isGo; 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
125 
ed, it is cbeaper to buy tliau to raise tlicm. The 
shoots are started in hot-beds. The potatoes are 
split leugthwise and laid flat-side down, and cover- 
ercd abont two inches deep, with rich compost. 
After the shoots push up through this, another 
inch is added. AVatering and airiup; are to be at- 
tended to. ■\Vhcn the shoots are well rooted, the 
]>otato is taken up, and all the well rooted plauts 
of sulHcient size are slipped off, and the potato put 
back in the bed to give the others a chance to grow. 
A bushel of potatoes, it is said, will yield five 
thousand plants, when well attended to. 
Tumalocs. — Seeds may still be sown under glass, 
or in the house. Those sown early, will need to be 
transplanted to other beds or potted in small pots. 
When the roots are crowded iu pots, the plauts 
come into flower very early. By pinching otT the 
stem above the first cluster of flowers, the growth 
is directed to the side shoots, wliich may in turn 
be pinched, and thus the plant be kept quite dwarf 
and stocky, aud the fruit will thus be improved. 
Taruipx. — Get the seed iu as early as possible, in 
drills 113 inches apart, that is for early table turnips. 
Flo-iver Oardcii and Lawn. 
The notes of the last two months will give hints 
for some work that may yet be done. The cover- 
iug of bulbs and tender perennials may be removed 
aud the soil of the borders carefully forked over. 
A spade should never be used for this purpose. Iu 
a well kept garden, the walks should always be in 
perfect order. Dress the gravel, add fresh where 
needed, and roU. Coal ashes will pack loose 
gravel. No plants are more satisfactory than 
Floxoering Shrubs, and we have from time to time 
given notices of the best native and exotic species. 
Syringas, Persian Lilacs, Japan Quince, Wiegelas 
and several of the Spir;eas, are readily obtainable 
by a small outlay Tbeu there are 
Hoses, always the one plant that must be in the 
garden Buy only those on their own roots. Iu 
planting out the perpetuals, cut them back to three 
or four buds. Climbing varieties may be introduc- 
ed where there is a place for them, and such a 
place can usually be found. We are very partial to 
Climiers of all sorts, and if tliere is no place 
which needs covering, we would set up cedar or 
other posts, and train climbing roses, Wistarias, 
Honeysuckles, Trumpet Creepers, etc.. to them. 
Hanhj aimuals that were started in the house or 
hot-bed, may be put out as soon as the ground is 
ready ; the tender ones not until cold nights are 
over. Seeds of Balsams, Asters, and other tender 
kinds may still be sown in doors or under glass. 
Candytuft, Whitlavia, and all such hardy annuals 
may be sown early in the open border, but the m.a- 
jority of flower seeds are best kept out of ground 
until the soil gets thoroughly warm. 
Perennial Herbaceous jjlants need, as a general 
thing, to be reset about ouce in three years, re- 
ducing the clump by dividing with a sharp spade. 
Blenniah, such as Hollyhocks, Foxgloves aud 
Sweet Williams, should liavebeeu transplanted from 
the seed bed in autumu, but it may be done now. 
Plants in jiits, such as tender Roses, Carnations, 
etc., are to be freely exposed during the day to 
harden them, and then to be turned out into the 
border when frosty nights are over. 
Pieonies should not be disturbed iu the spring if 
it can bo avoided, as it is pretty sure to prevent 
their blooming. The proper time is iu the fall. 
Do not be iu a hurry with 
Bedding Plants. — These have been in the warm 
air of the propagating house, and ought not to go 
out until the soil is warm aud the weather settled. 
Bulbs of Gladiolas and Japan Lilies are hardy, 
■ind may be set as soon as the ground is iu order. 
Oi-eeii niatl Hot-Housos. 
The Green-house will now do without fire heat, 
md the plants should have abundant ventilation, 
when not too cold, to harden them for removal 
Shrubs, including Camellias, that are making a 
new growth, may be pruned into good shape and 
be freed from insects. If .any plants stand iu need of 
more pot-room give them a shift to larger pots. 
Plants in flover need to be kept near the light, 
and the usual lu'ecautions t.akcn to keep them dear 
of insects. Much of the time of the gardeuer will 
be occupied in 
Propagating a quantity of bedding jdants for use 
in the borders. As soon as they are rooted, jiot 
into small pots, and when the roots become pot- 
bound, either shift to larger pots or shake out the 
earth from the ball and repot in the same pots. 
Fuchsias are readily multiplied from cuttings of 
youug wood; theymakegood plants iu ashort time. 
Delicate Annuals, such as Lobelias aud Salpigloss- 
is, aud fine seeded thiugs, may be sown in pots. 
Dahlias may be brought into a warm place where 
they will sprout, after which they may be divided. 
A spent hot-bed answers very well for this purpose. 
Cold Orapery. 
The time for uncoveriug the vines is of course 
governed by the locality and season, but it is usu- 
ally done early in April. If the vines were put in 
place at once, the upper buds would break first 
and get so much the start of the lower ones that 
the growth would be very imequal. This is reme- 
died by suspending the vine temporarily in such a 
manner that the upper end will bend downward, 
and it is kept in this position, changing the point 
of suspension if necessary to make the buds break 
evenly, until the shoots are 3 or 3 iuches long. 
When the vines are uncovered, fork up the inside 
borders and syringe the house thoroughly. If the 
vines show cracks and begin to bleed, it indicates 
that the wood was not well ripeued, or that the 
vines have suffered from the cold of winter. If the 
trouble proves serious, and the upper buds do uot 
start well, the vine must be cut back. When the 
lower shoots have e-rown to about 18 inches, select 
a strong one and cut the viue back to it. This 
shoot is to be traiued in place of the cane that was 
cut away. The temperature of the house should 
be .about GS"* until near the end of the month, when 
it may reach 70" or 80", when all parts of the house 
and the vines should he wetted by using the syringe 
morning and evening. Avoid dr.afts aud sudden 
changes of temperature. 
Apiary in April. 
Prepared by M. Quiiiby — By request, 
Vfhen all the stocks iu an apiary are strong, and 
have suiflcient stores, there will be little to do 
through the spring, for there will not be the least 
danger of robbing, nor danger of extensive injury 
from the moth. This state of thiugs shows that 
they have prospered, .and is a guarautee of success 
iu the future. There will be some moth worms to 
be fouud ou the floors of the hives, except iu the 
hives of the Italians, during this and next mouth, 
imtil the bees cover the combs. Sweep out and 
destroy them. All moths and worms remote li'om 
the bees have been frozen to death iu the winter, 
and as the perpetuation of the pest depends upon 
those few now to be found ; this is a great induce- 
ment to destroy as mauy as possible. Put up the 
wren boxes now as near as possible to the bees. It 
is not to be expected that every hive iu a large api- 
ary will be No. 1. Some may have abundance of 
honey .and but few bees ; another, bees enough and 
a scarcity of honey ; others will lack both bees 
aud honey. These are poor hives, aud one or two 
such require more attention through the spring, 
than oue hundred that are in good condition. It is 
necessary to inspect closely to know which they 
are, and what is the matter. See to it on warm 
days that no robbing is done. Do not wait to see 
the bees fighting before any measure is taken to 
prevent pillaging. Hives areofteu robbed without 
any contention whatever. Close the entrance, al- 
lowing room for only one bee to p.ass at once. 
Light colonies must be fed just before they starve, 
for although they may be bringing iu pollen daily, 
most observers cannot tell whether they are get- 
ting sufBeent honey to prevent starving, before 
clover appears. If you have houcy in the comb, — 
taken from healthy hives.or boxes part full, you 
may feed on the top of the hive— protecting from 
other hco6 by a good cover ; it will he takcu down 
as required. Bees should he fed iu small quanti- 
ties, two or three times a week, oroftencr. When 
syrup aud sugar or strained honey is used, put it 
on the top in a saucer or similar dish, and lay some- 
thing around it that they may creep into it readily, 
and scatter cut str.aw ou the surface to keep them 
from drowning. Candied houey should not be fed 
without first adding water — a pint to six or eight 
pounds — scalding and skinuniug. There seems to 
be .an increasing desire to transfer bees to the mov- 
able-comb hives, and some of the new readers of 
the Agriculturist would like specifie directions. 
The present month is perhaps the best time. 
Straight combs are preferable. Get anew box of 
the size of the hive from which the bees are to be 
transferred, .and make it comfortably warm inside, 
by setting it iu the sun or a warm room ; then in- 
vert the hive, which should contain a strong col- 
ony; drive, by poundiug on the hive, all the bees 
that will go into the box. Now pry off oue side 
of the hive, cutting the attachments of comb 
at the side and top, as may be necessary. Talce out 
the first comb and lay it carefully, without bruis- 
ing, on several thicknesses of folded cloth. Lay 
over it the frame iu which It is to be fitted, and 
mark or cut the comb to the exact size. It may be 
held iu the frame by winding twine several times 
around. Fine wire is better, or the splints may be 
used as recommended in the revised "Bee Keep- 
ing." Keep the frame perpendicular, that the 
comb may rest on its edge. Be careful to put all 
the combs in the same relative position as before, 
that the brood may be all together. When .all is 
arranged, the bees may be shaken out upon the top 
of the frames and covered with a close box, or set 
in a perl'ectly dark room to keep them from flying 
until they find their way among the combs, aud 
take up all dripping honey. Then they may be re- 
turned to the stand. Avoid opening the movable 
eomb-hive on a morning in the open air, or in eool 
weather, lest the brood be injured. Better bring 
it iuto a moderately warm room. 
Take advantage of the first stormy days to repair 
any old hives or boxes that have been neglected. 
Scald and scrape clean the inside of old hives, and 
they will answer to use .again. If .any painting is 
to be done, it should not be delayed. It is very 
difficult to make new swarms stay m a hive newly 
painted, or one iJaiuted a dark color, when iu the sun. 
CataIog'iiC!«, etc.. Received. — Third 
Annual Repui t of the Proceedings of Ilie West Jersey 
Fruit Grower's Association for lStj5...- Report of the 
House Conunittee on Agriculture of the State of New 
Jersey, for ISOG, from Hon. I. P. Trimble C-atalogue 
of Erie Coinmeicial and Eenton Nurseries, J. A. Platt- 
nian, Proiirletor, Erie, Pa List of Strawberries, Mon- 
itor Potato, etc. Ed. Wheeler, Kalamazoo, Mich ... 
Catalogue, Central Nui'series. E. J. Evans & Co., York, 
Pa Catalogues of Tiees. Green-house and Bedding 
Plants, Flower Seeds, etc. Frost & Co.. Genesee Valley 
Nurseries, Rnchester. N. Y — Catalogue. Reading 
(Mass.) Nirrsery. J. W. Manning, Piopiietor . Seed 
List of \Vm. Hacker, Philadelphia, containing several 
specialties among grains, etc Catalogue of Vegetable. 
Flower, Fniit, Herb and Field Seed.=. R. H. Allen & 
Co., 18'J and 191 Water St., N. Y.. . Catalogue of Small 
Fruits and other Nursery Stock of Pomona Garden and 
Nirrsery. William Parry. Cinnamirison. Burlington Co.. 
N. J- . - . Catalocne of Vegetable and other Seeds. Brill 
& Kirmerle. Newark. N. J . .. Kaf>x Fruit Farm and 
Nurseries, Pittsburgh, Pa. A catalogue of small fruits, 
etc., and which contains, besides the brrsiness matters, a 
great deal of interesting reading Monlclair (N. J. 
Small Fruit Nnrsevy. E.Williams . . . JlcEhvain Bros., 
Springfield, Mass. Illustiatcd General ^^ecd Catalogue. 
.... Descriptive and Ilhrstrated Catalogue of Agricul- 
tural and Hoiticultnral Implements. Giiffiiig & Co., 58 
and 60 ConrtlandtSt.,N. Y Hovcy'.s Illustrated Guide 
to the Flower and Vegetable Garden, Boston, Hovey <3c Co. 
Locality for a Plum Orchard. — "D. 
B. G.," Hannibal, Mo. With a good strong and well 
drained soil we should not be particular about llie aspect. 
The liees are not especially tender, but the failure of II. e 
crops is generally due to curculio and black knot. 
