280 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 7, 1881. 
privilege of putting the hive3 on the hack porch of an unoccupied 
house, and the little immigrants from Cyprus and the Holy Land were 
soon making the air resound with their humming. I found to my 
joy that every queen was alive and most of the colonies in good 
order, those to which I had given sugar and water during the latter 
part of the journey having commenced brood-rearing. The colonies 
in the best condition were those whose food up to the last few days 
of the journey had been wholly honey in the comb and whose hives 
contained 850 cubic inches, into which four frames 9 by 10 inches 
had been placed. Of course I was eager to see the bees of Ceylon. 
From all previous accounts I was led to suppose that Apis indica, a 
small bee, and Apis dorsata, a very large bee, existed in Ceylon. 
From the moment I landed I made inquiries as to where the bees 
were to be found, but the reply invariably was, “ Only in the jungles.” 
No horses could be obtained, and carriages go but a short distance 
from the town; so, staff in hand and a man to act as guide and in¬ 
terpreter, I started for the jungles. We had only travelled about an 
hour and had not yet reached the jungles, when a native in the dress 
of the poorer people—simply a cloth about the hips—volunteered to 
show us a tree containing bees. He brought us to a large Cocoa-nut 
Palm, and about a dozen feet from the ground honey bees were 
flying in and out. Very strange-looking and very swift-winged 
little bees they were with loads of pollen and honey. I could not, 
for some time, catch one in my fingers, but at last I succeeded. 
Another tree containing the same kind of bees was shown us a few 
rods away. These were low down, and I put my hands into the hole 
and broke off a piece of comb. I could not but laugh outright at the 
tiny hexagonal cells, which suggested that these were only baby bees 
playing ; they were real grown-up folks gathering honey and pollen 
against a time of need. 
The new-found guide assured me through the interpreter that he 
could take us to a tree containing some of the large bees, which, 
however, turned out to be hornets. There are contradictory reports 
regarding the existence of a race of large honey bees in the interior 
of the island. Everyone has noticed that in general our large humble 
bees pass the smallest flowers unvisited, and white Clover amongst 
others, which we know contains much honey. Now just as the idea 
has come to me that if we could secure a large race of honey bees, 
such as is perhaps Apis dorsata, which could obtain honey from red 
Clover and other large blossoms, we should find it a great gain to 
apiarian interests ; so, also, I have wondered if the smaller race or 
sort would not collect the honey which must be found in the tiny 
blossoms and more accessible to the small bees alone. I believe there 
are possibilities in this direction quite worthy of consideration, and 
that the two sorts might be kept in the same locality with no detri¬ 
mental division of the field. Already I have observed that my little 
friends of Ceylon do not scorn very humble blossoms upon which I 
have never seen our ordinary-sized honey bees. Some of these small 
blossoms are very rich in nectar. To sum up, then, I would say that 
I believe the probabilities are in favour of the newly acquired bees. 
I do not mean to say they can or will supplant our other bees, but 
only that it seems likely they can be profitably raised in those 
countries—possibly in the same apiaries—where other races of bees 
are kept. They may be somewhat inclined to rob other hives, but as 
regards their own disposition to collect honey and pollen, the pro¬ 
lificness of the queens, the great beauty of the bees, the fact that the 
drone comb made by this race can be used as worker comb in our 
hives of ordinary bees, together with the great ease, rapidity, and 
safety with which they can be manipulated, are certainly strong 
points in their favour. Should I succeed in transporting to my 
native land (America) living bees of this species alone I shall feel 
that my stay in Ceylon has not been in vain, for even if they should 
not prove to be of great practical value, still their introduction will 
help to increase our knowledge of apiarian science.— Frank Benton, 
Point de Gcille, Island of Ceylon.—(Communicated by Alf red Neighbour.) 
Books (A. A. Hansen ).—All the works you name can be had from this 
office post free for 4.s. 8 d. sent to the publisher. The Rose you name is not 
grown in England under the name of Queen Victoria, but may be on the 
Continent. On this point you may obtain information from the author of the 
article to which you refer, and whose address is incorporated therewith. Relative 
to this subject we have received the following from an eminent amateur rosarian 
—“re an international Rose election. Teas Souvenir d’nn Ami and Queen Victoria 
surely are not synonymous. There is a well-known H.P. Queen Victoria, and I 
remember many years ago having a Bourbon climber of that name. Manifestly 
there must be some mistake about the latter. The results of the poll are a little 
inaccurate otherwise—to wit, Which five H.P.’s are the freest and most abundant 
bloomers for the summer ? La France, Jules Margottin, General Jacqueminot, 
and two others our friend Mr. Hinton would hesitate at admitting—Bourbons 
Souvenir de la Malmaison and Louise Odier (Madame de Stella). Then, again, 
the ten novelties from 73 to 78 are mentioned by name. I do not think an 
Englishman would have chosen them without ‘the slightest hesitation;’ but 
foreigners do these things differently. Still they should be accurate.—C. H. B.” 
Double Cyclamen (1 V.H. Manser ).—Your flower is to a certain extent 
novel, but it is quite a matter of taste whether a variety having more than the 
normal number of petals is more attractive than large-flow r ered single forms with 
broad smooth petals. But although your flower is novel it is by no means the 
first of the kind that has been sent to us, as we have seen flowers with a greater 
number of petals than in the example before us. Double flowers are, however, 
not numerous, and your variety is worth preservation. 
Designs for Carpet Beds ((7. Lamb). — You will find designs such as 
you require in the following numbers of this Journal, which may be obtained 
from the publisher, post free 3J<f. each :—Nos. 910, 914, 916,918, 932, 939, 940, 945, 
995, 996, 997, and 999. There is also much information upon the subject, with 
numerous plans, in the “ Royal Parks and Gardens of London,” published at this 
office, post free 5s. 5d. 
Auriculas in Yorkshire {J. L., Herts). —Mr. Douglas’s descriptions of 
Mr. Horner’s Auriculas at Kirk by Malzeard, and Mr. Simonite’s at Sheffield, are 
included in Nos. 790 and 791, the issues of May 18th and 25th, 1876. The num¬ 
bers can be had from the publisher, price 3^d. each. The subject is not con¬ 
tinued in other numbers, but you will find an article on the Auricula by Mr. 
Douglas in the same volume on page 325, No. 787. If you will state your 
missing numbers we will inform you if we can supply them. If an Auricula 
is unhealthy and not showing bloom we should at once remove carefully most 
of the old soil from its roots, and if these are not in good condition we should 
place it in smaller pot well drained, in a compost of sweet turfy loam and a 
liberal admixture of crushed charcoal. 
Grapes not Setting (IF. C.). —In your cold and exposed position you 
have not the means for providing the necessary amount of heat for succeeding 
with Muscats and the other late varieties that you name when the Vines are 
started in December. That your treatment is good is evident by the state of 
the Foster’s Seedling and Black Hamburghs, and we think that under the 
circumstances you have done well to secure a good crop of these. As early 
Grapes appear to be important, the house ought to be divided, the late varieties 
being grown in one division, the early ones in the other nearest the boiler. In 
this case a little addition would be required to the piping, with the necessary 
valves for admitting the heat when requisite into the second division. By this 
arrangement you will succeed better with both early and late Grapes. The 
latter ought not in your case to be started before February. 
Hubbard’s Squash and Butter Beans {Thomas Harris). —The former 
vegetable has been grown in many British gardens, and seed used to be offered 
in some seedsmen’s catalogues. We have grown it, but its quality was not 
generally appreciated. Butter Beans are regularly cultivated in this country, 
and may be had from nearly all seedsmen. Thousands of Castor-oil Plants are 
grown in England yearly for decorative purposes, notably in the London parks, 
but you are in error in stating they are quite hardy. They grow freely during 
the summer, and occasionally flower in the autumn in England, but the frost 
usually kills them before they arrive at the flowering stage. 
Marechal Niel Rose Sporting (27. M.).— It is not unusual for flowers 
more or less tinted with rose to be produced by this variety. Many similar to 
yours have been sent to us from time to time. We are unable to state the cause 
of the change, but it is not caused by the sun nor from any error in culture. 
Boxes for Packing Peaches {An Inexperienced Lady ).—We use boxes 
made of half-inch deal, 12 inches long, 10 wide, and 3 deep, all inside measure, 
sufficiently large to hold a dozen of the largest fruit, and proportionately more of 
those of less size. The fruit is first wrapped in tissue paper, and then in 
cotton wadding. A little bran is placed in the box sufficient to cover the 
bottom about half an inch thick, the fruit being then introduced, and the 
interstices between the fruit filled with bran, quite filling the box with that 
material, the lid being put on and secured with screws. It is important that 
the fruit be very carefully handled and packed tightly in the boxes without 
pressure on the fruit. We send a great number packed in this way every year 
nearly three hundred miles by rail, and they invariably arrive in good 
condition. Any carpenter can make the boxes. The boxes may be made 
larger to accommodate a greater number of fruit, but we prefer the size given, 
and place them in another larger box with moss or other material about them 
to prevent their moviug in transit. 
Pea Hurdles {Idem ).—Wire Pea hurdles are not only neater but quite as 
effective as Pea sticks, and last many years. They are, however, rather costly, 
as they require to be placed on both sides of the rows of Peas. They may be 
had from those advertising wire netting and Pea guards in our columns. We 
cannot depart from our rule not to recommend dealers. 
Vines Dying {G. C '.).—It is probable that the Vines, being planted outside, 
have had the stems frozen and their tissues destroyed, so that the sap cannot 
ascend, in which case they will push fresh shoots from near the base if there are 
any dormant eyes. There may be local causes that have conduced to the death 
of the Vines irrespective of the frost, which, however, we think the most likely 
cause from the severity of the winter and the inefficient protection of the stems. 
Probably those that are “looking very well” have had more efficient protection 
for the stems. Overcropping is a great evil, and if long continued causes 
complete enfeeblement and not infrequently death; in fact, from the Grapes 
not colouring well last year it is clear they were either overcropped or were not 
in good health. Afford in future more efficient protection for the stems in 
winter, and mulch over the roots with litter to protect them from frost, espe¬ 
cially about the collar. Encourage more foliage, and crop moderately, and those 
that are “ looking very queer ” will in all probability improve. 
Flower Garden Arrangements {C. G.S .).—An effective and harmo¬ 
nious arrangement may be made by planting in the large central bed 7, 
Vesuvius Pelargonium with a broad edging of Marichal McMahon. The four 
corner circles 1, 1, 1, 1, Crimson King Verbena; edging Golden Feather 
Pyrethrum. Four central circles 3, 3, 3, 3, blue Lobelia; edging Cerastium 
tomentosum. Long beds 2, 2, 4,4, broad central stripe Christine Pelargonium 
with a stripe of Flow'er of Spring or Bijou on each side ; edging, Iresine 
Lindeni. The flowers to be kept picked off the white variegated Pelargonium, 
the required colours being pink, white, and crimson. Long beds 5, 5, 6, 6, 
central stripe of Scarlet Pelargonium Tom Thumb, with a stripe of Purple 
King Verbena on each side, and Mrs. Pollock Pelargonium with the flowers 
kept picked off outside, the colours required in these beds being scarlet, purple, 
and yellow. The plants you have will, however, afford greater variety if re¬ 
quired ; but do not plant the beds in pairs as you propose, rather repeat the 
same arrangement in opposite corners 5, 6, or 2, 4. The circles 3, 3, 3, 3, should 
in any case have soft tints or neutral colours to break and subdue the brighter 
tones of the long beds. Iresine when used for an edging must be kept pegged 
and pinched. Echeveria californica may be used outside it, but as your teds 
are probably small it will be better to keep to single edgings. If stripes are not 
liked for the long beds, have simple masses of one colour in them—there might 
be Christine Pelargonium edged with Flower of Spring ; Purple King Verbena, 
edged with Mesembryanthemum cordifolium variegatum; Marechal McMahon 
