JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
518 
[ June 23, 1881. 
If it be desired to abolish the step no queen should be given 
to it at the last division. Three weeks after all the bees may be 
driven from it to form a fed-up stock, and its contents taken for 
the honey. Here again I would venture a caution about queens. 
Twenty-one days after an artificial swarm or division, such as I 
have described, there ought to be a young queen in the skep. 
Until the combs are cut out we cannot tell whether she is fer¬ 
tilised or not. She may be, even though no eggs have yet been 
laid. It is wise, however, to arrange matters beforehand on the 
understanding that at the date of driving she is still unfertile. If 
no precaution be taken she may come forth on her love-search, as 
she has probably done for several days previous. Not marking 
her location as she did at first, she returns to look for her skep, 
but no skep is there—only a box, like other boxes beside it. 
Little wonder if she enters another skep, if such there be, or a 
neighbouring bar-frame hive, and is killed. To guard against this 
the skep should be concealed by a sack or other covering for 
several days before the transfer of the bees to the new hive, 
over which the same covering may be similarly arranged, and 
thus the old appearance of things preserved.— William Kaitt, 
Blairgowrie, 
TRADE CATALOGUE RECEIVED. 
Benjamin Edgington, 2, Duke Street, London Bridge .—Illustrated 
Catalogue of Marquees, Tents, c fc. 
%* All correspondence should be directed either to “ The 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. 
Correspondents should not mix up on the same sheet questions relat¬ 
ing to Gardening and those on Poultry and Bee subjects, and 
should never send more than two or three questions at once. All 
articles intended for insertion should be written on one side of 
the paper only. We cannot reply to questions through the post, 
and we do not undertake to return rejected communications. 
The Manchester Show (TF. J. M.). —The Exhibition to which you refer 
opens on August 24th and continues for four days. It will be well worth a 
visit. 
Training Fruit Trees (Cordon'). —We shall shortly publish some notes 
on cordon training which we think will meet your requirements. There is no 
book specially devoted to the subject you name. 
Strawberries (J. E.). —The fruit of Cockscomb is large, ovate, and some¬ 
times cockscomb shaped ; skin pale scarlet; seeds prominent; flesh white with 
a rosy tinge. Flavour good. Growth of plant free, yet not markedly spread¬ 
ing. The fruit of La Con-tante is large, conical, and regularly formed ; seeds 
not deeply embedded ; skin bright crimson ; flesh white tinged with rose ; 
flavour sprightly and rich. The plant is of compact habit, and does not produce 
runners so freely as some others. 
Larvae on Grass (Pendle). —Though it is impossible to decide positively 
from the specimens sent (and which are not pupae, but larvae shrivelled from -the 
attacks of some parasite), the species occurring in such profusion appears to be 
the Antler Moth (Charaeas graminis). Since the time of Linnaeus it has been 
occasionally noticed as injurious to grass lands, though more frequently seen 
in the moth stage during August than in its larval condition, since it is more or 
less subterraneous during the period of growth. 
The Cucumber Disease (TF. TF., St. Albans). —The form of the disease 
that has attacked your plants is we believe incurable, and probably the only 
mode to prevent a similar calamity in future will be by thoroughly cleansing 
and disinfecting the house and obtaining soil from another source. The 
Oucumber-root disease is illustrated on page 34 of this Journal, the issue of 
January 4th, 1876, which can be had in return for 3Jd. in stamps, sent to the 
publisher, asking him to forward No. 720. The disease as attacking the leaves 
and fruit is referred to in Nos. 624, 626, 529, 530, 532, 534, and 536. These 
numbers, or any of them, can be had at the price above quoted, 3£d. each. 
Cauliflowers Clubbed (A. S. M.). —Letters arriving on Wednesday 
morning can only be answered in the briefest possible terms. So far as we 
understand your case the plants are beyond remedy. You might try solutions 
of paraffin from a quarter of an ounce of the oil to a gallon of water to such 
stronger doses as the plants will stand, and let us know the results. You may 
as well kill a few with paraffin as let them be killed by the maggot. 
Vine Leaves Injured (II. Lems ).—We fear your Vines are attacked with 
the clay-coloured Vine weevil, Curculio picipis, which is highly destructive. It 
feeds on the tips of the young shoots at night, and as the leaves expand they 
appear as if torn and perforated. We know of no better mode of securing the 
beetles than spreading a sheet under the Vines at night and shaking them, or 
jerking the laterals sharply to displace the pest. The work, however, must be 
done quickly yet quietly, for the insects often fall to the ground when they are 
disturbed and a light approaches ; and on the other hand they sometimes cling 
to the stems with great tenacity. If thi3 proves to be the enemy you must tho¬ 
roughly cleanse the Vines and house in the winter, removing the surface soil 
from the border, if you have such inside, and adopt every means of eradicating 
the pest. 
Cliionodoxa Lucilise (II. S.). —It is a beautiful hardy bulbous plant intro¬ 
duced by Mr. Maw from Asia Minor a few years ago. We have not had experi¬ 
ence as to its “ready multiplication,” but should think that the bulbs would 
increase freely in suitable soil. You will find an illustration and full description 
of this plant in our issue of March 31st of the present year. If you do not 
possess that number it can be had from the publisher in return for 3in 
postage stamps. The abnormal growth of your Cabbage leaf is singular, but 
not very unusual. We have seen very similar examples, but the cause of their 
production is unknown. 
Insects on Vines (C. P .).—Your Vines are attacked with the Vine 
weevil, which is referred in a reply to another correspondent. It is highly 
destructive, and a sedulous search should be made by night as well as by day 
for the weevils, which must be promptly destroyed. When the Vines are at rest 
the rods must be well scrubbed with hot soapy water, all the woodwork of the 
house being washed, all the surface soil removed from the border and fresh 
added, all plants in the house being at the same time cleansed and repotted or 
top-dressed, and thus you may succeed in eradicating a dangerous enemy. 
Peach Trees Unsatisfactory (TF).—The condition of your trees de¬ 
notes some serious error in culture, but where the precise mistake is no one can 
tell without being acquainted with the character of the soil and trees, and the 
treatment to which they have been subjected. The growths may have been 
much overcrowded in summer, or infested with red spider or other insects ; or, 
what is very likely, the border has not had nearly sufficient water, and the roots 
are in a torpid state. Examine the border at a depth of 2 feet, and probably you 
will find it too dry there; if not, the soil is too poor, and the roots should be 
raised and placed in better compost, and the surface be thickly covered with 
rich manure. Nearly all failures in Peach culture under glass arise from over¬ 
crowding the growths in summer, and overdryness of the border at all seasons 
of the year. The cause of your failure ought not to be difficult to determine, and 
the remedy may then be easily applied. 
Cocoa-nut Fibre Refuse (AI. J. B.). —We have not the slightest idea 
whether yon can obtain what you require in Wales or the towns adjacent. 
Possibly it might be worth your while inquiring at Bristol; still, where there 
are only small quantities of the refuse for disposal the price is much greater 
than in the larger cocoa-nut mat and brush manufactories. Both the yellow and 
copper-coloured forms of the Austrian Briar are included in the catalogues of 
Messrs. Wm. Paul of Waltham Cross; George Paul, Cheshunt; Cranston, Here¬ 
ford ; Veitch, Chelsea; Bunyard, Maidstone; Laing, Forest Hill; and possibly 
in those of other Rose-growing nurserymen, which implies that this bright old 
species is “yet in the trade.” 
Plum Trees Diseased (TF. B .).—The precise cause of the condition of 
trees affected similarly to those from which you send sprays is not known. 
The appearance, however, is an expression of debility, consequent probably on 
the roots having penetrated subsoil deficient in the food necessary for main¬ 
taining the health of the trees. Had the roots been kept in a healthy active 
state near the surface by suitable top-dressing, the trees in all probability would 
not be in their present unsatisfactory state. 
Grapes not Ripening (J. II., Old Subscriber ).—Without knowing some 
thing of the condition of your Vine-, their age, character as to vigour or the 
reverse, and weight of the crop, it is not easy to answer your question ; but this 
we can say, that if they are in good health and not overcropped the fruit will 
ripen. The maturing of the wood will not arrest the ripening process, but will 
aid it. The long and cold spring has retarded the swelling of the fruit consider¬ 
ably in all gardens, and Grapes are generally later than usual this year, just as 
outdoor crops are later than during favourable seasons. 
Insects in Soil (R. C .).—The most important word in your letter appears 
to be “ emites,” and we are not sure whether you refer to mites or emmets (ants). 
If you mix half an ounce of paraffin with a gallon of water, agitating it violently 
so that the two become well incorporated, which is not easy to effect, and 
sprinkle the soil where the ants or mites abound, it will, we think, drive them 
away and not injure the roots of the plants, although it will be a wise precaution 
not to sprinkle the stems. 
Rose Catalogue (Rosarian).- —We are unable to inform you when the 
National Rose Society’s catalogue will be ready. You can no doubt obtain 
the information from one of the Honorary Secretaries of the Society, the Rev. 
H. H. D’Ombrain, Westwell Vicarage, Ashford, Kent; or Edward Mawley, Esq., 
Addiscombe House, Croydon. The Society’s Southern Show will be held at the 
Crystal Palace on July 2nd, and the Northern Exhibition at Sheffield on July 14th. 
You will find a list of other Rose Shows on page 329 of our issue of April 28th. 
Peach Trees not Thriving (Inquirer). — Your case is very similar 
to that of another correspondent, and the reply and advice we have given to “ W.” 
will be equally suitable for yourself. We caunot say which of the following 
evils have operated the most strongly in rendering your trees unsatisfactory— 
insufficient or injudicious ventilation, insects with overcrowding of the growths 
in summer, or a deficiency of water at the roots; but from what you say we 
think the ventilation has been defective and the water insufficient. You can 
judge for yourself on the point of overcrowding, according to the rule which 
many years of experience have proved is a sound one—namely, the leaves of 
one shoot should not overlap those of the next. 
Gcsneriaceous Plants Unhealthy (TF. A A).—The plants and leaves 
sent have no thrips on them, nor do we think the injury arises solely from 
insect attacks, nor indeed chiefly. AVe rather attribute it to something per¬ 
nicious either in the soil or water, or both. Is there iron in the soil ? Try a 
few plants in soil from a fresh source and use only rain water. AVe assume 
that the temperature of the house has been suitable for the plants, the atmo¬ 
sphere kept in a proper state, and shade afforded as needed. Errors in these 
respects would account for the unsatisfactory state of the plants. 
Caterpillars on Holly Shoots (Mr. Brierley ).—These are the cater¬ 
pillars of a small moth in the genus Spilonota ; several of which, nearly resem¬ 
bling each other in the larval stage, are very destructive to buds and young 
shoots. Some suggest the slow process of catching the moths during the 
summer before they deposit eggs. These are difficult to find, being minute, and 
resembling in colour the buds where they are generally placed to remain un¬ 
hatched through the winter. AVe should try the effect of syringing the shrubs 
with a solution of paraffin at the strength of a wineglassful of the oil to 4 gal¬ 
lons of water, every alternate syringeful being forcibly ejected into the pail and 
on the trees, otherwise the oil will not be well mixed. If soapsuds are trod 
instead of water the dressing would be more effectual, but a sediment would be 
left on the leaves. Or perhaps a solution of hellebore would be efficacious, 
