July 17, 1890. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
59 
or engine, but a house having Frontignans, Sweetwater, and Hamburgh 
Grapes ripe in May, Muscat of Alexandria in June, and Alicante in July 
will, through keeping the atmosphere dry and warm in ripening the early 
varieties, cause red spider to increase upon the foliage of the Muscats, and 
the foliage of the early varieties cannot be cleansed, as syringing would 
cause the ripe Muscats to spot. This is a great evil in early forcing 
operations, and one the man is often more to blame for than the master 
through the in some respects laudable desire of having variety and gain¬ 
ing experience. Growing a motley assemblage of Vines in the manner 
indicated is most disastrous to present and future crops of Grapes. 
Where Grapes are required in April or early May to August, instead 
having the varieties go afford the supply in one house, we would divide 
it into two or three compartments, so that the respective varieties 
may have their proper treatment. In case of an attack of red spider 
no remedy is so safe as sponging the leaves with a weak solution 
of softsoap, 1 oz. to the gallon. It is tedious work, but taken in 
time is not so tedious as it at first thought appears. The pipes may 
be brushed over with sulphur brought to a thin cream with skim milk, 
heating them to 160°, but it is at best an uncertain remedy, not that it 
will not kill the existent insects, and repeated effect a cure, but it will 
spoil the tender skinned Frontignan and Muscat Grapes. Wherever 
sulphur is used on more than ordinarily heated surfaces it must be done 
with great care. 
Muscats Ripening .—These require time and assistance from fire heat, 
so as to insure a night temperature of 70° to 75°, 85° to 90° by day, with 
abundance of air. They require a rather dry warm air, for under no 
other conditions will they attain to that golden hue characteristic of 
their unapproachable vinous rich flavour. Muscats also, of all Grapes, 
require plentiful supplies of water when swelling their fruit. They 
can hardly be overdone with water at the roots after the leaves are full 
sized until the Grapes are well advanced in ripening, the border having 
thorough drainage ; therefore attend well to the watering of inside 
borders, and outside also in dry weather. Too much atmospheric 
moisture, however, is fatal to Muscats when ripening, causing them to 
be spotted; therefore seek by gentle warmth in the pipes and a little air 
constantly to prevent the deposition of moisture on the berries, sur¬ 
facing the border inside, after a final watering, with a few inches 
thickness of dry material. 
Shanking .—This occasions a serious deterioration of crop. Its chief 
cause is suspended root action at the critical period of the Grapes 
ripening. This may arise from a deficiency of ventilation in the early 
stages of growth, combined with too much moisture, inducing long- 
jointed growth and thin foliage, or it may be the roots are deep in an un¬ 
favourable rooting medium. To avoid shanking we must have properly 
prepared borders and well managed Vines, being careful to fully expose 
the foliage to light and air. For Vines prone to shanking avoid 
sudden fluctuations of temperature, particular attention being given to 
the ventilation, thereby securing a constant supply of nutriment, not 
only for the formation of starch, but that still further process of ripen¬ 
ing, and by which it is converted into sugar. Regulate the young 
growths, adopting the extension rather than the restrictive system where 
there is room for it without crowding, keeping all gross laterals stopped 
so as to cause an equal flow of sap throughout the Vines, and this will 
do much to prevent shanking. 
Young Vines .—Those of this year’s planting should, provided the 
light is not too much obstructed, be allowed to grow unchecked, it being 
presumed that they will be cut back to the bottom of the trellis, or to 
three or four buds at the winter pruning. Any supernumeraries in¬ 
tended for next year’s fruiting should be regularly stopped at a length 
of 7 to 8 feet, removing the laterals beyond a joint, which it is essential 
to keep to prevent the starting of the principal buds, preserving the 
old leaves, and as the wood will require thorough ripening a free cir¬ 
culation of air will be necessary, with fire heat if the weather be cold 
and wet. The border should be mulched and duly watered right up to 
the neck or collar, with a view to obtain and encourage the growth of 
adventitious roots, which are highly advantageous to a strong break the 
following season. 
T incs in Pots .—Those intended for fruiting next season should by 
this time have completed their growth, especially those required for 
early forcing, which must have no more water than will prevent the 
foliage becoming limp, and they should be exposed to all the sun 
and light possible, so as to thoroughly ripen the wood and the buds. 
Keep the Vines free from insects, as it is very important that the 
leaves perform their functions. After the wood becomes brown and 
hard the Vines may be stood in front of a wall with a south aspect, 
securing the canes to the wall to prevent the foliage being damaged 
by wind. 
APIARIAN NOTES. 
The Weather. 
The bees are attempting to fly, which we used to put down as a 
sign of improving weather, but we dare not predict now. The 
temperature keeps low. At midday on July 11th the thermo¬ 
meter was standing at 53° Fahr., and the mean temperature for 
the past week has been 49^°, the readings being taken three times 
daily, the highest being 66° on the 9th, but this lasted for less than 
five minutes. Since June came in it has not been more than 
twency hours at 05°. The rainfall has been excessive. On the 5th 
1 inch of rain fell in eight hours, the wind being northerly ; and 
again between Monday night and Tuesday morning the same 
quantity fell. Sunshine is greatly needed, and a few weeks or even 
days of it would change the dismal appearance. 
Honey Prospects. 
At present the prospect of a good yield of honey is not 
promising, but we have not lost faith yet. The movements of the 
bees, together with that of the barometer and thermometer, 
indicate finer weather, and it is a usual occurrence after a long 
time of wet for the thermometer to sink to 32° during the summer 
months immediately before a change. But so low has the 
temperature been during the past week that the bees have been 
chilled by thousands, the ground being strewn with dead bees. 
Preparations for the Heather. 
Swarms will be of little,use, and young fertile queens we used 
to depend upon for keeping up the strength of the hive are this year 
still barren. In an ordinary season they would have been by this 
time at the head of populous hives. The only thing we shall have 
to depend upon are our winter unswarmed stocks, and these, if 
we do take them to the moors, will be supplied with from 6 lbs. 
to 10 lbs. of sugar each hive, and not extra supered, as the cold 
weather is sure to make the Heather late. Should the weather 
improve for the next two weeks young queens may mate, and some 
stocks may swarm. Should both occur, the swarms will be placed 
into full sheeted frames and fed a little, a few nuclei will be raised 
from the old stocks that swarmed, and the remaining combs of 
brood will go to strengthen the hives of the first young queens, 
so that they may be able to gather a surplus of Heather honey. 
It is, however, prospective only, and is what we wish. At present 
feeding is our only hope to secure a supply of honey from 
the Heather, or failing that stocks for another year, for without 
feeding few stocks will survive many days. 
Do Bees Pay? 
I have frequently alluded to this question, and have shown 
that bees do pay. I will therefore supplement my article of last 
week, page 37, and show in what manner bees pay, and the expenses 
incurred in bee-keeping. Many who started bee-keeping with the 
view of making money or an easy living, induced by the glowing 
accounts of the profits derived from bees by interested persons,, 
gave them up in disgust. Then others, who happened to start bee¬ 
keeping at times more favourable for bees, took immediately to 
giving instructions in bee-keeping, concerning which in reality they 
knew very little beyond having been fortunate in securing at the 
outset a large yield of honey. Every pound of surplus honey 
gathered by the cottagers’ bees ought to be of the same value to 
him as a pound of butter, and well-managed hives may be depended 
upon to give on an average annually at least 20 lbs. of honey. 
Frequently we have had 200 lbs. from a hive in one season, and 
100 lbs. is quite a common yield when the seasons are favourable. 
Seasons occur, however, when the flowers yield no honey, and the 
bees are kept alive by feeding, meaning a loss of from 5s. to 10s. 
for each hive, depending upon the price of the sugar and the- 
strength of the hive. Bees are much more cheaply fed now with 
good sugar at 2d. per pound than when it was from 8d. to Is. per 
pound. All that can be taken into consideration, and I will endea¬ 
vour to show how misleading it is to say that bees will pay with 
honey selling at either 3d. or 6d. per pound ; the reader will have 
no difficulty in seeing the absurdity of the statement that £7 of 
profit could be made annually from any hive. 
We may safely set down that £1 outlay is necessary for 
each hive at the commencement. The appliances all being of a 
perishable nature require a certain amount of outlay annually for 
