164 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ February 22, 1883. 
by the Rev. W. E. Burkitt (Wilts), and seconded by Capt. Campbell 
(Surrey):—“ That it is desirable for the British Bee-keepers' Association 
to publish a 1 Penny Guide ’ to the management of bees in straw skeps.” 
The motion, having been amended as follows, was passed unani¬ 
mously :—“ That it is desirable for the British Bee-keepers’ Associa¬ 
tion to publish small pamphlets to the management of bees for the 
special use of cottagers, including one on the most profitable use of 
straw skeps.” 
SMALL SECTIONS—BEST BEES. 
We are a great people, but, withal, a little eccentric ; and I think 
I never saw the latter characteristic crop out more prominently, at 
least in bee-keeping circles, than in the half-pound section business. 
Because two or three honey-producers, who believe in the grand 
principle of ever marching forward, and who like to experiment 
and indulge in novelties, put a few half-pound sections of honey in 
nice shape on the market, and found a good sale for it; why, about 
half of the bee-keeping fraternity seem to have gotten half-pound 
section on the brain ! 
It is contrary to good judgment to expect the half-pound sections 
to ever become universally in demand; for there are a few who 
always seem to think that acting ridiculously is the displaying of 
wisdom. The majority of honey-consumers will prefer to buy just as 
little wood as possible, at from 20 to 30 cents per lb. The Irishman 
said that he wanted just as much whisky as possible and as little 
quinine in his prescription as would make it legal. So the most of 
the honey-buyers will want as much honey as possible and as little 
wood for the money. 
In view of this fact I think the majority of bee-keepers had better 
stick to the 1 lb. and 2 lb. sections, for awhile yet at least. I know 
one that will at all events. 
I have looked on with very much interest in the discussion as 
to the merits of the different varieties of bees, that has been in¬ 
dulged in with so much ability and warmth by some of the apicul- 
tural gladiators in our country; and the result of the discussion, to 
my mind, has been a complete routing of the three-band advocates. 
While the thorough-bred Italians with their beautiful yellow bands 
are, as a rule, very docile and always pleasing to the eye of one 
who loves the beautiful, I am fully persuaded that for honey¬ 
gathering the dark-coloured (or hybrids, if you please) are much 
superior, as a general thing, to the golden beauties. While this 
seems to be the experience of a majority of our experienced apiarists, 
it is most decidedly mine. That this is true I very much regret, 
for if there is anything that I love to look upon it is a colony of 
beautiful yellow bees. 
Now, while what I have said as to the superiority of the dark 
bees as honey-gatherers, I am much inclined to think there is a 
remedy for it, and that is in the selection of the good honey- 
gatherers from among the yellow bees as breeders, and the merciless 
beheading of every queen whose progeny prove to be indifferent 
workers. No difference if her bees have forty gold bands, let her 
go to the “ block,” unless the bees are good for business. I am 
quite certain that it is the in-breeding of the American Italians for 
bands instead of for workers that has wrought the mischief in the 
ranks of yellow bees. If the yellow bees are expected to keep 
abreast of their more homely and irascible neighbours as business 
iDsects they must be judiciously selected. 
There are good workers among the most beautiful yellow bees 
I know, and if the breeders of these would breed from nothing but 
such there would soon be less to say about the yellow bees being 
inferior to the dark as workers. The trouble has been, that if a 
queen-breeder of Italians had a golden queen whose progeny 
were a beautiful yellow, she was valued very highly, without re¬ 
ference to the business qualities of her bees at all. All this must 
be speedily changed if the golden-banded beauties are to hold a 
place in the affections of our best apiarists. 
Dr. F. A. Grove of Kirksville seems to have the right notion 
about keeping bees for profit. He keeps bees, poultry, a little other 
good stock, raises a little small fruit, and cultivates a good vegetable 
garden. I am quite certain this is better for the majority of bee¬ 
keepers than to keep bees alone. My advice to all beginners is, Go 
slowly, and learn as you go. He who rushes into a business up to 
his eyes, of which he knows comparatively nothing, is apt to get 
his profits all on the debtor side.—Dr. J. R. Baker (in American 
Bee Journal). 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
Harkness Son, Bedale, Yorkshire .—Catalogue of Florists' Flowers. 
Cranston’s Nursery and Seed Company, King’s Acre, Hereford.— 
List of New Roses for 1883. 
Wrench ifc Sons, Ipswich.— Catalogue of Horticultural Buildiags and 
Heating Apparatus ( Illustrated ). 
*** 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. 
Addresses (E. P. C. II.. Fiance). —If you write to Messrs. J. H. Wagner, 
Riga; Damman & Co., Portici, Naples ; Besson & Son, Turin, you will probably 
obtain what you require. Seed of the shrubs last mentioned, we think, can be 
had from Vilmorin & Co., Paris. 
The Type of Apples (R. B.). —Neither climate nor cultivation nor cross¬ 
fertilisation between varieties can change the type of a fruit, and to this rule 
the Apple is not an exception. 
Garden Map (E. D. B.). —We do not think there is any w'ork such as you 
describe published now, nor do we think such a compilation would be of sub¬ 
stantial value. It would be more fanciful than serviceable, and it is for that 
reason probably that it was not continued. 
Quassia Water and Soft Soap (IF. J. J.).— If you boil 4 ozs. of 
quassia chips for a quarter of an hour in a gallon of soft water, strain off the 
chips and add 2 ozs. of soft soap, and stir until it is dissolved, you will have a 
solution that will destroy the aphides on your Cucumber plants. You will do 
well, however, by timely syringing to prevent the attacks of the insects. 
Peach Trees Injured (IF. T., Kent).— Galvanised wire is undoubtedly 
injurious to Beach trees, in smoky districts especially, and some kinds 
of (his wire are injurious to the growths anywhere. You will find the records 
of sorim experiments, and much that will interest you on this subject, in our 
issue of January 18th, 1881. If you do not possess that number it can be had 
post free from this office for 3 {3. Two or three coats of paint generally render 
the wire quite safe for use. 
Position for riower Beds (Amateur). —The position will be quite 
suitable for the flowers you name ; but whether you will produce “ first-class 
blooms ill size, form, and quality ” will depend entirely on the excellence of the 
varieties from which seed was saved, and the culture to which the plants are 
subjected. You will find mulching the soil in summer of great advantage, and 
a dressing of heavier compost, with manure, will also be requisite. Let the 
Asters and Verbenas have the coolest position, as neither of them thrives in 
sandy soil, and especially if the summer proves hot and dry. 
Messenger’s Valve for Hot-water Pipes (Inquirer).—We have not 
a USU< 1 the valve to which you allude, but we 
1 ** have no doubt it is good or it would not have 
been awarded a silver medal by the Royal 
Horticultural Society. It is described by 
the makers, Messrs. Messenger & Co. of 
Loughbo ough, as possessing the following 
advantagesWhen open it gives a perfectly 
free water-way of the full bore of the pipe ; 
it can be closed easily against any pressure, 
and when closed is perfectly tight. The 
spindle and working parts are made of brass. 
By unscrewing four nuts the lid can be taken 
off, withdrawing the whole of the working 
parts, and a new rubber can be placed on the 
valve and the lid replaced without disturb¬ 
ing joints of the pipes. Repairs can be done 
in a very few minutes. It is direct-acting, 
and works with but little power. 9 his is also 
Fig. 49. made as a double valve, forming a syphon in 
the body when closed, and is then used for 
connecting two systems of heating, as the water will syphon through the valve 
when it is closed. 
Select Phloxes (F. J. B„ Coventry). —Several lists have been published 
since the time you name, including the following, but you appear to have over¬ 
looked them Twelve good e irly-flowering varieties are Pearl, Mrs. Hunter, 
Cicerone, Mrs.'Slianks, Vulcan. Marquis, Mrs. Morrison, Oberon. Mrs. McLellan, 
Mrs. Garrett, Mrs. Taylor, W. W. Platt. Good late-flowering varieties are 
Brilliant, Miss Wallace, Gladstone, David Thomson, Coccinea, Madame Bonneau, 
Madame Vender, Princess of Wales, Splendour, Virgo Maria, Walter Ware, York- 
and-Lancaster. If you happen to possess these varieties and will send us a list 
of what you have, we will name some others that you will find worth adding to 
your collection. 
John Downie Grape—Arnott’s Stove (II. A).—We have seen this 
Grape and tasted the fruit, but more experience is needed before the questions 
you ask can be satisfactorily answered. The variety is not yet in commerce. 
There is no method of heating so good as a boiler and hot-water pipes. An 
Aniott’s stove is serviceable for excluding frost, and its merits consist in its 
slow combustion and fireclay lining, which absorbs the heat from the fuel and 
diffuses it steadily and for a long time. 
Melon House (Reader).— If you place on the slabs an inch of gravel or 
ashes and cover with turves grass downwards before introducing the soil the 
bed wjlj answer quite well, provided you apply water sufficiently, yet judiciously, 
to keep the soil at the bottom of the bed moist. Your second question you have 
not made dear. Melons cannot be profitably grown during the winter, but with 
good management a second crop can be had from the same plants. If you 
cannot accomplish this we should grow the successional plants in pots plunged 
