344 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 28, 1881. 
destroyed in detachments during the winter through being unable 
to decrease the number of their seams. 
Having determined the make of our foundation, let it be under¬ 
stood that that which has been long in stock is not worked out so 
readily as that more recently manufactured, especially if it has 
been exposed to the light. This arises from the fact that a 
chemical change is brought about by this exposure, which raises 
the melting point 8° Fahr. besides decreasing the plasticity of the 
material at lower temperatures. The sheets by this process 
become whiter, it is true ; but this is a disadvantage even for 
sections, as sheets of yellow wax, while they are softer, become 
perfectly white in the process of elaboration into comb. 
Of course it is understood that foundations for sections, if used 
in size, must be of a special thin kind, and for the reason just 
given pale yellow wax should have the preference. I will refer 
to fixing the foundations in frames in a future issue.—F. R. 
Cheshire, Avenue House, Acton, IF. 
SUCCESSFUL SHIPMENT OF HUMBLE BEES TO 
NEW ZEALAND. 
Through the kind aid of friends in Scotland I was able to 
send a package containing humble bees to New Zealand by the 
steamship John Elder, which left for Melbourne on the 9th 
December last, with instructions to re-ship from that port to 
Canterbury, New Zealand ; and again on the 20th January I was 
supplied from the same source and shipped another parcel by the 
steamship Norfolk , which sailed direct. I have just received the 
Tint,am Herald, which is so explanatory of the adventure that I 
thought it might interest your readers. Although the present 
result seems small it is encouraging to learn that the attempt has 
been so far successful. Considering that Mr. Frank Buckland 
and others have failed in getting these bees to the colony alive, 
it is a matter for congratulation that two fertile mothers have 
been let go on the wing at the Antipodes. Probably the fate of the 
last shipment has yet to reach England.— Alfred Neighbour, 
149, Regent Street. 
[From the Timaru Herald, Monday, February 7th, 1881.] 
“ Humble Bees.— The two queens, the survivors of a shipment of 
eighteen consigned to Mrs. Belfield, were turned out on Mr. Bristol’s 
farm on Saturday morning. They were strong and healthy, and 
flew away briskly against the wind. Being liberated amidst Clover 
fields there is every chance of their doing well. Some years ago the 
present Premier of New Zealand attempted the introduction of this 
useful insect, but unsuccessfully, the last of the creatures dying 
within ten days’ sail of our coast. Not being aware of any successful 
attempt at their acclimatisation being made heretofore, we believe 
that the pair of queens set free on Saturday have the honour to be 
the first of their kind in this country. The thanks of farmers are 
specially due to the lady, who, when in England about three years 
ago, saw Mr. Neighbour (a somewhat celebrated apiarian at home) 
on the subject of sending humble bees to New Zealand. Mr. Neigh¬ 
bour took up the matter, and promised when opportunity offered 
to send out a consignment, at the same time pointing out the risk 
attending such a shipment. That gentleman spared neither trouble 
nor expense in endeavouring to make the venture a success. In the 
first place, he employed an agent in a district in Scotland where 
the bees were unusually plentiful to mark down the nests in the 
summer, and then in the early part of the winter each nest 
with its queen was carefully dug out and placed separately 
in a nest of moss in a box for export. Being in a state of torpor 
when taken from the Scottish home it was a sine qua non that they 
should continue in that state the whole of the voyage to the Anti¬ 
podes ; consequently they were placed in the ice house of the John 
Elder, one of the Orient line of steamers. On arrival at Melbourne the 
box was handed over to the captain of the Arawata to carry on to 
New Zealand. From the appearance of fully one-half of the dead 
insects there is every reason to believe that they were alive on arrival 
at the Bluff but, unfortunately, a delay in their transit here took 
place, which was fatal to all but two. The telegram to Mrs. Belfield 
telling of their arrival was dated the 31st ult., at the same time inti¬ 
mating that the Arawata came in on the 26th. Yet further delay 
took place, and the interesting strangers did not airive in Timaru till 
the 3rd inst. Mr. Hislop, late of the Timaru domain, kindly took 
charge of the box, and opened it out with the results as above stated. 
To our readers who are not farmers, and who may be ignorant of the 
value of humble bees, we may state that their great usefulness lies in 
impregnating red Clover, their long probosces enabling them to reach 
the pollen of the plant.” 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
William Broad, Longton .—Catalogue of Flower and Vegetable Seeds. 
E. H. Krelage & Son, Haarlem .—List of Hyacinths. 
B. S. Williams, Victoria and Paradise Nursery, Upper Holloway.— 
New and General Plant Catalogue for 1881 ( Illustrated). 
%* 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. 
Disbudding Vine (F. J.). —The fruiting laterals should not be more than 
a foot apart on each side of the rod as shown in your sketch. Where there are 
two or more growths reduce them to one, but not until you can see the bunches, 
retaining those that appear to be the best. If two laterals show equally good 
bunches retain the one nearest the main rod. If your Vines do not bear well, 
or only produce very small bunches, it might be advisable to remove every alter¬ 
nate rod in the autumn and train up young canes from the horizontal branches. 
Vines outdoors usually bear much better from young canes than from old spurs. 
If your Black Hamburgh Vine is healthy you may crop it as you propose, pro¬ 
vided the bunches do not average more than a pound each. 
Heat for Greenhouse (F. M. A.).—It is impossible for us to name a date 
when you may discontinue fires, as this obviously must depend on the weather. 
We can only say that so long as a night temperature of between 45° and 50° 
can be maintained no fire heat is necessary for any of the plants you name; 
except, perhaps, during wet weather, when a little heat with ventilation may be 
advisable for dissipating damp, the fire in that case being lighted very early in 
the morning and continued for a few hours only. 
Auriculas (R. C. D.) —Your only mode that we can suggest of “establish¬ 
ing a stock of fine Auriculas ” is to purchase varieties from florists who grow 
these flowers for sale. It is against our rules to recommend dealers, but if you 
write to the trade florists who exhibited at the late Auricula show they will send 
you a list of the varieties they have for disposal. As to books, you will find our 
little manual on “ Florists’ Flowers ” useful, post free 4Jrf., and also “ Hardy 
Florist Flowers,” by Mr. Douglas, particulars of which can be had from the 
author at Loxford Cottage, Ilford, Essex. 
Inarching Vine (Reader). —If you had let the Vines alone the union 
would no doubt have been effected—that is. if the inarching had been properly 
done. It is impossible for us to say whether you should take “ another slice_ off 
in the same place,” as we have no means of knowing the condition of the Vines 
at the parts on which you have operated. You must exercise your own intelli¬ 
gence on this matter ; but we may inform you that you may inarch the young 
growths when they are a little firmer, and if the work is done cleanly and 
dexterously, the ligatures not being secured too tightly, the union of the two 
growths will soon be complete. The Alicante must be encouraged to grow above 
the union, the growth of the Lady Downe's being proportionally checked, but 
not violently or without due thought and consideration, such as a gardener 
would give to the nature of the work in which he is engaged. 
Deutzias not Flowering (Sol). —The spray you have sent indicates 
that your plants are in a very enfeebled state, and that either the root-action 
is defective or the soil exhausted. We should prune them rather severely—some of 
them, indeed, it might be advisable to cut down or nearly so, then place them in 
a genial temperature, syringe them frequently, and when fresh growth com¬ 
mences turn them out of the pots, remove a good portion of the old soil from 
the roots, and repot in turfy loam and a slight admixture of leaf soil and wood 
ashes. Your endeavour must be to induce the production of young growths 
from the base, and if these are matured and not shortened fine flowers will 
follow. Plants in a weak state are often much invigorated by planting them 
in good soil in the open garden, previously removing a portion of the old 
soil and potting them in the autumn. You can adopt which mode is the most 
convenient, as by either of them the plants may be considerably improved. 
Violas for Bedding (S. B .).—We cannot undertake to name the “ best blue 
and best yellow variety,” because all do not succeed equally well in different 
soils and positions. What are considered the “ best ” in one garden and district 
may only be esteemed of moderate value in another. This we have proved by 
experience. We can inform you that the best blue Violas in Battersea Park 
last year were Blue Bell and Duchess of Teck, the latter a pale lavender blue; 
and the best yellows that came under our notice were Sovereign and Golden 
Gem. You may venture to plant these in quantity ; and at the same time we 
advise you to try other varieties in smaller numbers, and you will then find 
which are the best for your purpose. You will find an excellent article on 
Violas, including cultural notes and a list of some of the best varieties, on 
page 321 of the Journal—the issue of October 7th, 1880. If you do not possess 
this number it can be had post free from the publisher in return for 3$d. in 
stamps. 
Housetop Gardening (J. II. B .).—Several years ago an attempt was 
made to grow Peach and other fruit trees in pots on some of the roofs in Cheap- 
side and in other districts of the metropolis ; but owing to the inconvenience 
of conveying soil, manure, &c., to them the practice was abandoned. Fruit, 
including Strawberries in pots or boxes, might be grown in such positions, but 
not profitably, as better produce can be purchased much more cheaply. Plants 
and flowers could undoubtedly be grown in glass structures on the tops of houses 
as well or perhaps better than in cases attached to windows and on window-sills 
provided proper attention were given to ventilation and watering. In a 
nursery at Edinburgh a span-roof of glass has been formed on some buildings, and 
hundreds of plants are grown in excellent condition. We have seen good Grapes 
grown in a loft where glass had been substituted for tiles, the Vines being 
planted outside and trained up the wall, then taken inside ; but this was not in 
London. 
Ionopsidium acaule (J. F., Nottingham).—' The “dwarf-growing plant with 
