December i, 1881 . ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 505 
The house advised to be closed for starting early in this month to 
afford fruit ripe early in May must now have fire heat to maintain a 
temperature of 50° to 55° at night and G0° to G5° in the daytime, not 
exceeding the latter without free ventilation. If the Vines are young 
or have usually been started at a later period, they will need at least 
5° more. Place the rods in a horizontal position and syringe them 
several times a day, having on the floor of the house if practicable 
some fermenting materials. Protect the outside border from heavy 
rains and snow. No further delay must be allowed in preparing th e 
house where the Vines are to be started early in the year to afford 
r.pe Grapes early in June. Black Hamburgh and other kinds cleared 
of their crops and the foliage being down should be pruned to plump 
well-developed buds, which in well-ripened short-jointed wood will 
be found at the second joint at the base of the current year’s growth. 
This modification of the spur-and-rod system of pruning is more 
successful than the close-spur system, and is well worth practice. 
Any undue extension of the rods or spurs is obviated by cutting out 
tuose long and bare of growth, and securing young wood from the 
main rod, or as near thereto as possible. 
Cucumbers .—Keen winds have necessitated careful attention to 
ventilation, especially as the days have been bright, the object being 
to prevent a chill by too great an influx of cold air, and at the same 
time obviate the evil of the temperature rising too high, which can 
only be done by turning off the top heat, so as to lessen the necessity 
for ventilation. In dull weather avoid great fluctuations of tempe¬ 
rature, 60 Q to G5° at night and 70° to 75° in the daytime being suit¬ 
able, and maintain the bottom heat steady at about 80°. Moderate 
atmospheric moisture will only now be necessary. The evaporation 
troughs need only be charged when the air is light. Continue re¬ 
moving old foliage and exhausted growths, avoiding overcrowding 
and overcropping, and giving liberal encouragement to the roots by 
fresh compost, with an occasional supply of weak liquid manure. 
Remove all staminate blossoms and tendrils from the winter-fruiting 
plants which are well advanced and showing fruit freely. The 
blossoms, if the weather prove dull, will need fertilising to insure the 
fruit swelling. 
Pines .—Light during the next two months will be of limited dura¬ 
tion, and sunshine can only be expected occasionally, and for so brief 
a period as to have little effect upon vegetation ; hence the necessity 
of a diminished temperature, under which the plants will make more 
satisfactory progress than when growth is encouraged at this season 
by a high temperature. The main object to be secured is the main¬ 
tenance of a vigorous vitality without promoting much growth, and 
to this end the plants should have plenty of room and a light position. 
If not already done the temperatures should be reduced to the winter 
standard—viz., for successions under ordinary treatment 55° to G0° at 
night and G6° by day; and in the fruiting department G0° to 70° at 
night, according to external conditions, with a rise of 5° by day. Kor 
young stock 55° at night is sufficient, ventilating at the top of the house 
at 00°, allowing the temperature to rise to G5° with liberal ventila¬ 
tion. Fire heat need be used only to prevent the temperature falling 
below 55°, the temperature at the roots being 70° to 75°. Queens 
which are required to start into fruit early in the ensuing year should 
have the heat at the roots now gradually raised to 90°. When ex¬ 
ternal conditions are favourable execute with dispatch whatever may 
be necessary in the way of renewing fermenting beds. 
PLANT HOUSES. 
Greenhouse .— Heaths and other hardwooded plants are in dull 
weather at this season very liable to be attacked by mildew, especially 
plants that have grown freely during the summer, also young stock 
which are in a more favourable condition for its development than older 
and slower-growing plants. They should be laid on their sides and 
freely dusted with flowers of sulphur, allowing it to remain on four or 
five days, when it may be syringed off, or plants but slightly affected 
may be dusted with the sulphur ; but care must be used to keep the 
sulphur from the soil, as, if washed down to the roots, it will do 
serious injury. Sulphur water is also a good remedy for mildew, 
3 or 4 ozs. mixed with a gallon of water, well stirred and allowed to 
remain for four days. The clear water may be poured off and used, 
dipping small stock and syringing large plants laid on their sides 
over a vessel large enough to catch the water. 
Liliums .—In the cultivation of Lilies it is essential to disturb the 
roots as little as possible at any time, and especially when active ; 
hence potting should always be carried out as soon as the growths 
have died, and in the case of large masses of bulbs that it has become 
necessary to divide, it is important that the work be done without 
delay. Good fibrous loam, a fifth of decayed manure or thoroughly 
reduced leaf soil, and a little sand, form a suitable’ compost. In 
potting leave space over the bulbs for a top-dressing of rich compost, 
so that none of the roots that are formed above the bulb will remain 
uncovered. Do not keep them in more than an ordinary greenhouse 
temperature during the winter, having the soil moist until the bulbs 
have started into growth. 
Chrysanthemum cuttings may now be inserted in small pots singly, 
selecting sturdy cuttings of 3 inches length, and with a small portion 
of root stem, placing in ashes in a cold frame kept close and shaded 
from sun until rooted, when ventilate freely in favourable weather. 
Protect in severe weather with mats. 
FLOWER GARDEN. 
The beds and borders present a naked uninteresting appearance un¬ 
less they have been filled with some of the many dwarf and beautiful 
variegated shrubs, which at this season show to great advantage. 
These in combination with early spring-blooming plants and bulbs 
will afford some interest almost continuously. Complete whatever 
is contemplated in this respect, and make good any defects at present 
distinguishable. Walks require frequent attention in sweeping and 
rolling. Lawns can hardly have too much rolling, as, besides con¬ 
solidating the surface, it improves the texture of the grass. 
PLEASURES OF BEE-KEEPING. 
The pleasures of bee-keeping, like many other enjoyments in 
this world, are not unalloyed. Where is the apiarian who has not 
felt the pain of being stung, the loss of swarms, and the dis¬ 
appointments of unfavourable seasons ? Notwithstanding, the 
pleasures of bee-keeping are many and great, and many of them 
are enjoyed by lovers of Nature in the higher classes of society, 
and it is evident that the interest taken in bee-keeping is now 
increasing amongst different classes of the community. This is 
not to be wondered at, for a swarm or stock of bees is a little 
community by themselves, presenting features of social and 
active life—an organisation complete in itself, possessing instincts 
of wonderful industry and thrift, of order and cleanliness, of 
courage and self-defence. Many men choose pleasures that are 
not toilsome, that recreate much and cost little ; and those derived 
from bee-keeping are amongst them. I think it is Burke who 
says in his “ Essay on the Sublime and Beautiful,” that through¬ 
out nature both the beautiful and sublime may be seen, and 
pleasure derived from both, and that the sublime is calculated 
to make the most lasting impression on the mind. And dare we 
not to venture to say that a close observer finds in the apiary 
things beautiful and things sublime—something to admire and 
something to astonish ? 
It will, I think, be admitted by many that 1 have had a large 
share of experience amongst bees. I have had considerable ex¬ 
perience, and in looking back over the past to compare the gains 
and losses, the pleasure and the pains, l find that the profits and 
pleasures far outweigh the losses and disappointments. They 
may be contrasted but cannot be compared, as the preponderance 
is all on the happy side. The simple fact of possessing a few 
swarms of bees has, in my history, produced happiness, and the 
study of their habits has been a perennial source of enjoyment. 
For health of body and material comfort, as well as for mental 
recreation, I owe much to my bees. 
Iu entering my garden early on a summer morning what do 
I find ? That the bees have been out before me, and are busy 
carrying in the water necessary for the day before the dew has 
gone from the grass, and before honey can be gathered from 
the flowers. If I press my ear close to a hive I hear a hum of 
contentment and activity. Who can tell me how many nameless 
offices have been performed by the bees in their hive while I and 
other folk were asleep ? Who can tell me that any of the bees 
sleep at all? I turn up a hive in early morning to find what 
