AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
f, m. Early sown seed may still come up. It some¬ 
times lies in the ground two montns before vegetating. 
Flower CSardiesa assail ILawsa. 
At this, the blooming season, the Flower Garden is ex¬ 
pected to make a fine show of a large number of the per¬ 
ennial and biennial plants. Most of the Green-House, 
and many of the Hot-House plants nave been transferred 
to the open border, and with their rich colors lend attract 
iveness to the grounds. 
The chief labors should oe directed to keep down weeds, 
to stir the soil, and thin the plants. It is not too late to 
sow many of the Annuals, which will spring up quickly 
now that the ground is warm. If the weather be very dry, 
soak the seeds for 24 hours before sowing. 
Bedding Plants—Complete putting out, using verbe¬ 
nas, geraniums, petunias, pansies, daisies, &c. 
Box Edging—Plant still, selecting a moist day, or water¬ 
ing and shading. Cuttings may also be made, f, m. 
Shear old box, if, if not previously attended to, selecting 
damp weather if possible, for the operation. 
B u p,s—The early flowering sorts planted last Fall are 
out of bloom, and may be lifted and dried, m, 11, if they 
are to be reset. It is not best to disturb them too often 
however. 
Carnations and 
Pinks and Pico- 
tees—These may 
be layered , m, 11, 
as seen in the cut 
opposite. It is 
not absolutely ne¬ 
cessary to slit the 
stalk « here it is 
laid below the 
ground, as here 
shown. Cuttings 
may also be 
struck at the 
same time, but 
are not as sure to grow as layers. 
Climbers—Keep these well trained to twine, stakes, or 
lattice work. 
Dahlias—Plant out, ff. m, watering if needful. 
Evergreens—May still be planted upon the lawn and in 
the borders, IF, m, watering and mulching. In exposed 
situations they may need confining to stakes to prevent 
their being swayed by the wind. 
Flower Stalks—Cut away as fast as they are out of 
bloom. They have an unsightly appearance when left in 
the flower border. Besides, they should give place to the 
later grow ing annuals. 
Geraniums—Plant out.fF, any remaining in pots. They 
mass finely, either in distinct colors, or when mixed. 
Gladioluses—Stake, 11, those put out last month. 
Grass Edging or Borders—Shear and rake off every few' 
weeks, leaving them smooth and even. 
Gravel Walks—Keep free from grass and weeds, raking 
and rolling frequently. Add fresh gravel to old paths. 
Hedges—Clip, m, 1, rapid growing deciduous, and even 
evergreen hedges. 
Hoe often among and around plants, to loosen the soil 
and induce moisture, as well as to Keep down weeds. 
House Plants—Bring out any remaining in the green¬ 
house or conservatory, intended for out-door planting. 
Insects—These are easiest kept in check by taking them 
early. A few destroyed now will kill many coming broods. 
Dawns have the finest appearance when thickly cover¬ 
ed with fine grass only 1 or 2 incnes in hight. Hence, 
frequent mowings are desirable. Skill is required to cut 
the grass evenly with a scythe. Keep both grass and 
Weeds from growing for a few feet aoout young trees. 
Oranges, Lemons, Oleanders and Myrtles—Plant out in 
the open borders, ff, m, or place out in their tubs. 
Potted Plants will need frequent waterings, unless 
turned out into the border. Shield from high winds. 
Roses are the pride of the flower garden in June. 
From the low growing Tea to the standard Bourbon, June, 
Pillar and Prairie Climber, red, pink, blush, lilac, yellow 
and white roses, are in full flower, shedding both beauty 
and fragrance. If the bord'er contain but a single flower, 
let that be a Remontant rose. Bugs, slugs and leaf hop¬ 
pers will dispute with you their possession. The rose- 
bug may be destroyed by shaking them into a shallow 
basin of hot water. Whale-oil soap, dissolved at the rate 
of 1 pound to 3 gallons of water, will destroy both slugs 
and thrips. Pour it on from the rose of a watering-pot, or 
use a hand-syringe with a sprinkler attached. 
Stake flowers and shrubs requiring it. 
Transplant, m, 1, annuals sown last month, retaining 
earth about the roots if possible. Water and shade, un¬ 
less a damp day is chosen. 
Verbenas and Petunias now make a fine show if a 
good collection was put out last month. They may still 
be planted, ff. 
Water—An excess is often used on plants at this season. 
If the soil has been deeply worked, little water wilL be re¬ 
quired in ordinary seasons, except on plants or trees 
newly set out. Water from the clouds, when plants are 
shaded, is better than that artificially applied. 
Weeds should not be allowed so much as a start now. 
Cca'eesa aanstil Slot Mmsstts. 
Most of the plants usually kept in these houses are now 
in the open air. In extensive collections, the more tender 
planls are better managed in than out of the house, and 
on that account are still kept upon the shelves. They 
now require abundance of air and plenty of water. The 
upper ventilators should be kept open during fair weather. 
Opening both upper and lower would dry the atmosphere 
too rapidly. Measures should now' be taken to increase 
the stock of Winter blooming plants ; and many of the 
seedlings and cuttings will need repotting. In carrying 
out and arranging pots in the open air, place them in a 
neat, orderly manner, convenient of access. The situa¬ 
tion should be so sheltered that the plants will not be 
blown about by high winds. 
Azalias are now making a rapid growth and need abun¬ 
dance of water, and some pinching in. 
Bud, m, 1, oranges, lemons, citrons, shaddocks, &c. 
Camellias do quite as well in the open border, ’to which 
they may be carried, IF. If retained on the shelves in the 
house, w'ater and syringe often. Watch for and check 
the approach of insects. 
Cuttings of Chrysanthemums, Myrtles, Hydrangeas, 
Fuchsias, Geraniums, &c., may be made and potted, f, m.’ 
Fuchsias—Repot to make fine specimens for Winter 
blooming. 
Geraniums are in full flower and require liberal water¬ 
ings. Increase the stock by cuttings and layers. 
German Stocks—Plant in borders, ff, m. 
Grapes—The early houses W'ill now be ripening their 
fruit, and the syringing overhead must be omitted. Some 
of the later crops need a further thinning. They all want 
abundance of air with a free circulation. 
Insects are particularly troublesome at this seasons and 
require much care to forestall their depredations. Keep 
them in cheek now, unless you wish to be overrun with 
them in Autumn. 
Layer and Inarch woody and other plants which do not 
root readily from cuttings. 
Pines require abundance of air and less water as the 
fruit approaches its ripe state. 
Potting—Continue, f, m, 1, and provide a supply of pre¬ 
pared earth for extensive use next month. 
Roses—Plantin borders, ff, any remaining in the houses. 
Syringe with oil soap to destroy slugs. 
Seedlings—Transplant, ff m, to borders or pots as after 
culture renders necessary. 
Verbenas—Get up a stock for Winter blooming, by lay¬ 
ering, inserting cuttings, &c. 
Water—Give as is needful. With small pots in a dry 
atmosphere, a little may be necessary night and morn¬ 
ing. Examine after rains to see if drainage is perfect. 
Apiary ssa J'lasEe. 
BY M. QUINBY. 
As soon as the bees are crowded outside of the hive dur¬ 
ing any part of the day it is lime to add the surplus boxes. 
If the honey is intended for home consumption, a wood 
box will answer every purpose ; but for market, one with 
glass sides is usually the most saleable. Neither of them 
should be more than five inches deep, and should have 
some pieces of nice white comb stuck in the top, the 
larger the better, but very small ones are much better 
than none at all—the bees will commence work more wil¬ 
lingly. To make these combs stick fast, melt some bees¬ 
wax, and dip one edge in it, and apply before cooling. 
Old colonies should be induced to begin in the boxes if 
possible before they swarm, as in that case they will be 
much more likely to finish them than to begin after swarm¬ 
ing when not very strong. Holes can be bored in the top 
of the hive if necessary, even when it is filled, using to¬ 
bacco smoke to keep the bees quiet—six or eight, an inch 
in diameter will do. They should be bored with a center 
bit or something that will work smoothly. The boxes 
should be removed as soon as filled, to obtain pure 
white combs, empty ones may be put in their places as 
long as the bees work in them. There will be little 
risk but that the bees will provide for themselves. To 
get rid of the bees that are taken off with the boxes, put 
them in an empty barrel, in any convenient place, and 
throw over it a thin cloth ; the bees in their endeavor to 
escape, will gather on the under side ; it should be lurne-' 
over occasionally till all are gone. They are not disposer. 
to sting at all after being taken from the hive.New 
swarms before their combs reach the bottom of the hive, 
unless near the end of the season should receive a set of 
boxes. There is often an advantage in putting on boxes 
immediately when hived, hut nearly as often a disadvan¬ 
tage, on account of their rearing brood in the combs, 
which makes them black and tough ; they are also very 
sure to store bee-bread where they raise brood. It is 
quite safe on that account to put them on after being 
hived three or four days. 
June is the month for su'arms. In small apiaries, in 
good seasons, it is quite common to average two or three 
swarms from a stock. The first one is usually large 
enough for a good colony, the second half as large, the 
third a quarter ; consequently two of the second and’four 
of the third issues will be needed to make a colony equal 
to_r first. The time of issuing, whether the first or last 
of ■ .e month, should have some consideration in ~ovcrn 
lug the size of the colony ; as a second swarm of ordinary 
size the first of June would be about equal in value to a first 
one a month later. Two first swarms should be prevented 
from issuing at the same time if possible, as they are quite 
sure to cluster in one mass, and are worth only about 
two-thirds as much on the whole, as if both are kept sen 
arate. Indications of th vfirst swarm can usually be seen 
m the commotion of Ihe bees about the entrance a few 
moments before flying, and for a much longer time when 
the interior of the hive can be seen through glass. See 
description on page 135 of the May Agriculturist. AVhen 
one has started and another is about to start, sprinkle the 
latter well with water, which will delay the issue till the 
first is hived. If the last is then disposed to unite with 
the first, throw a sheet over the hive and keep them out 
When two large swarms naturally get together, they 
should be divided in hiving. Set the empty hives three or 
four feet apart, and with a dipper put about an equal 
number to each alternately, and make them enter by the 
means mentioned last month. As soon as all are in, set 
them twenty feet apart ; if a queen is in each, the bees will 
be quiet, if not, they will leave the hive destitute of a 
queen for the other, a few going at a time. The opera 
lion may be repeated till successful, by shaking out the 
bees, or if too much trouble, they maybe hived as one 
swarm. It is not advisable to use a larger hive than 
usual, as it will be a disadvantage another year. The 
boxes may be added the next morning, to give them 
room. The bees construct combs below so fast that the 
boxes are seldom used for brood in such cases Third 
and sometimes second swarms, when late in ’ the season’ 
should be returned to the parent stock, unless they mingle 
with others before being hived. The least trouble is to 
hive, and let them stand till next morning, then jar the 
bees on a wide board in front of the old hive, puttin- a 
few near the entrance, which will set up a buzzing as a 
call for the others, that will now creep towards it, and 
give an opportunity to see the queen which should be 
ke P t0Ut . B e sure and keep all new swarms well 
shaded through the middle of the day ; also 'old stocks 
when very hot.Should the bees of any stock fail to 
increase, or fall much behind others, the first of this month, 
the cause should be looked for ; if diseased brood, drive 
out the bees, and let them commence anew. When done 
in season, a healthy colony is usually the result. It is 
generally put off till so few bees are left, that they will 
not stay in the hive. Yet it is belter even then than to 
let them run down entirely and spread the disease further, 
and breed a hive full of moth worms. If flowers do not 
yield honey at the time of the operation, the bees must 
be feJ .a colony is weak for want of a queen and 
otherwise healthy, it can be frequently saved by putting 
in a small swarm containing a queen, or by giving it a 
cell containing a queen from some other hive..Allow 
no hive containing combs to stand in the apiary without 
bees to keep out the moth; such combs are found and 
destroyed very quickly in warm weather. If it is desira¬ 
ble to save them, smoke with brimstone a few times, which 
will destroy the worms, and will not injure them for the 
bees if aired a day or two previously to using. 
b<o Time for Swapping.— An Indiana man was trav¬ 
elling down the Ohio, in a steamer, with a marc and a 
two year old colt, when by a sudden careen of the boat 
all three were tilted into the river. The hoosier, as he 
rose puffing and blowing above water, caught hold of the 
tail of the colt, not having a doubt that the natural instinct 
of the animal would carry him safely ashore. The old 
mare took a “ bee line ” for the shore, but the frightened 
colt swam lustily down the current, with its owner still 
hanging fast. “ Let go the colt, and hang on the old 
mare,” shouted some of his friends. “ Three, booh !” ex¬ 
claimed the hoosier, spouting the water from his mouth, 
and shaking his head like a Newfoundland dog, “it’s 
mighty fine you’r telling me to let go the colt; but to a 
man that can’t swim, this ain’t exactly the time for swap¬ 
ping horses .” y 
An Irishman, driven to desperation by the stringency of 
the money market and the high price of provisions pro¬ 
ved a pistol and took to the road. Meeting a traveller, 
he - f opped him with, “Your money or your life I” See¬ 
ing ti.'it Pat was green, he said, “I’ll tell you what I II 
you . a11 m y money for that pistol.” 
Agreed. . at received the money and handed over the 
piijlol. “Now” said the traveller, “hand back that 
money or I’ll blow your brains out.” “ Blaze awav in 
honey, saw 1 at; “ nary a dhrop of powther there's it, 
