October 27,1881.] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
389 
should adopt such a slipshod method of wintering. If we carry 
out the contracting plan as 1 have indicated, we can ensure even 
weak stocks a safe passage through the winter. 
When on a visit to Ireland in November, 1879, I packed two 
stocks that had each not over half a pint of bees. They were 
nestled in chaff with only a few bits of comb, and both lived and 
worked during the following spring till their queens were required 
elsewhere. Unfortunately there are too many weak stocks this 
season, unexampled in my experience for the rapidity with which 
the bees have dwindled since honey-gathering ceased. The early 
cessation of breeding, the efforts at stimulation by necessary or 
unnecessary feeding, the neighbourhood of groceries, confectionery 
works, or cider mills, and other causes, have all worked to this 
result. For my part I shall join no stocks together so long as I 
find them able to cover even three Woodbury frames by the 
1st November. Such stocks carefully packed about this date 
often come out as strong as others, more promising, and, though 
only expected to winter some good spare queens which are valuable 
in spring, they well repay the little extra trouble they involve.— 
Wm. It a itt, Blairgowrie. 
*** 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. 
Books ( J.F. ).—AA'e know the publication to which you refer, and do not 
entertain such a high opinion of its value as you appear to have; and we do 
not suppose that a translation of it would meet with anything like a ready sale 
in this country. 
Nitrate of Potash (A Correspondent). —The substance referred to is no 
doubt nitrate of potash, or saltpetre, as it is more commonly termed. 
Salisburia adiantifolia (Lillian). —The above is the name of the tree, 
leaves of which you have sent. It is commonly called the Maidenhair Tree, 
from the resemblance of its leaves to the pinnules of Adiantutns. It is the 
Clingko Tree of the Chinese. It is hardy and ornamental, and we think should 
be more freely planted in pleasure grounds. 
Greenhouse Rhododendrons (C. P. L.). — The propagation, grafting, 
and culture of these excellent greenhouse shrubs are described in an article by 
Mr. Bardney on page 242, the issue of September 15tli, of the present volume. 
Ornamental Grass (F. !»'.).—Stipa elegantissima is a i erennial, and will 
grow again next year if the plants raised from seed have not been crowded too 
closely together, in which case they not unfrequently decay. Unless the plants 
have space to develope in the summer they cannot be expected to survive the 
winter; indeed, the autumn rains often destroy them. 
Fyrus japonica (T. IF. A'.).—The fruit is edible, but it is a question 
entirely of taste as to whether it is palatable. We do not like it, but we have 
not tried it in Apple tarts. You might make the experiment and favour us 
with the results. 
Sacli’s Botany (J. IF. D .).—The book you refer to is published by Mac¬ 
millan & Co., 29 and SO, Bedford Street, Covent Garden, from whom you can 
obtain particulars as to the price. The English edition is entitled “ A Text 
Book of Botany Morphological and Physiological,” translated by A. AA’. Bennett, 
M.A., and AV. T. Thiselton Dyer, M.A. It is of large 8vo. size, and contains 
S58 pages. It is an elaborate work, and much valued by botanists. 
Chrysanthemum Shows (./. T.). —The principal Exhibitions to bo held 
next month are the following—Richmond (Surrey), November 10th ; Kingston- 
on-Thames and Royal Aquarium, AA'estminster, November 17th; and Birming¬ 
ham, November 23rd and 24th. The cut blooms are generally a speciality at 
Kingston and the Aquarium, and the specimen plants at Birmingham. 
Cordon Trees for Wall (Ignoramus). —All the Pears you name will 
succeed on a wall having a west or cast aspect in Kent, as also will many others ; 
but as you do not indicate the number you need we presume those named in 
your letter are sufficient. If, however, you require a greater number we will 
readily publish a selection on hearing how many varieties you desire to 
plant. 
Tomatoes (II. T. II.). —Your letter shall be forwarded to our correspondent, 
who will perhaps be able to furnish you with the information you need. As you 
esteem Tomatoes of good quality so highly we advise you to adopt the plan of 
Air. AVilliam Taylor at Longleat—that is, when you find one that gives you 
satisfaction preserve it, and propagate from cuttings until you find another 
variety superior. 
White Clematis (A Constant Reader) —AA'e do not know of a variety that 
answers precisely to your description. Miss Bateman is one of the best white 
varieties, but the flowers are larger than those of C. Jackmani Patens flori- 
bunda has smaller flowers, its colour being French white. C. montana has 
small star-shaped flowers borne in clusters. It, however, does not belong to the 
C. Jackmanni type, but is a distinct species. 
Stephanotis at Christmas (Anxious). —As you evidently have a healthy 
plant and free-flowering variety you may probably induce it to continue flower¬ 
ing until Christmas, but much will depend on the weather, especially the absence 
of fogs. Aon cannot do better than continue the present temperature, which is 
evidently suitable, judging by the healthy foliage and fine flowers you have sent. 
In the absence of sun the day temperature should be about 5° higher than that 
maintained at night. 
Quinces Cracking (F. II .).—AA'hen a period of hot weather prevails in 
the summer, as was the case in July, the tissues of the fruit dry up and much of 
the elasticity of the skin is lost; and then in the autumn, when rain occurs, the 
great abundance of sap exerts such a pressure on the fruit that it splits, as in 
the specimen you have sent to us. 
Tree Fern too Tall (Rn<a ).— You do not say’whether the Fern is planted 
out or growing in a tub, and the “ branches ” to which you allude are, we pre¬ 
sume, the fronds. If the Fern is in a tub it may be sunk as deep as you require, 
or the ground will allow, at the present time ; if it is planted out it would be 
preferably removed and placed lower in the spring just as the new fronds are 
beginning to grow, a number of the old fronds being removed either now or as 
spring approaches. The old soil will probably need excavating and fresh com¬ 
post adding, and the W'ork of taking up and replanting must be done carefully 
and well. AA'e should not cover the stem with a great thickness of soil, but 
leave it free, the soil being prevented from pressing against it by a wall of bricks 
or stone3. AA'e have known Tree Ferns cut off level with the soil, or where 
required, and the trunk planted in suitable soil, and the growth has been satis¬ 
factory- ; but they have received the skilful attention of practised cultivators. 
Gathering Fruit (J. E .).—AA'Hen the fruits part readily from the tree— 
that is, when they fall into the hand when gently raised—they are ready for 
gathering, and if they- were not gathered they would be blown down by the first 
brisk wind. Fruits often shrivel after gathering by being stored in a too warm 
and dry- place AA'e have often found them to keep better in a cool, dark, and 
rather damp cellar than in a light, warm, and very dry fruit room, and we have 
not unfrequently found stray fruits that had been left for weeks hidden amongst 
the grass in an orchard quite firm and sound, when others from the same tree 
were more or less shrivelled in a dry and too warm room. 
Tropaeolum speciosum (-4. B.). — You are in error. You have not 
obtained “ bulbs” of this species for the sufficient reason that it is not a bulbous 
plant ; it does not even produce tubers, but is herbaceous, with fleshy roots, like 
Musk. The plant you have secured is possibly T. tuberosum ; if so, and the soil 
is fertile and well drained, it is not needful to take up the tubers. The plants 
will probably grow better next year. If they do not, and you will inform us of 
the correct name of your plant, and describe the soil and position in which you 
are endeavouring to grow it, we will endeavour to aid you in your object. There 
are other tuherous species besides the one we have named, but T. speciosum is 
certainly not one of them. 
Fuel for Furnaces (Kittle). —The remarks have the same force whether 
applied to steam coal or ordinary house coal. The question of economy in heat¬ 
ing is very much a question of supply of material. In some districts coal is 
cheaper than coke, in others coke is cheaper than coal. If you can obtain both 
at a moderate cost we should mix small coal with coke—this is assuming the 
furnaces have a good draught. AA'e know of instances where even the draught is 
so sluggish that good coal must be used to supply the requisite heat, one in 
particular where a nobleman makes his own coke, yet for one of his garden 
furnaces coal is an absolute necessity-. If your furnaces have a good draught, 
then small coal and coke will be sufficient and more economical than the prac¬ 
tice to which you refer. 
Ash Trees not Growing (Planter). —On soil such as you describe Ash 
trees do not start freely, but when once established they often grow fairly well. 
Still, the soil is fully too strong for this tree, and Sycamore would no doubt 
grow better and be more profitable, there being a great demand for its wood for 
laundry utensils of all kinds. Further, your young Ashes may have been 
stunted and hidebound, and in this state they never grow- freely. AA'e assi me 
the trees have been planted two years, and are thus in a measure established. 
In this case your best plan will be to cut them down almost close to the ground, 
and the probability is they will push fresh growths ; and if one is retained on 
each tree, the others being removed, you may yet form a goud plantation. AA'e 
have seen this practice adopted extensively and with excellent results. The 
best time for cutting down the trees is in spring after the shooting season is 
over. AA'hen young Ash trees are stubborn and hidebound they will stand still, 
or nearly so, for years in whatever soil the trees are planted. 
Carnations in Pots Failing (C. E.) —The first essential for success is 
healthy cuttings, sturdy and strong. AA'ith weakly cuttings or growths from 
unhealthy plants it is almost impossible to produce satisfactory results. The 
next point is to allow no check to the pilants in their early stages of grow-th, 
and especially must care be taken that they are not permitted to be rootbound 
in small pots before they are shifted into larger. The want of timely potting 
results in many failures. The pots you have employed are much too small for 
growing such strong-growing sorts satisfactorily. The plants ought to be 
shifted, always before the roots are matted, iuto 8 or 9-inch pots, or even 
larger, and be grown in frames during the early part of the season, and after¬ 
wards in the open air, great care being exercised in watering them. If the 
pilants must be grow-n in small pots liquid manure is essential after the pots are 
filled with roots. But whatever system of culture is adopted good plants can¬ 
not be produced from bad cuttings. 
Violets in Frames (A Very Old Subscriber).— Violets to flower freely in 
frames during the winter are prepared by planting small divisions or rooted 
suckers in April a foot apart in rich soil and a suitable position, watering them 
as required during the summer to ensure fine plants, and shortening the runners 
of those that need it. keeping the beds free from weeds. In September or early 
October the plants are taken up carefully and planted in frames that have until 
then been devoted to Melons or Cucumbers; or a gentle hotbed is made of leaves 
chiefly, and about 3 feet high. This is covered with a good soil about 9 inches 
thick and made rather firm for the plants. They are well watered immediately 
after planting, and carefully afterwards. The frame is kept rather clo-e for a 
few days, and then judiciously ventilated according to the weather, all decaying 
leaves being promptly removed. The plants so treated become established by 
the winter and flower freely. The sides of the frame are protected with manure 
in severe weather, and the glass coveiedwith mats and straw. If A'iolets are 
planted in beds of convenient size, and frames are placed over them, the plants 
flower freely. If your plants are so arranged that frames can be placed over 
