JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
September 21, 1882. ] 
culture. The Treasurer is Mr. Walter G-. Copestake of Derby, aud 
the Hon. Secretary Mr. H. Y. Edwards, Ockbrook, Derby. The 
present Exhibition is the first one of any importance held by the 
Association. This being so, it cannot but be regarded as an unquali¬ 
fied success. The hives were a first-rate collection, constructed chiefly 
of the plainest and most economical materials, but evidently excel¬ 
lently adapted for rearing purposes. A cheap hive made from old 
materials, costing altogether 2s. 3£d., and the labour of which was 
stated to be only four hours, was shown by Mr. W. G. Copestake, 
surgeon of Derby, and sold during the Show. The show of honey 
was considerably larger than had been anticipated from the badness 
of the year, and the quality seemed splendid. There was a display of 
appliances for extracting the honey, which attracted considerable 
attention. Mr. H. Y. Edwards showed a new extractor known as 
“ Edwards’ Improved Extractor,” which holds four combs, and takes 
any size, from a “ Woodbury ” to a “ Langstroth,” and is fitted with a 
strainer. The price is 30s. Mr. J. Best, of the Witham Apiary, 
Boston, had a quantity of section supers, honey extractors, comb 
foundations, and other appliances on view, and he also had for sale 
most of the standard books on bee-keeping. As regards the bees, 
which were chiefly contributed from the county, they were very fair 
indeed if every adverse circumstance is taken into consideration, and 
doubtless next year’s Show will be a considerable advance on the 
present one. The Judges were Mr. R. R. Godfrey of Grantham, and 
Mr. Yates of Grantham, both of whom are well known for their 
intelligent acquaintance with bee culture. At intervals during the 
day Mr. P. Cotton of Olney, Buckinghamshire, an “expert” of the 
British Bee-Keepers’ Association, gave, outside the tent, practical 
illustrations of manipulating with live bees, showing the best methods 
of driving, making artificial swarms, transferring combs from straw 
skeps to bar-frame hives, finding queens, &c. The manipulations 
afforded a great amount of information to visitors. 
LIST OF AWARDS. 
The following were the successful competitors :— 
HONEY. 
Class 1.—For the best stock of bees, of any race, to be exhibited with their 
queen in observatory hives. First, Rev. W. Humphries, Long Lane Vicarage ; 
second, H. V. Edwards, Ockbrook, Derby. 
Class 2.—For the largest and best exhibit of super honey, the produce of one 
apiary during 1882. First, H. V. Edwards ; second, A. E. Rawlins, Coalville. 
Class 3.—For the best twelve sections. First, H. V. Edwards ; second, Dr. Ogle. 
Class 4.—For the best honey in the comb. First, Isaac Potter, Spondon. 
Class 5.—Best run honey in glass jars. First, J. Birtles, Norton, Sheffield ; 
second, W. Handby, Hasland, near Chesterfield. 
HIVES, ETC. 
Class 6.—Best frame hive with arrangements for summer and winter use, price 
not to exceed Kb. 6d. First, C. Foxon, Croft, near Leicester; second, Abbot 
Brothers, Fairlawn, Middlesex; third, W. Handby ; fourth, J. and G. Haywood, 
Derby. 
Class 7.—Best hive made by a cottager, on the moveable-comb system. First, 
W. Handby ; and special prize given to J. Britles. 
Class 8.—For the cheapest, neatest, and best super for harvesting honey in the 
comb. First, Abbot Brothers ; second, W. Handby ; third. Abbot Brothers. 
Class 9.—Best collection of hives and bee furniture. First, J. Best, Witham 
Apiary, Boston; second, J. and G. Haywood ; and special prize given to W. 
Handby. 
THE HONEY CROP IN AMERICA. 
The outlook for the American honey crop of 1882 is only little 
better than that of 1881. New York State, a leading honey- 
producing centre, will run short of its general good average, but 
this deficiency will be compensated by gains in Illinois, Michigan, 
and other western States which produced less than usual in 1881. 
California promises a quarter of an average crop this year, against 
a total failure in 1881. This will constitute the surplus over the 
quantity of honey marketed in 1881. The heavy honey year was 
1878. The crop has not equalled the output of the bees since 
that date. Mr. Joseph M. M’Caul, who has just returned from 
a visit to the leading bee-keepers of the Golden State, states 
that, placing California’s crop of honey in 1878 at 720,000 lbs., 
about a quarter crop, as above stated, may be looked for there 
this season, some 180,000 lbs. The taking-up of alternate sec¬ 
tions of land in California for grazing and allowing sheep to 
range across the intermediate plots tends to destroy the blossoms 
on which the industrious bee has depended. A fire swept across 
a county or two in Southern California two years ago, and all 
verdure was destroyed. This discouraged the bee-keepers as well 
as the bees, although by next season it is reported that blossoms 
will be fairly plentiful once more. This explains the failure of 
the honey crop in that State this year. But the probability of 
recurrences of fires, together with the grazing trouble, points to 
the steady reduction of the honey product in California, unless 
measures are taken to cultivate bee food in the canons and else¬ 
where, which plan is meeting with serious consideration with 
California bee-keepers. The falling-off in the honey crop in New 
York State in 1881, where the product had heretofore been 
uniformly large, was due to cold weather in June delaying the 
blossoming of plants. Later a dry season continued the damage 
already done, so that the western States alone this year are ex- 
283 
pected to present average crops. New York and California being 
responsible for a large proportion of the honey produced in the 
United States, the importance of knowing the situation in those 
regions is at once perceived .—(Irish Farmers' Gazette.') 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
M. Mulie, Neuville-en-Ferrain, Tourcoing (Nord), France .—List of 
Straivberries, Potatoes , cj'c. 
Boulton & Paul, Norwich .—Illustrated Catalogue of Garden Appli¬ 
ances. 
Robert Parker, Tooting .—Catalogue of Herbaceous Plants, Fruit 
Trees, <fc. 
Messenger & Co., Loughborough .—Illustrated Catalogue of Horti¬ 
cultural Buildings. 
H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent .—Autumn Catalogue of Soft- 
wooded Florist Flowers. 
*** 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 (C. L. dk Son). — A new edition ot the “Fruit Manual ” is in course of 
preparation, and will be published before the next fruit season. Mr. W. 
Thomson’s “ Practical Treatise on the Cultivation of the Vine,” price 6 j., pub¬ 
lished by Messrs. W. Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh and London, will probably 
meet your requirements. The “ Vine Manual ” published at this office, price 3.s., 
post free 3s. 2d., also contains full cultural particulars. ( H. J. G .).—The 
“ Gardener’s Dictionary,” which can be obtained from this office, post free 8s. 3d , 
appears to be the work j’ou require ; it gives a list of all the most important 
plants in cultivation, with a brief review of their culture and other useful 
information. The word “noisette” should be pronounced noaset. (G. C.S ).— 
“ The Greenhouse,” published at this office, will suit you. It can be had free 
by post for ten penny stamps. 
Guide to Hampton Court (M. F .).—The guide to which you refer can 
be procured from Mr. Graham, Superintendent, Hampton Cohrt Gardens. 
Alexandra Peach Failing (IF. A.).—This variety is of hardy constitu¬ 
tion, and the failure in the case of your trees is doubtlessly due to the stock 
being unsuitable. The remedy you propose, however, cannot be recommended, 
as it would lead to results even more injurious to the tree. The best plan would 
be to endeavour to procure another tree on a different stock. 
Shrubs for Shaded Border (1 Villesden ).—Common Laurels will no 
doubt succeed the best in such a position as that you describe, and the greatest 
portion of the border should be planted with them. In addition, to diversify 
the appearance, a few plants of the following might be employed :—Euonymus 
europseus, Leycesteria formosa, Berberis aquifolium, Berberis Darwinii, Ruscus 
aculeatus, Symphoricarpus racemosus, and for the fore part of the border 
Hypericum calycinum will succeed well. 
Spruce Firs Dying (.Gertrude II.). —We, too, have been puzzled as to the 
cause of death of many, and the disfigurement of most of our common Spruce. 
The affection being so general in the one season v\ ill scarcely admit any theory 
of parasitical injury being entertained, and we have little doubt now that the 
injury is from the effects of the two very severe winters we lately experienced. 
We advise intending planters to make more use of the Douglas Fir, as, although 
it has not entirely escaped the affection alluded to, it is, as far as our experience 
goes, hardier than the common Spruce, aud of much quicker growth. 
Treatment of Pelargoniums (Sol ).—You do not say whether the 
Pelargoniums are of the Show, Fancy, or Zonal types, but probably they are 
the first-named. If that is the case the most likely cause of the leaves turn¬ 
ing yellow aud falling is that the house has been kept too close, and perhaps 
also water has been too freely supplied. The remedies for either of these evils 
are obvious. Should the plauts be infested by aphides, as is also probably the 
case, fumigate repeatedly until the pests are destroyed. When the growth is 
thoroughly ripened is the best time to cut them in if the plants are too large. 
Climbing Hoses (H.C. B .).—If the variety that has been already employed 
succeeds well you cannot do better than replant some more of the same. To 
these you may add any or all of the following according as a large or small 
collection is required—Gloire dei Dijon, Climbing Devouiensis, Brennus, Charles 
Lawson, Chen6dole, G6n6ral Jacqueminot, Madame Plantier, Paul Iiicaut, Paul 
Verdier, Amadis, Thoresbyana, Felicity Perpetuee, and the White aud Yellow 
Banksian Roses. The best position for Tropaeolum speciosnm would be a cool 
moist wall with a north aspect. Frequent forking the ground and burning 
the roots removed is the only way to exterminate the Bindweed. 
Watering Vines (J. T.S .).—In the present issue of this Journal are several 
communications from practical gardeners fully corroborating your experience 
in regard in supplying water to Vines when the Grapes are colouring. It is 
