162 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTIAQE GARDENER. 
[ February 19, 1885. 
blisbed at great cost, not that the honey was brought there at great cost. 
He then inquires, “Is this so ? It is not a fact that a penny in the 
shilling as poundage is charged by the Association for all honey sold ?” 
No doubt such a charge is made, and rightly. Bee departments and 
honey fairs cannot be established without some expense. Bills must be 
printed, salesmen must be engaged, tents must be pitched, or rooms must 
be hired. In some places the erection of staging is a very expensive 
item. All these things cost money, so that the poundage is readily paid 
by most exhibitors. The sales of goods and honey at the International 
Health Exhibition in the bee department amounted to more than £430 
yet the “ poundage ” did not nearly meet the cost incurred by the British 
Bee-keepers’ Association. 
“ A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper ” inquires whether there is or is not a 
close connection between the Honey Company and the British Bee¬ 
keepers’ Association. I know as much of the latter as “ A Lanarkshire 
Bee-keeper,” probably a good deal more, and I beg to inform him that 
there is no connection whatever between the two. It may be true that 
some members of the Association, from philanthropic motives (the names 
of Messrs. Cowan and Peel are a sufficient guarantee on this point) have 
assisted in the formation of the Company ; yet it is equally true that 
there is no connection whatever between the two. If “ A Lanarkshire 
Bee-keeper” discredits this statement let him give some clear and definite 
proof to the contrary, or else let him hold his peace. 
The following sentence affords one more illustration of the delicious 
muddle “ A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper ” has made in rushing to the rescue 
of his unfortunate friend who hails from Hallamshire :—“ The members 
of the British Bee-keepers’ Association have said so much against foreign 
honey being so much inferior to the British honey, that the only reason I 
can see for them dealing in it is that their own interests are of more 
importance to them than are the interests of the bee-keepers of the 
United Kingdom.” Is it a fact that the members of the B.B.K.A. “ have 
said so much against foreign honey being so much inferior to the British 
honey?” Some members of the Association may have objected to foreign 
honey because often it is adulterated and impure; but curiously enough 
they are charged with “ speaking against foreign honey being so much 
inferior to British honey.” “ The only reason,” continues the “ Lanark¬ 
shire Bee-keeper,” “ that I can see for their dealing in it is that their own 
interests are of more importance to them than are the interests of the 
bee-keepers of the United Kingdom.” But the members of the B.B.K.A. 
as such do not deal in foreign honey. The Association has nothing 
whatever to do with buying, selling, or seeking foreign honey. “A 
Lanarkshire Bee-keeper ” has no right to make such a statement either 
by implication or otherwise, and I challenge him to prove a charge which 
he has attempted to fasten so unjustly upon the B.B.K.A. 
I can find neither time nor patience to answer at any length what 
“ A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper ” has written about the “ boycotting ” of hive- 
makers who would not comply to the standards of the B.B.K.A. The 
Association, in compliance with requests from all quarters, adopted a 
standard frame for the bar-frame hive, to the complete satisfaction of 
bee-keepers throughout the length and breadth of the land. For the pre¬ 
sent it has declined to recommend any special standard for sections, nor 
does it seem probable that any section standard wdll be adopted. The 
inuendo that the British Bee Journal is not entirely “ free from trade 
interests ” is quite in keeping with the other remarks of “ A Lanarkshire 
Bee-keeper,” and equally deserving of credit. 
In certain remarks which “ A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper ” has deigned to 
make respecting the Bev. H. B. Peel he suggests that Mr. Peel, “instead 
of making a bed of Boses for himself of bee-keepers, may have raised a 
nest of hornets about his ears.” Is, then, “ A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper” 
one of these hornets ? If so, his sting is very blunt, though his buzz is 
very loud.—A. B. M. 
[We have received a letter from “ Pro Bono Publico,” but as the 
major part of it is practically identical with what has been said by 
Mr. Peel and “A. B. M.,” it is only necessary to publish the concluding 
portion as follows—“The British Bee-keepers’ Association did much more 
than sell honey at the Health Exhibition. It circulated a large quantity 
of pamphlets setting forth the advantages of honey as food, giving many 
useful recipes in wffiich honey could be utili-ed, and distributed thousands 
of leaflets to the visitors cautioning them against the use of adulterated 
honey. The Association is a national institution, and endeavours to 
promote the national good, and to quote the words of a recent daily organ, 
‘ deserves to be more widely appreciated.’ Its Committee consists of 
honourable gentlemen who devote much time and money for the public 
good, not one of whom would take any step or promote any undertaking 
which would tend to injure the British bee-keeper.” To this we may add 
that “ A Hallamshire Bee-keeper,” in a letter before us, states—“ It must 
not be understood that I want to abolish the British Bee-keepers Asso¬ 
ciation ; on the contrary, I hope to improve this institution, and make it 
a power for good.”] 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
TV". P. Laird & Sinclair, Dundee. —Catalogue of Vegetable and Flower Seeds 
for 1885. 
E. G. Henderson & Sons, Maida Vale, London. —Catalogue of Flair er, 
Vegetable, and Agricultural Seeds. 
Wm. Bennie, Toronto, Ontario. —Seed Cataloguefor 1885. 
James Yates, 29, Little Underbank, Stockport.— Vegetable and Flower 
Seeds for 1885. 
F. and A. Dickson & Sons, Cluster. —A Book of the Farm , 1S85. 
William Paul & Sons, Crossflat Nursery, Paisley. —List of [Show and 
Fancy Pansies, Pinks, and Florists’ Flowers. 
* All correspondence should be directed either to “Tiie Editor ’ 
or to “ The Publisher.” Letters addressed to Dr. Hogg or 
members of the staff often remain unopened unavoidably. We 
request that no one will write privately to any of our correspon¬ 
dents, as doing so subjects them to unjustifiable trouble and 
expense. 
Books ( Fruchis ).—We are not aware that there are any books published 
on the subject you name. 
Gum on Camellias (Borderer). —Will you kindly, and as soon as possible, 
inform us if there are any climbing plants on the roof of the house in which 
the Camellias are grown, or any other large plants in the house attacked by 
insects contiguous to the Camellias ? 
Amateur and Cottager (St. Boswells). —The term “amateur” does not 
bear the same meaning in all districts and under differing circumstances 
for the purpose of exhibiting, and we could have better answered your 
question if you had sent us an old schedule that would indicate the nature 
of your show. We can only say generally that a cottager is a person whose 
sole income is derived by manual toil, such as a working artisan, miner, or 
general labourer ; and that an amateur is an individual of a higher social 
grade, and is not entirely dependent on weekly wages as a means of liveli¬ 
hood. It is the dirty of the committees of shows to clearly express the dis¬ 
tinction between the two classes of exhibitors, founded on the customs or 
peculiarities of the neighbourhood and the nature of the exhibitions. In 
the schedules of some large shows all who are not nurserymen are amateurs, 
but this definition will not do for the majority of local shows. In other 
cases an amateur is a person who employs a man occasionally to assist him, 
but does not keep a regular gardener. Thus the question is very much of a 
local one, and can only be decided by local circumstances. 
Pruning Vines (F. J.). —You do not state the length of the rods, but at 
any rate you may shorten the weaker rods to within about 18 inches of the 
base of the rafters with the object of producing strong canes next year. 
The stronger canes may be left 4 or 5 feet long, and they each will 
support about 6 lbs. of Grapes. The pruning should be done without a 
day’s delay, and the wounds dressed "with painter’s knotting to prevent 
bleeding. They ought to have been pruned before. If the buds at the 
lower part of the canes do not swell as freely as those above, bend down 
the canes to a horizontal position until the lower buds start and extend 
about half an inch, then with great care place the rods in their proper 
position. If this is done hurriedly and roughly some of the young growths 
are almost certain to be broken off, and a blank made that cannot afterwards 
be filled. There is no better time to clip Box edgings and Ivy than during 
the first mild showery weather in April. 
Renovating Camellias (J. M.). —Camellias thrive admirably in some 
kinds of loam that contain little or no lime. In your case we should not 
have the loam too “ light and sandy,” hut should prefer it of medium tex¬ 
ture, adding silver sand and wood ashes to render it porous ; a little bone- 
meal, say a pound to each 20 lbs. of loam, would be an advantage. It is not 
unlikely that a good portion of the old soil will need removal ; it certainly 
will if it is sour, and in that case possibly some of the plants may not need 
larger pots. On this point, however, you must exercise your judgment, and 
also in the very important matter of watering. About the end of March will 
be a good time for repotting, and the temperature of the house will then be 
suitable for the plants. They will need syringing frequently and shading 
judiciously, maintaining a genial atmosphere at all times. Read Mr. 
Walker’s excellent paper on Camellias on another page. It will perhaps 
convey information that will be useful to you in improving your plants ; at 
the same time if you need further advice on any particular point you need 
not hesitate to write us again. 
Late Black Grape ( C. H. Contich). —There is no Grape in use now' that 
colours better as a rule than the Black Alicante does. Well grown it is of 
imposing appearance and of fairly good quality. The Vine is also a good 
grower and free bearer. The Grape that realises the best price in London 
just now is the Gros Colman ; but the noble berries must be well coloured, 
which is not always the case, and the other is more certain and easier to 
grow. Grapes to be in good condition now must be quite ripe in October, 
and not “ ripening ” now as you appear to think. The books will be sent, 
also a catalogue with a good frame hive marked in it ; but many persons 
find large old-fashioned straw hives as good as any. 
Culture of Lamb’s Lettuce (D. P.). — The plant bearing the above 
name is known botanically as Valerianella olitoria, and is a native of 
Britain, being also known as Corn Salad, and in France as “ Mache.” It 
is esteemed by many persons as a salad, and is cultivated for that purpose 
both here and on the Continent. It is raised from seed sown any time trom 
February to October, but August and September are the chief months, as 
winter and early spring supplies are then obtained. The seeds are sown in 
drills C inches apart, and the plants can be thinned to that distance apart. 
They can be cut in the same manner as Spinach, and when well dressed as a 
salad it is usually much liked. We appreciate your compliments,and thank 
you heartily for your good wishes. 
Early Tulips (S. Merchant). —The earliest Tulips are the Due Van Thol 
varieties, which may easily be had in flower at Christmas; for following 
them Vermilion Brillant,*Chrysolora, Cottage Maid, Proserpine, Potte- 
bakker, and Keyser’s Kroon, with many other single varieties, are suitable ; 
also the double Tournesol and Rex Rubrorum. If you edge your bed with 
blue Lobelias, then plant consecutive lines of the Pelargoniums Mrs 
