450 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
r June 3, 1881. 
right road, arrive at their destination ; and if you follow strictly, or as strictly 
as your circumstances allow, the instructions in question, you will in due time 
have Melons. For the sake, however, of precision, we advise you to follow those 
given in the Journal of March 17th. The main shoot of a Melon plant, if it is 
stopped when it nearly reaches across the frame, will produce fruit-bearing 
laterals. The growths should be stopped at one leaf beyond the fruit, or if space 
is plentiful two leaves may be allowed, but one is sufficient. After a sufficient 
number of fruits are set all the growths should be stopped as they appear, re¬ 
taining only the principal foliage, which must be kept clean and healthy, and 
be neither crushed, scorched, nor infested with insects. Until you secure a 
sufficient number of fruits permit the laterals to extend from any portions of 
the plants that show fruit, stopping, as we have said, one joint beyond each, 
continuing the pinching as the growths are produced. When the requisite 
number of fruits are swelling permit no laterals to extend from anywhere, but 
direct the whole strength of the plants to the principal foliage and fruit. This, 
on the point of stopping, makes the matter clear to you. Now to pruning. If 
you have much growth that needs removal, remove it gradually, a portion on 
one day and the remainder on the next and succeeding days; but the true 
course is to prevent overcrowding by a systematic pinching of these young 
shoots that are not wanted as soon as they appear. It is important that the 
fruits required for the crop be as nearly as possible of the same size. If there is 
a great difference between them the smaller are liable to cease swelling and be 
worthless. There is nothing to choose between the two methods of fertilisation 
to which you refer; so long as the pollen is conveyed to the pistil of the fertile 
flower it does not matter how it is done. If we have not made the subject 
clear, we are quite willing to aid you further if you make your precise wants 
known to us. 
Stopping Vines (Idem). —The laterals should be stopped at one or two 
leaves (according as there is space for the foliage to develope) beyond the bunches 
before the period of flowering, and then again after the berries are set, continuing 
the practice as long as growths are produced. We do not advise stopping the 
growths when the Vines are in flower, nor is there any necessity for this if the 
laterals have been properly attended to. Red spider is a very small insect that 
is highly destructive to Vines, Melons, and various plants : it does not, so far as 
we know, attack any other insects. The parasites to which you refer are quite 
different from the red spider, and will not attack your plants. 
Names of Plants (.4. D.). —Pelargonium quercifolium. (/. T. S.). —The 
specimens shared the usual fate of those that are simply euclosed in letters. 
From the smashed mass of vegetable matter we think we can distinguish No. 2 
as Sedum speciosum ; 3, Lamium maculatum; 4, Anemone nemorosa flore- 
pleno, and 7 as Stellaria Holostea. The others are totally beyond identification. 
(H. S .).—Where sprays aie simply enclosed in letters, and especially when they 
remain in the post office throughout Sunday, they almost invariably arrive in 
such a withered condition that the species cannot be identified. If we receive a 
specimen in suitable condition we will name it for you. (S. R. B.).— You are 
right about the Bougainvillea; it is a remarkably fine example of B. glabra. 
The small yellow flower is Corydalis lutea ; the tufted Veronica, V. repens ; the 
Spirma a golden variegated form of S. Ulmaria ; and the pale green plant with 
deeply lobed leaves is the American Puccoon or Bloodroot, Sanguinaria cana¬ 
densis. (A. A.).--The specimen with white flowers is Pyrus Aria, the other is 
Ruscus hypophyllum. (J. E.). — Cytisus Adami. It was originated by Dr. 
Adam of Vitry. and was a bud sport from Cytisu3 purpureus inserted in C. al- 
pinus in 1825. ( Longhurd ).—Cerasus Padus, the Bird Cherry. (Constant Reader). 
—The single flower is' £ Rhodanthe Manglesi alba. The double flower we cannot 
determine from the specimen sent; if you send us a specimen of the foliage and 
describe the habit and nature of the plant we shall possibly be able to supply 
you with the name. (IF. E. B ).—1, Todea pellucida ; 2, Todea superba ; 3, Pteris 
tremula ; 4, Doodia media ; 5, Maxillaria tenuifolia ; 6, Oncidium flexuosum. 
(F. C .).—The specimen was not in good condition for determining its name, but 
it closely resembles Asplenium aculeatum var. Brauni. (Old Subscriber ).— 
1, Geunr coccineum ; 2, Centaurea montana ; 3, Cheiranthus alpinus. (G. S .).— 
Through being packed in cotton wool the small specimen was so withered as to 
be quite unrecognisable. (E. IF.)—1, Too withered ; 2, Maxillaria Harrison®, 
fine variety : 3, a smaller variety of the above; 4 appears to be a deformed 
variety of Lycaste aromatica. (J. McD.). —Fraxinus Ornus. (A. C.). —Lim- 
nanthes Douglassi. 
Supernumerary Queen Cells (Buzz ).—The queen cells built by the 
natural impulse of the bees in preparation for swarming will, of course, do for 
insertion in freshly swarmed hives. We prefer these to others if we find them 
ready to hand. The queen from this hive has undoubtedly been lost. 
Fertile Workers—Comb Foundation (Idem ).—Fertile workers are 
not produced in queen cells, but appear rarely in queenless stocks. They are 
workers exalted by an impulse to produce progeny into pseudo-mothers capable 
of laying drone eggs but incapable of fertilisation, and so incapable of deposit¬ 
ing fertilised eggs and so producing workers. Both samples of lozenge-bottom 
foundation are good, the thin trellis also. This is suitable for sections only. 
Drone foundation is dangerous in sections where the drone comb in the hive is 
kept down in quantity. Drone in sections then attracts the queen, and the 
supers are more or less spoiled; but it is true that drone comb is more quickly 
built and stored than worker. 
Clearing Bees off Combs for the Extractor (F. /.).—Before re¬ 
moving combs for the extractor do not puff smoke into the hive mouth, as this 
drives bees towards the end combs which you require to clear, but rather turn 
back the quilt off the end frame and puff down smoke between it and the hive 
side. It is a good plan to put a large board with one edge resting upon the 
alighting place, upon this jerking off the residue of bees, which of course imme¬ 
diately run in. If this trouble be considered excessive the quilt must be wholly 
removed, and the bees shaken down upon their frames. Some recommend a 
goose wing for whisking off the few remaining stragglers, but we use and recom¬ 
mend a painter’s dusting brush as being decidedly superior. The brush is moved 
very quickly, and the ends of the hairs only are employed ; so that the bees have 
no time to get between them, but are simply knocked away without injury to 
themselves. A little practice will soon give dexterity in handling it. 
Empty Queen Cells — Queenless Stock — Expelling Drones 
(II. M .).—The cells you supposed to contain developing queens were without 
question empty from the first, and were either the remains of cells which had 
been the cradles of queens in a previous year and had been subsequently cut 
down, or were abortive cells which the bees in some inexplicable freak occasion¬ 
ally build— e.g.. it is quite common, if foundation be given to stocks raising a 
new mother, for them to draw out a few incipient royal cells upon its face. 
Ttie destruction of the drones is peculiar. Had the weather been cold we 
should have supposed that some of the brood had died of chill, or that the combs 
had not been put together in due order, and that some of the drone larvae had 
been in consequence injured ; but you speak of “ worrying their drones," which 
is—for a well-nourished queenless stock, and when honey abounds in the flowers 
—outside our experience. 
Abolishing an Old Skep (J. K.).- As you have already made an arti¬ 
ficial swarm from your skep, we should recommend you to wait until three 
weeks after the operation before doing auything more. Then the last laid egg 
will have been converted into a perfect bee, while the young queen—unless queen 
cells were already formed at the time of driving, about which you give us no 
information—will certainly not have commenced laying, and probably not have 
mated. If you then drive your hive bare you will leave only broodless combs, 
while the honey will be at your disposal. AVhether this second swarm should 
be added to the first is a question, and certainly care will have to be exercised, 
or you are likely to have considerable loss through fighting. You have not 
stated whether your intention is to adopt frame hives or to go on with skeps ; 
but in any case if you mean to unite, the lots of bees to become one must be kept 
standing close to each other, and at the time of union smoked and sprinkled 
with thin syrup, scented if you like. The value of this scenting is not proved, 
but it at least can do no harm. We should operate early in the morning or not 
before four in the afternoon, when we are not likely to endanger the queen by 
upsetting everything while she is away on a wedding tour. If a frame hive is to 
be used we should take away the old queen and cage the young one until next 
day. Unions sometimes, though rarely, result in the destruction of both queens 
unless this precaution be taken. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— JUNE 1, 
Business steady; all classes of goods being cleared and prices well main¬ 
tained. 
FRUIT. 
8. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
a. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Apples. 
J sieve 
2 
6 to 4 
6 
Melons . 
6 
Oto 8 
0 
Apricots. 
box 
i 
6 
2 
0 
Nectarines.. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cherries. 
$>■ lb. 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Oranges .... 
4 
0 
8 
0 
Chestnuts. 
bushel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Peaches .... 
0 
30 
0 
Figs. 
dozen 1) 
0 
12 
0 
Pears .kitchen .. dozen 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Filberts. 
4Ptb. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
dessert .... 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Cobs. 
^ lb 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Pine Apples 
.... V tb 
1 
0 
3 
0 
Gooseberries .... 
J sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Strawberries 
.... per lb. 
s 
0 
t 
0 
Grapes . 
V lb 
3 
0 
8 
6 
AValnuts ... 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Lemons. 
^ ease 12 
0 
18 
0 
ditto . 
¥ 100 
0 
0 
0 
0 
VEGETABLES, 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Artichokes. 
dozen 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Mushrooms 
A 
Otol 
« 
Asparagus. 
bundle 
a 
0 
5 
0 
Mustard* Cress .. punnet 
0 
2 
0 
3 
Beans,Kidney .... 
^ 100 
l 
0 
i 
6 
Onions. 
3 
6 
6 
0 
Beet, Red. 
dozen 
i 
0 
a 
0 
pickling .. 
0 
0 
O 
0 
Broccoli. 
bundle 
0 
9 
l 
6 
Parsley. 
doz.bunches 
6 
0 
0 
0 
Brussels Sprouts.. 
J sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Parsnips .... 
1 
0 
a 
0 
dozen 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Peas . 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Carrots. 
bunch 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Potatoes .... 
3 
9 
4 
0 
Capsicums. 
^ 100 
1 
6 
a 
0 
Kidney.... 
4 
0 
4 
« 
Cauliflowers. 
dozen 
0 
0 
3 
6 
Radishes.... 
doz .bunches 
i 
6 
2 
0 
Celery . 
bundle 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Rhubarb.... 
0 
4 
0 
6 
Coleworts_doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Salsafy. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Cucumbers. 
each 
0 
4 
0 
8 
Scorzonera 
1 
< 
0 
0 
Endive. 
dozen 
1 
U 
2 
0 
3 
0 
s 
$ 
Fennel. 
bunch 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Shallots. 
0 
3 
0 
0 
Garlic . 
V lb. 
0 
6 
0 
0 
Spinach .... 
8 
0 
0 
0 
Herbs. 
bunch 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Turnips. 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Leeks. 
bunch 
0 
2 
0 
4 
Vegetable Marrows each 
0 
0 
• 
• 
POULTRY AND PIGEON CHRONICLE. 
THE CROSS-BREEDING OF CATTLE. 
(Continued from page 431.) 
To illustrate the practical results of cross-breeding it is neces¬ 
sary to take into account the advantage of pairing animals of 
different breeds for producing stock best adapted for feeding 
and fattening for the dairy, and also for rearing young stock 
to sell, or feeding for veal. At the same time we must not 
omit the importance of breeding by an alliance of two different 
kinds of cattle for the purpose of exhibition at our cattle shows, 
as many noblemen, gentlemen, and tenant farmers spend large 
sums of money upon their cross-bred cattle, and exhibit most 
valuable stock. 
Let us first consider the crossing or mating of cattle intended 
for dairy purposes, and even this point must be treated as having 
several objects in view. We will take first the raising of stock for 
dairy purposes, for the sale of milk or for cheese-making. Most 
of the cross-bred animals which were formerly sent to our fairs 
and markets, but especially in the midland and western counties, 
came from the north, and were usually the produce of a cow of a 
good milking breed, although small in size, and a short-homed 
