JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
522 
[ June 22, 1882. 
when the trees are free from aphides remove the lights altogether. 
Keep the borders thoroughly moist. 
FLOWER GARDEN. 
Press forward the propagation of spring-flowering plants, such as 
Arabises, Aubrietias, Daisies, Yiolas, Primroses, (fee., according to re¬ 
quirement. Transplant Wallflowers, and sow Stocks of the Brompton 
and Queen varieties for blooming next spring. Choice Carnations may 
now be layered, and pipings of the same and Pinks inserted under hand- 
lights on a shady border, inserting in fresh sandy loam. Supply Roses 
with liquid manure liberally in dry weather, and remove all faded 
blooms before the petals fall. Choice Rhododendrons and Azaleas 
should in dry weather have plenty of water to assist in making and 
completing their growth, and remove all seed pods at once. At this 
season it will be necessary to run the machine over the grass at least 
once a week, but should dry weather set in the cutters should be set 
a little higher so as not to cut too closely. Bents will be found to 
escape the machine and are a great disfigurement, but they may 
quickly be cut off with the scythe. Maintain everywhere the most 
perfect order, taking advantage of damp weather to roll walks so as to 
keep them firm and smooth. Bedding plants should be encouraged 
to fill the beds quickly by stirring the soil and removing the blooms 
if needed. Trailing kinds, such as Verbenas, Petunias, and Tropte- 
olums, should have the shoots secured to the surface by means of pegs, 
but before doing this the ground should be mulched with short spent 
material, which with such plants as Calceolarias and Violas is, espe¬ 
cially in light soils, a necessity. 
PLANT HOUSES. 
Greenhouse .—Kalosanthes coming into flower should be neatly tied, 
and as the heads of bloom begin to expand place the plants at 
the north side of a wall until the flowers open, when they may be 
moved to the conservatory or elsewhere, and shaded, by which means 
they will be brighter in colour and last longer. Young plants in¬ 
tended for flowering next season should now be placed out of doors 
in an open sunny situation, and kept there until the beginning of 
September, which will solidify the growth and cause them to flower 
freely. Salvias for winter flowering may be placed in the pots in 
which they are desired to flower and be plunged in ashes, securely 
staking the plants. Veronica salicifolia is very useful for autumn 
decoration, and to keep the plants dwarf and induce a free disposition 
to flower the pots should be plunged in ashes in a sunny situation, 
and the plants well supplied with water and liquid manure when the 
pots are filled with roots. 
Poinsetlias .—Cuttings that were inserted some time ago will be 
rooted and should be potted, not giving them larger than 4-inch pots 
at first, using turfy loam, with a little leaf soil or well-decayed 
manure. After the plants are well established ventilate freely, and 
assign them a light position to arrest their disposition to become tall 
and thin. Cuttings for successional flowering may yet be inserted, 
and if kept moist they strike freely in a frame with a gentle heat 
without shade. Cuttings of the equally useful Euphorbia jacquinise- 
flora should be potted as soon as they become rooted, using similar 
soil as advised for Poinsettias ; and when they are advancing well 
pinch out their points to induce them to break. The earliest plants 
as they fill their pots with roots should at once be placed in C or 
7-inch pots. Water must be carefully supplied until the roots have 
taken to the fresh soil. 
KNOWLEDGE OF BEE CULTURE. 
Within the last dozen years greater efforts have been made 
to spread a knowledge of apiculture than were made for more 
thau half a century before in England and other countries ; and 
what have been the results? A wider and deeper interest is taken 
in the subject, and a greater desire for knowledge has been 
created. In these times of extensive emigration to the British 
colonies, United States of North America, and other countries, it 
appears desirable to extend a knowledge of apiculture throughout 
the country. To know well how to manage bees profitably is 
worth very much to working men living in rural districts. Many 
such men who are versed in bee-keeping would not give the 
annual average profits from bees for the rents of two or three 
cottages such as they live in. We shall doubtless hear reports of 
great and wide-spread success, and the story of the value of bees 
to the community will be better told and confirmed. It is known 
that in some colonies, and in certain districts of both North and 
South America, bee-keeping is an unfailing source of income to 
those who understand and practise it. The thousands of barrels 
of honey containing from 1 to 3 cwts. each that find a market in 
England every year tell us of busy people in countries rich in 
honey. 
The Bee-keepers’ Association and some county associations 
kindred in character and objects are making laudable efforts to 
teach apiculture. These associations are rising in public estima¬ 
tion, and becoming stronger financially every year. Much honour 
is due to the Rev. H. R. Peel, Hon. Secretary of the Bee-keepers’ 
Association, who labours indefatigably to awaken public atten¬ 
tion to the importance of bee-keeping. 
Two years ago I wrote on the appointment of a professor of 
apiculture. The question of the country being ready for a pro¬ 
fessor was asked, and also if a man qualified for the work could 
be found. Those questions were answered as fully as it was 
thought desirable then. We have made considerable advances 
during the last two years, and it appears to me now that a new 
departure or fresh advance should be made as soon as the authori¬ 
ties will sanction it. Would you appoint one or two professors? 
Two. One for England, and one for Scotland and Ireland ; both 
would have plenty to do. Have we any men amongst us ready 
for the work ? Yes, I think we have two well qualified ; but I 
hesitate to point them out by name, though I fancy no harm 
would be done to anybody by mentioning the names of the two 
gentlemen who appear to me most qualified as professors of api¬ 
culture. Mr. William Raitt of Blairgowrie I would nominate for 
Scotland and Ireland, and Mr. Frank Cheshire for England. Per¬ 
haps they would not accept such appointments if they were made. 
Both are advanced and enthusiastic bee-keepers, and good lecturers 
and instructors. Both have much knowledge to impart, yet some¬ 
thing to learn for themselves, and, if they receive and accept the 
appointments, something to learn for the nation. Such language 
does not disparage the persons named, for all bee-keepers have 
much to learn, and this will be true of the most enlightened 
apiarians for generations to come. The reader is, I daresay, 
ready to ask why I mention the subject, and why be so officious 
as to name individuals without consent or solicitation. The truth 
is I am anxious to help bee-keepers, as I always have been, and I 
think it is desirable to have two competent and efficient men 
appointed and well paid to teach the nation the practice of profit¬ 
able bee-keeping.—A. Pettigrew, Bon-clon. 
UNSETTLED POINTS. 
A parsimonious old farmer whose Clover fields were visited 
by our bees sorely felt that his fields would have been richer 
without them, and so convinced was he that his butter was im¬ 
poverished by our bees that he trod to death all he possibly could, 
and threatened to use the horse roller when the bees were at 
work. On mentioning this to Dr. Lindley forty years ago, he 
said, “ the old farmer was a blockhead,” but that did not settle 
the question. Had the farmer just cause for complaint? If the 
20 or 40 lbs. of honey gathered by bees from his Clover fields daily 
had been left in the flowers would his cows have yielded more 
and richer milk ? This is a question which I have not been able 
to answer, and therefore so far as I am concerned it will remain 
unsettled. In hot weather flowers that yield honey do so con¬ 
stantly ; and if not gathered by bees it is carried off by the 
atmosphere in odours that may be smelt. All honey thus car¬ 
ried off is lost to bees and their owners, as well as to farmers 
and their cows. The question now mooted is more easily under¬ 
stood than answered satisfactorily. Though difficult of solution 
it may be well to think about it. White Clover and Trefoil 
(Lotus corniculatus), are the only pasture flowers that I can think 
of that yield honey to bees. Bees are of great service to farmers 
and others in their orchards and gardens, and in fertilising field 
Beans. 
Another point settled in my mind fifty years ago is still ques¬ 
tioned by some apiarians is this, Do bees alter and improve 
honey after it is gathered ? It appears to me very strange that 
any advanced bee-keeper should remain in doubt on this point for 
a day. If any apiarian will honestly task himself to settle the 
point he will soon have ample evidence that bees do make honey 
