The article itself is good; but how very cruel is 

 the writer, " D.," so minutely to particularise and 

 dwell upon the writhings of the poor impaled 

 dragon-fly! It is the first blot I have seen on 

 your fair pages; and let me hope it will be the 

 last. I do imagine that the remarks I allude to, 

 really escaped your usually vigilant eye — so 

 decided an enemy are you to any the least act of 

 wanton cruelty to animals. I will not offer any 

 excuse for this communication — why should I? 

 — E. J. M. 



[We thank you, Mademoiselle, more than we 

 can express, for the trouble you have taken to 

 bring under our observation what indeed is " a 

 blot on our fair pages." It did most assuredly 

 escape our eye. The writer, who resides at a 

 remote distance, is we feel sure the very last man 

 that would willingly inflict pain upon any crea- 

 ture. In the enthusiasm of his glowing descrip- 

 tion of the animal's beauties, he has allowed his 

 pen to belie his feelings. We readily offer this 

 apology for him in his absence.] 



" Second" Appearance of Leaves on Apple- 

 trees.— I have just read, Mr. Editor, in a Hamp- 

 shire paper, that the trees which were stripped 

 of their verdure in the tremendous storm of the 

 11th of August, are now re-covered with a fresh 

 succession of leaves. The apple- trees in the 

 neighborhood of Carisbrooke, have just put out 

 their spring shoots ; the laburnums are showing 

 their yellow pendulums ; and the horse-chestnut 

 exhibits evident symptoms of an intention to 

 flower a second time in the same year. — How 

 curious this sight must appear, so late in the 

 autumn! The coming frosts, however, Avill soon 

 put an end to all hopes that may have been en- 

 tertained for a second benefit of flowers and 

 blossoms. — Maky Ann E., Andover. 



Bees. — The following circumstance connected 

 with bees, occurred this season in the garden of 

 the Rev. Mr. Jones, of Barnet Common, Hert- 

 fordshire. For several seasons past, I have had 

 the management of a few hives which that gen- 

 tleman keeps. This year he had two stock 

 hives ; and near the end of February, I went to 

 see if they had survived the winter, and whether 

 their winter stock of provisions was exhausted, 

 and would require feeding or not. After I had 

 done examining the two hives, Mrs. J. requested 

 me to put a glass on the top of one of the hives 

 for the bees to work in ; for the purpose of ob- 

 taining a quantity of pure honey. I did so, and 

 then covered the glass and left the bees to the 

 freedom of their own wills. On the second of 

 May, Mrs. J. called on me early in the forenoon, 

 and requested me to come and look at one of the 

 hives, as a great many bees were out in a cluster 

 outside the hive, and she thought they were likely 

 to swarm. As the morning was cloudy, and so 

 early in the season, I thought that they might 

 not swarm for a few days, although they were in 

 a cluster outside the hive. I have had my own 

 bees situated in the same way under the alight- 

 ing board for a considerable time before swarm- 

 ing. Between 12 and 1 o'clock the same day, I 

 went into the garden to see the state of the 

 hives. I had not been there more than a few 

 minutes, when, from the hive that the glass was 



placed upon in the end of February, a fine swarm 

 came off. No time was lost in putting them into 

 a hive, and, strange to say,. a few minutes only 

 elapsed, when the other hive swarmed also. The 

 bees had made no comb in the glass placed on 

 the top. On the loth day, after the two hives 

 swarmed, I called at Mr. Jones's to see if there 

 was any appearance of either of the two hives 

 " throwing a cast," and seeing the bees of one of 

 the hives rather in a state of agitation and appa- 

 rently no working going on, I concluded that 

 they might come off that day. In a short time 

 they did come off; and I put them into a hive. 

 I had just finished hiving the bees, Avhen the 

 other hive sent out a cast also. This is rather sin- 

 gular, considering that the gentleman had only 

 the two stock hives. If he had been in posses- 

 sion of a considerable number, no notice might 

 have been taken of this circumstance. — Robert 

 Downie, Arkley-lane Cottage, Barnet Common, 

 Herts. 



On Planting Bulbs. — The hyacinth, narcissus, 

 &c, Mr. Editor, that make such fine ornaments 

 for a greenhouse and drawing-room in winter, 

 should now be potted immediately, in order that 

 a fine display of bloom may be insured. I have 

 found five-inch pots to be most suitable ; and I 

 would therefore recommend them. To manage 

 these flowers well, it is essential that the pots be 

 well drained; for although they will thrive in 

 glasses of water, they require sufficient drainage 

 when potted. I have found it an excellent plan to 

 place about two inches of good rough rotten 

 dung next the crocks. The soil best adapted for 

 them, is, two parts good loam; one part well 

 rotted cow-dung; and one part leaf-mould — with 

 equal portions of peat and sand ,• all well mixed 

 together. In potting, I have found filling the 

 pots rather firmly (to within two inches of the 

 top) placing the bulb in the centre, and after- 

 wards filling up to the rim, better than the old 

 practice of potting loosely and pressing the bulb 

 into the soil. After potting, they may be re- 

 moved to a spare frame or corner, and covered 

 over with six or eight inches of old tan or ashes. 

 Here, they may remain until the time arrives for 

 placing them in a warm stove or pit to start 

 them, By following the above directions, I ima- 

 gine that few complaints will be heard respecting 

 unripe or bad bulbs, and the grower will be well 

 rewarded for his trouble by a fine display of 

 bloom. — E. Bennett, Perdiswell. 



J i Gardens should never be watered when the 

 Sun shines ; it is very injurious, because it ex- 

 cites the roots to increase absorption, and conse- 

 quently the leaves to increase transpiration of 

 moisture. Immediately afterwards the surface 

 of the earth becomes caked, and the root moisture 

 is evaporated. Yet do the excited leaves go on 

 with their increased transpiration, and flag and 

 parch worse than before. Naturally, abundance 

 of water in the form of rain never comes to the 

 roots of plants, except when the air is saturated 

 with moisture. So that, though there is an in- 

 crease of water to the roots, less is given off by 

 the leaves. To imitate this dictate of nature as 

 nearly as possible, gardeners give water of an 

 evening— just as they are closin ; iheir glass. 



