would with the old straight-handled Budding- 
knife. The knives are well made by Plum, of Bristol.— 
Henry Curtis, Moorend and West of England Rose 
Nursery, Bristol. [This is the neatest Budding-knife we 
have seen. The ivory handle is shaped like the blade of 
a curved pen-knife, is sharp and turned up at the point, 
and is evidently extremely well contrived for the purpose 
it is intended for.] 
Composition for We .—Though ‘I am very 
much pleased with ‘‘A.B.’s’’ remarks, p. 462, that all 
who communicate ought to be particular; still, I am 
sorry to say I cannot be so. In regard to salt with Aspa- 
ragus, Iam of opinion, and am not inclined to alter that 
opinion, that you cannot err, either in time or quantity. 
You say ‘‘the best food for cows next to Grass is a few 
Beans soaked in water for 24 hours.’ Now, a few Beans, 
I should say, “A.B.” would not think explicit enough, 
and it would indeed be valuable to know a little more 
about it. Would any of your correspondents answer me 
this question? Ihave a watercourse laid in bricks and 
terrace mortar; it remains good during the summer 
months, but a frost causes great leaking. Is there any com- 
position that will resist the frost under water and between 
wind and water? It would save me pounds, and more 
than oblige J. B.A. 
Peat Drains.—Mr. Smith, at p. 492, states that a stone 
or tile-drain would last fortwenty years, and would be in 
as good a condition at the end of that time as when first 
constructed. ‘* Peat-drains,” he says, ‘would, on the 
contrary, scarcely endure as many months.” I have no 
doubt if Mr. Smith had an opportunity of examining some 
Peat-drains on the Natebey-hall estate, near Garstang, that 
he would find them in nearly as good a condition as they 
were when first made, which is now twenty years ago. 
The Duke of Hamilton has been adopting this plan toa 
very great extent for some years, although he has got 
plenty of good stone upon the place; and I could also 
name many other landowners who are adopting Peat in 
preference to stone-draining.—M. Saul. 
Muriate of Ammonia.—Obdserving at p. 477 your 
remarks on the destructive power of ammonia on animal 
life, it reminded me of what I saw practised upwards of 
twenty years ago, by a gardener under whom I then 
served, viz., placing muriate of ammonia and sulphur in 
shallow pans in the Melon frames exposed to the sun, with 
the belief that the effluvia then arising from the pans was 
effective in keeping. away insects, and he was a very suc- 
cessful cultivator. I should be glad to know, supposing 
it had the desired effect, of what use the sulphur was ;— 
did it act in any way on the ammonia?—d. C. [We 
apprehend that the muriate of ammonia had nothing todo 
with the effect, It is not likely that the sulphur had any 
action on the muriate; it is probable that the sulphur 
alone was of use in keeping away insects. ] 
The Cuckoo.—tI heard the Cuckoo singing clearly and 
distinctly on the last day of June, which I never noticed 
before the present season. Does the above circumstance 
betoken a fine summer? I never heard it in full note after 
the 15th of the above month. There is a friend of mine 
who has in his possession a young Cuckoo, which he toole 
out of a nest on a down, which nest he thought was a 
Whinchat’s. He watched the nest constantly, and one 
morning he found only one egg left, which proved to be 
the Cuckoo’s, all the rest having been ejected, and found 
broken immediately under the nest. He hopes to keep 
the young Cuckoo through the winter.—4 Subscriber. 
he Titmouse.—In June last the gardener to Mrs. 
Chorley, of Bolton-le-Sands, near Lancaster, observed a 
pair of these birds frequenting an ornamented bottle which + 
was standing upon the garden-wall, and he was therefore 
induced to examine it. To his great surprise, he found 
that they had made their nest and laid eggs in the bottom 
of the bottle, and he was at a loss to know how the 
young would find their way out, as the passage was only 
two inches deep by three quarters of an inch in diameter, 
—the distance from this passage, or neck, to the bottom of 
the bottle, being thirteen inches; he therefore resolyed 
to give them a fair chance, by allowing the bottle to re- 
main, and in due time ten young birds were produced, and 
found their way in and out of the neck of the bottle, in 
the samme manner as the old birds had done. This is a 
further proof of the boldness of the Titmouse as described 
in p. 429.—Facile. 
FOREIGN CORR 'ON DENCE. 
Paris, July, 1843.—The fruit-growers of England will 
not have much reason to dread foreign competition this 
season, at least not from France, for we have had miser- 
able weather for the last two or three months. Such a 
summer has scarcely, if ever, been known ; cold winds, hail, 
rain, or storms have had complete mastery, and a really 
fine day is almost as great a rarity as at Christmas, Paris, 
which in general is so gay with flowers in May, and so 
well furnished with summer fruits in June, has been this 
year but scantily supplied with either. The flowers in the 
