October 18,1883 ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
345 
tlie greatest care was sure to take place sometimes while re' 
placing tlie wedges under the floor in the evening. With three 
entrances, 12 inches long in the aggregate, the air can pass under 
the whole of the hive without disturbing the floorboard, and we 
find none of the evil effects of overheating. 
When it is desired, half a dozen frames may be used for 
slinging from the body of the hive while sections are on, and the 
side entrances render it unnecessary to watch that drones are 
not imprisoned when inserting the queen-excluding diaphragm. 
In addition to this there is the advantage of the bees not being 
•compelled to work through the excluder zinc. Another special 
use for the side entrances is that we are never at a loss for a 
nucleus hive ; the exercise of a little ingenuity in arranging the 
entrance so that the queen may not mistake it being all that is 
required, and we can form a nucleus of from two to five frames 
of the very best size and form for the purpose. 
A close-fitting block of wood having a projecting screw in the 
front side to facilitate its withdrawal, is inserted m each of the 
side entrances when they are not in use, and are pushed up flush 
with the inner wall of the hive to prevent tin 1 bees passing round 
the dividers when they happen to be placed across the entrance.—• 
Wm. Broughton Carr. 
Lincolnshire Bee-keepers’ Association. — The eighth annual 
Exhibition of this Association, which is advertised to be held in the 
Exchange Hall, Grantham, on the 19th inst., is expected to prove a great 
success, the entries being numerous, and the competition for the prizes 
offered will probably be keen in several of the classes. On the following 
day a honey fair will be held, and 2 tons of honey are anticipated. A 
correspondent stales “ the town is beginning to be all of a buzz already,” 
a result, no doubt, mainly due to the zealous and enterprising Honorary 
Secretary of the Society, Mr. Godfrey. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
Francis &, Arthur Dickson, Chester.— Catalogue of Nero and Select Roses. 
Jft L. Delaville, 2, Quai de la Megesserie, Paris.— Catalogue of Bulbs and 
Tubers. 
Thomas Rivers & Son, Sawbridgeworth, Herts.— Catalogues oj Fruit Trees 
<cind Roses. 
George Cooling & Son, Bath.— Catalogue of Roses and Fruit Trees 
(i illustrated). 
Cranston’s Nursery & Seed Company, King’s Acre, Hereford.— Catalogues 
of Roses, Fruit Trees, and Forest Trees. 
Thomas Horsman, 102, Godwin Street, Bradford.— Catalogues of Roses 
■and Bulbs. 
Joseph Schwartz, Route de Yienne, Lyon.— List of New Roses. 
L. Spath, Berlin.— General Catalogue of Plants. 
Constant Kerkvoorde, Wetteren, Belgique.— Catalogue of Fruit Trees and 
Roses. 
William Paul & Son, Waltham Cross.— Catalogues of Roses ( illustrated ), 
Fruit Trees, and Shrubs. 
E. Webb & Sons, Wordsley, Stourbridge.— Catalogue of Seed Corn 
( illustrated ). 
William Kerr, Dargavel, Dumfries.— Catalogue of Seed Potatoes. 
William Rumsey, Waltham Cross.— Catalogue of Roses. 
%* 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 Bee subjects, and should never 
send more than two or three questions at once. All articles in¬ 
tended 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. 
Treatment of Water Lily ( Devoniensis ).—There will be no difficulty in 
preserving the plant if you place it in a large pot or tub, and sink this 
about 6 inches to.a foot beneath the surface of the water. A compost of 
good loam, leaf soil, and a little well-decayed manure is the best that can 
be employed, and in it the plant will grow strongly. 
Seedling Dahlias (W. IT. C., Kent). —The blooms sent are not equal 
to many varieties that are now in cultivation, and if you visit a large 
collection, either public or private, you will form a better idea of the 
improvement which has been effected in recent years. 
Yellow Tomato (F. W., Isle of Wight). —You can take out the seed if you 
choose before sending the fruit, but in that case it would probably not reach 
us in the best condition for estimating its merits. We cannot undertake to 
comply with your alternative proposition. We think Messrs. Daniels gave 
you good advice to try the variety another year and compare it with others, 
as only by that means can its merits and distinctness be satisfactorily 
determined. 
Calceolarias [Inquirer). —There is no better place for Calceolarias at this 
season of the j'ear than a cold frame ; but they must be placed on ashes or 
otherwise arranged so that worms cannot enter the pots. The plants cannot 
be placed too near the glass, but they will do very well at the distance you 
name provided the glass is kept clean. The soil must never be dry, and an 
insect never be seen on the leaves. They may remain in the frame as long 
as they are safe from frost. 
Blinds Decaying ( Cambridge ).—Although we do not think that water¬ 
proofing would materially prevent the blind rolling, we are of opinion that 
as tiffany is so cheap, it would be easier, better, and more economical to cut 
off the decaying strip and attach a new piece. Waterproofing is a tedious 
process, and you might not succeed to your expectations, and it would be 
better to purchase material already waterproofed, if you require it, w T hen 
making new blinds. A method of waterproofing is published on page 305, 
our issue of the 4th inst., in answer to a correspondent who required it for 
covering a temporary structure for protecting Chrysanthemums. 
Cypress Unhealthy [A. B. C.). —We fear your letter has been overlooked, 
but as it is not dated we are unable to determine for how long ; however, 
nothing has been lost by the delay. The only method we can suggest for 
renovating the specimen is to remove the exhausted soil from the roots and 
cover them with a mixture of fresh loam, wood ashes, and leaf soil, pressing 
it down firmly, and surfacing it with manure to keep it moist and exclude 
frost. In all probability young roots would take possession of the fresh 
material, and healthier growth would then follow. The greater the distance 
the soil is removed from the stem the better, and no time is more favourable 
for the work indicated than the present. 
Variegated Currant ( Ludlow Subscriber). —Variegated forms of the 
Black Currant are occasionally met with, but as a rule the leaves are not so 
distinctly marked as those you have sent, from half to two-thirds of their 
surface being creamy white. It is rarely these variegated bushes grow 
freely, most of them having a stunted appearance, with small wood and 
malformed leaves. The fruit they produce is also small and inferior in 
quality. We quite agree that the bush from which you have sent us a spray 
has a pretty effect; and if some of the strongest growths were used as 
cuttings and inserted the young trees so raised would be more vigorous than 
the old, and some of them at least might retain the variegated character of 
the parent bush. 
Roses in Clay Soil (J. M ).—No doubt the application of the road drift 
(which we presume is gritty) and manure, applied as liberally as you propose, 
will be of great benefit ; but we quite fail to comprehend the circumstances 
which prevent you taking up and replanting the Roses, since you appear 
to be able to dig the ground between them. The work would be more 
quickly done if the ground was first cleared, and certainly better for the 
Roses after they were replanted, as adding a thickness of 6 inches to the 
surface would bury the roots too deep, while they would still remain in the 
strong cold soil, and could not derive the benefit they ought by the more 
gritty compost above them. 
Dividing Vallotas [Sussex). —If you wish to increase the number of 
your plants the small bulbs may be separated from the others and potted 
just when the plants commence growing in the spring. For producing large 
brilliant masses of this fine autumn plant dividing is not necessary, but 
larger pots, or rich top-dressings may be given as required to insure strong 
healthy growth. Potfuls of bulbs producing from fifty to 100 trusses are 
highly effective. Two rows of Roses will be ample for your bed, planting 
2 feet apart in the rows and quincunx fashion—that is, the plants in each 
row not opposite each other. 
Employment in the Tea Plantations [W. C. B.). —If you have no 
private and influential friends who could obtain you a situation such as 
you desire, the best course would be to endeavour to enter the Royal 
Gardens, Kew, stating at the time that you desire to go abroad. There 
are many situations for which good salaries are paid, and we know several 
young gardeners who have succeeded extremely well in various parts of 
India, as well as in the tea plantations. The gardeners taken on the Kew 
staff are expected to have a general knowledge of indoor and outdoor garden 
routine, to be fairly educated, and to have good moral characters. If you 
apply to the Curator, Mr. J. Smith, he will forward you the necessary form, 
which must be filled up, signed by your employer, and returned to Kew, 
when, if your credentials are found to be satisfactory, your name will be 
placed upon the books to await a vacancy if there is not one at the time. 
Between thirty and forty young men are employed, and some are constantly 
leaving, so that it is not likely you would have to wait very long. 
Peach Flowers Falling [Lodge). —Defective root-action, immature wood, 
dry soil, and a moist and close atmosphere during the flowering period, 
are all contributory causes of the evil of which you complain. In all 
probability you would do well to raise the roots of the trees at once, 
placing them in fresh soil, and keeping the border regularly yet not 
excessively moist. Read Mr. Bardney’s article on page 290, the issue of 
the 4th inst., and follow the practice there detailed. In the spring when 
the trees are flowering draw gently a plume of Pampas or Feather Grass 
over them after it has previously been used on the free-setting variety, and 
the blossom will probably set freely, but only if the root-action is good, 
the border moist, and the wood ripe. Your long stringy Peach is probably 
worthless ; why not remove it and plant a good variety ? 
Working in Hothouses [B .).—In some gardens probably a man may 
have time to take off his coat every time he enters a hothouse, and put it 
on again when he emerges into the open air ; but these are what gardeners 
know as “easy places,” and are not common. In the majority of gardens 
