Queries and Ans>we?'S* 499 



and at the end of a fortnight the queen came forth. The bees always did 

 cluster thick over the cell where the queen was, to keep it warm, or, as 

 Huber justly remarks, to hatch it : but I could at any time see what was 

 going on, by tapping the box, which made the bees run about, and leave 

 the royal cell clear for a time. The day after the queen was born, I 

 fumigated the bees, and took her out to show my family. I have also seen 

 the queen bee strike silence on the common bee by making a peculiar 

 noise. I have also had the queen frequently in my hand, but never felt her 

 attempt to sting. My method of keeping bees was after Mr. White's 

 plan, as mentioned in the Encyclopaedia Britannica. I sincerely regret that 

 circumstances obliged me to give up the keeping of bees, as it was my 

 intention to repeat all Huber's experiments. I am, Sir, yours, &c. — - 

 Stephen Watts. Loughborough Road, North Brixton, July 3. 1832. 



Art. V. Queries and Answers. 



TRAFFICKING in Gardener's Situations. — Sir, I hope you will excuse 

 my encroaching upon your valuable pages with the present complaint ; but 

 I am desirous to know whether it is generally understood among gentle- 

 men, horticultural architects, and gardeners, that the situations (in the 

 capacity of gardener) of the former are to be purchased by the latter from 

 the second party, when the gentleman has intrusted him with the charge 

 of procuring him a servant in that capacity. I am sorry_io say that the 

 practice is becoming common in Yorkshire, an architect there having 

 lately sold some situations to the best bidder ; and, for one place that he 

 now has to procure a gardener for, he is asking the sum of 20/., having had 

 10/. bid, but that was refused. I hope gentlemen will look into this affair, 

 and not allow themselves to be imposed upon in this manner, to the great 

 detriment of their gardens and gardeners. But some of your readers will 

 perhaps throw a little more light on the subject than I can do. I am, Sir, 

 yours, &c. — An Enemy to Bribery* 



The particulars of this case are given to us by our correspondent in a 

 private letter. The architect alluded to is a Mr. B., of Y. ; and the situ- 

 ation is that of C. S., of B., near South Cave. We are surprised that any 

 man professing himself an architect, and, of course, having pretensions to 

 education, and the character of a gentleman, should take such obvious means 

 of bringing himself into contempt as a man. — Cond. 



Uses of the Red Spider. (Vol. VII. p. 218.) — Has not Mr. Godsall, in his 

 plea for the red spider, on the ground of its usefulness, confounded two very 

 distinct insects ? A " beautiful insect, of a rich crimson velvet appearance," 

 is frequent in gardens, especially in spring, and is, I believe, the Trombi- 

 dium holosericeum of entomologists ; but this is quadruple the size of, and 

 otherwise very distinct from, " the red spider " so prevalent on hot-house 

 plants, and so troublesome to gardeners. — J". D. October, 1831. 



The Wire-worm, E'later segetis. (Vol. VI. p. 500.) — I ask whether you 

 are quite sure that the beetle figured comes from the chrysalis, fig. 93. c. 

 If you have actually bred the insect, and reared up the E'later from the 

 chrysalis, I have nothing more to say, and must submit ; but if you have 

 not, I cannot believe, and must remain of opinion that the chrysalis in 

 question would produce a very different insect. — W. T. Bree. Sept. 1830. 



We certainly did not rear it ; the drawing was sent to us by a corre- 

 spondent, who, when he sees this, will probably give some further explan- 

 ation. — 'Cond. 



Preparation of Tobacco. — What is the best mode of preparing tobacco 

 grown in England? What is the best mode for gardeners to adopt 

 respecting it ? Is there not a liquid sometimes used in the preparation 

 after fermenting ? And are we not under some restrictions in growing 



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