520 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Deoember 18,1888. 
will work with all energy of a newly hived swarm, and the prosperity 
of the stock is insured. 
Manipulating Frames .—The danger arising from careless hand¬ 
ling of frames of comb or bees is scarcely realised by bee-keepers. 
Queens are oftener lost than is generally supposed by being accident¬ 
ally dislodged from the comb, &c., and of course if such a mischance 
occurs when a successor can be raised, the loss is perhaps never 
noticed except in the diminished activity of the stock. For this 
reason we strongly object to “ frame-holders ” and such like con¬ 
trivances. 
On opening the hive uncover a few frames by rolling back the 
“ wood quilt ” and draw the divider towards the operator (who stands 
at one end). As each comb is examined return it to the hive, setting 
it close to the divider, and when the examination is complete all the 
combs with the dividers are pushed into their original position with 
one movement. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
John Downie, Edinburgh .—Catalogue of Hoses and Fruit Trees. 
Ant. Roozen & Son, Overveen, Haarlem, Holland .—Catalogue of New 
Gladioli, Dahlias, cjc. 
*** All correspondence should be directed either to “The Editor” 
or to “ The Publisher. 1 ' 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. 
Books ( J. E., Haclcney ).— There are no “small gardening books” so 
cheap nor with such an extensive sale as our Manuals, those on “ Flower 
Gardening,” “ Fruit Gardening,” “ Kitchen Gardening,” “ Florists’ Flowers,” 
and “ Manures ” being each sent post free for 4 £d., while the “ Greenhouse 
Manual ” and “ Window Gardening ” can be had for lOd. each. 
Back Numbers of the Journal (Stirling'). —We have had no inquiries 
for the numbers you have for disposal, but for some odd volumes between 
the years 1865 and 1874, as you will see by an advertisement. It is only by 
advertising that back numbers can be disposed of and obtained, and that 
method is not always successful, as so few persons need the precise volumes 
that others desire to part with in the form of broken sets ; and this circum¬ 
stance, too, naturally depreciates their value. 
Horseshoe Boilers (G. P., Hants ).—These boilers are made in different 
sizes according to the extent of piping they are required to heat. If you 
send the size of your house, or the length of piping, to the vendors of the 
boilers, they will supply you with every particular you need. After our 
many declarations of not recommending dealers, we are a little surprised 
that your other question was submitted, and which, for obvious reasons, 
cannot be answered. 
Ventilating Greenhouse (Amateur). —As you are absent from 9 A.M. to 
7 P.M., your best plan will be to give instructions that the top lights be 
opened to the extent of 3 or 4 inches in the morning of a sunny day for an 
hour or two, closing them about 2 P.M. at this period of the year. On dull 
days the house may remain closed, as sufficient air will find admittance 
through the laps of the glas3. One drop of ordinary gum is all that is 
necessary for sealing the petals of flowers, or you may purchase dextrine 
from a chemist’s for the same purpose. 
Soil for Chrysanthemums (H. B. B .).—You will not err by mixing the 
manure with the soil now, and turning the heap over at least once before the 
soil is used. The quantity of manure to add, also the kinds, depends on the 
nature of the soil. For very heavy soils horse manure is very suitable, 
otherwise that from cow stables is preferable, but should not be used in a 
fresh state. Partially dried cow dung is excellent for Chrysanthemums 
either for mixing with such soil as needs it or for using in the form of top- 
dressings. 
Lilium Harrisi (C. U.,Brixton ).—This Lily requires similar culture to 
that afforded L. longiflorum—namely, a soil of good loam, with a moderate 
admixture of sand and a little well-decayed manure. It can be grown out 
of doors, but is much better in a greenhouse or frame, and in pots is very 
useful for decorative purposes. It can be purchased of any large dealer in 
bulbs and similar plants. 
Bouvardias and Camellias (Idem). —A night temperature of 45° in 
winter will be suitable for Bouvardias, increasing 5° in the day without sun. 
A minimum of 40° will be quite safe for Camellias. Both will succeed in the 
same greenhouse, assigning the Bouvardias the warmest and lightest position, 
the Camellias being placed at the cooler end. The fragment of Conifer 
you have sent is insufficient for satisfactory identification. It is perhaps 
the Red Cedar, Juniperus virginiana, but no one could name such a scrap 
with certainty in the absence of information relative to the habit of the 
plant. 
Potatoes for Forcing (Cambrian). —There is no better variety for this 
purpose than the Early Ashleaf Kidney. Many dealers offer special selec¬ 
tions of it, and all that we have grown are good. If you prefer a round or 
pebble-shaped variety they are afforded in the Early Handsworth and Early 
Coldstream respectively, both of which are very early and suitable for culture 
in frames. Kidney Potatoes usually have the boldest eye, and produce the 
strongest growth quite at the apex of the tuber, the eyes in other portions 
being smaller and producing weaker growths, hence, as a general rule, 
kidney Potatoes are not cut. Some large tubers are cut, and the divided 
sets answer very well, but not for forcing in frames. 
Lilacs for Forcing (A. B. C .).—We readily answer letters, as you know" 
by previous experience, and the replies are published as soon as possible. 
We have no letter of yours unanswered, so conclude the package to which 
you allude did not reach us. We often receive addresses that have slipped 
off packages in transit through the post, the packages in such cases not 
coming to hand. If you turn to page 475, our issue of a fortnight ago* 
(November 29th), you will find the information you need—namely, that 
Charles X. is the best Lilac for forcing; and for producing white flowers the 
plants must be fo:c.d in a da:k warm pit or frame. 
Small Fruits for Market (J. L.). —It is not possible to answer your 
question categorically in the absence of any particular relative to the nature 
of the soil. We can only say that as a rule both Gooseberries and Black 
Currants are more profitable than Red Currants. If the soil is rather light 
and the subsoil dry, then Gooseberries would give the best return; if strong- 
and the subsoil more or less wet, then Black Currants would be better adapted 
for it. and would be the most remunerative. Read the Rev. W. Lea’s work 
on “ Fruit-Growing on Small Farm3,” which can be had post free from this 
office for Is, Id. in postage stamps. 
Sea Water (IV. J .).—Without saying that sea water would be dangerous 
for the purpose you name, we should still not advise you to use it, or if yon- 
do use it to do so cautiously and experimentally. It contains manuriaf 
ingredients of benefit to salt-loving plants, its constituents being chloride of 
sodium, 2 50 ; chloride of magnesium, 0‘35 ; sulphate of magnesia, 0’58 ^ 
chloride of lime and carbonate of magnesia together, 0’2 ; sulphate of lime,, 
0T ; and water, 96 - 54. To plants containing the same constituents in the 
same relative proportions the water would be beneficial, but not otherwise, 
and they are not thus present in fruit trees and Vines. If any of our readers 
have tried the effects of sea water on plants and crops they might usefully 
state the results. 
Mowing Lawns (Norton). —Though it is not uncommon to see lawns cut 
too closely very late in the season, November for instance, yet, undoubtedly, 
your lawn ought to have been mown after September at least once, but 
probably twice, as the autumn has been so mild. The precise time for cutting, 
however, can only be determined by the condition of the grass. Ours was 
cut twice in October and once early in November, but not shaved down to- 
the roots, and now is quite smooth and green, as it will remain throughout 
the winter. Your lawn has been obviously neglected, and requires attention. 
First of all it should be rolled, but only when the grass is quite dry and the 
wormcasts also partially dry, so that they will not cling to the roller; then, 
two or thre*3 days afterwards, when the grass has risen, it should be “ run 
over ” witli a very sharp scythe and cut to about half its length, the cut 
grass raked or swept off when quite dry and the ground then rolled 
again. It is important that all this be done in mild and dry weather, and as 
long as frost and wet prevail the grass must remain in its present unsightly 
state as a reproach to the contractor who undertook to keep it in good 
order. 
The Stanwick and Stanwick Elruge Nectarines (G. P. and E. D .).— 
“ G. P.” is right and “ E. D.” wrong on the point submitted. They are 
different varieties raised by different persons, in fact the former is one of 
the parents of the latter. The old Stanwick was raised at Stanwick Park, 
one of the seats of the Duke of Northumberland, from stones given to- 
Lord Prudhoe by Mr. Barker, Her Majesty’s Vice-Consul at Aleppo, and 
who afterwards resided at Suacdia in Syria. The seed was sown in March, 
1843, and the buds were inserted the following autumn on a Bellegarde- 
Peach, and the first fruit was produced in 1846. Lord Prudhoe, who had 
become Duke of Northumberland, placed the Stanwick Nectarine in the 
hands of Mr. Rivers of Sawbridgeworth for propagation, and on the 15th of 
May, 1850, the stock, consisting of twenty-four plants, was sold by auction, 
and realised £164 17s., which His Grace presented to the funds of the 
Gardeners’ Benevolent Institution, such an amount never having been 
realised before for the same number of small Nectarine trees in pots. The 
Stanwick Elruge was raised from Elruge crossed with Stanwick, and is one 
of the seedlings of Mr. Rivers. It is a delicious Nectarine, the tree bearing 
small flowers, while that of the parent Stanwick has large flowers. 
Planting Hoses under Glass (X., loughgall ).—The house of which you 
send a diagram appears admirably adapted for Roses, but you have neither 
stated its length nor width. If it exceeds 25 long and 12 wide you may 
train a Mardchal Niel or other climbers like Vines at 8-feet intervals, and 
then there would be light enough for dwarf Roses below, and for the plants 
that you may train to the back wall; but if the house be very small the roof 
had better be kept clear, 6 inches of stones for drainage, the stones protected 
with turf, and a good outfall provided for the escape of water will suffice, 
and a depth of 2 feet of soil should be afforded. Whether or what additions 
your loam needs depends on its character; but you can scarcely err by 
adding wood ashes and gritty matter pretty liberally to insure porosity, and 
a seventh part of decayed manure would also probably be advantageous. 
See what Mr. Luckhurst says on preparing soil for Roses and enriching it 
on page 501. His remarks on that'subject apply in your case. 
