186 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ February 18, 1892. 
April. Pollen was carried in by the bees on February 10th, and on 
February 12th the Punics were extra busy for a short time while 
the sun shone, and many were carrying pollen, apparently from the 
Alders at a considerable distance from the apiary. Young bees are 
numerous at all stocks. Amongst the articles written upon the 
Punic bees, there is one that cannot be allowed to pass. It reads :— 
“ They are also active, energetic workers, but, unlike Cyprians and 
Syrians, they are liable at times to fly at one and sting him when he 
approaches the apiary, and yet does not molest the hives.” These 
words are said to be Frank Benton’s. 
Locality. 
This appears to be greater in some varieties of bees than in 
others. The Carniolians stand highest in this respect, but from 
what cause I cannot at present explain. One of my Punic stocks 
shows a decided contrast to the Carniolians in this respect; they 
do not, like them, return unerringly to their own hive, but fly in 
numbers to another empty one, and of a different form and 
colour from their own hive, and at a distance of 6 feet, too. I 
shall have something more to say about these bees at another 
time when I have had more experience of their doings during the 
spring months. 
Extracting and Marketing Honey. 
The bee-keeper is the best judge whether comb honey or 
extracted is the most remunerative. Clover honey in comb is 
often unsaleable, but fine samples of Heather honeycomb have 
hitherto commanded a good price, and is likely to do so for 
some time to come, if not for all time coming. I have hitherto 
made it a practice not to offer honey extracted from brood combs 
for sale, taking nothing but what was extracted from surplus 
chambers. It requires about 3d. more per lb. for comb honey 
than for strained honey when we take a commercial view of it, 
so that, if we except Heather honeycomb, it is most remunerative 
to sell other kinds extracted. 
In order to increase the supply of H ather honeycomb sealed 
supers, and nothing but sealed ones, should be exti’acted. The 
combs should be returned to the bees to be cleanel, then removed 
and well cared for. Emp'y supei’s may be given to the bees when 
sent to the Heather ; then when honey is coming in plentifully^ 
but not till then, the combed supers should be givea them, depend- 
ing upon circumstances whether they should be above the tenanted 
super or next to the crown of the hive. The bee-keeper must 
also judge whether it be not the wisest c.,urse to remove the 
empty super and make the combed ones take it or their place. 
Amongst other ideas being adapted is the narrow under bar of 
the frame, or none at all, as in our supers. Certainly the super 
with no under rail are most readily entered by the bees, and better 
adapted for extracting, is therefore more expedient and profitable. 
—A Lanarkshire Bee keeper. 
•,*A11 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 correspondents, as doing so subjects them to 
unjustifiable trouble and expense. 
Correspondents should not mix up on the same sheet questions 
relating to Gardening and those on 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- 
rormlngr a Carriage Brlve {R. S. 0.).—The information you 
require upon this subject will be found in an article on page 133 of the 
present issue. 
Puzzle Cardens (C. R .').—Your letter is so extremely vague that 
we cannot give you a reply. Write again, and give full particulars of 
your requirements. 
Compost for Vegetables In Frames (IF. J. IF.).—You could 
not have a better compost for vegetables than that given hy Mr. Dunkin 
for softwooded plants, to which you allude, and it may be modified 
according to requirements. 
Vegetables for Exhibition In November (X. Y. Z.). —1, Peas, 
French Beans, Cauliflowers, Seakale, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Celery, and 
Mushrooms. 2, Cauliflowers, Brussels Sprouts, Savoys, Beet Turnips, 
Carrots, Celery, and Potatoes. 
Iiow Trolly for IVIovlng Trees {A. J. A.).—We do not know 
where you can procure the trolly required, as they are made to order by 
wheelwrights, who would soon make one if you state your requirements. 
Indeed, most estate carpenters would manage the task in a short time, 
the chief thing being to have broad wheels and plenty of body strength. 
Consult the nearest wheelwright. 
The Common Guava (Wein Subscriber ').—The fruits you have 
received are thos3 of the common Guava (fig. 20), botanically known as 
Psidium pyriferum, a tree 10 to 20 feet high, producing fruit of a pear 
shape and grown extensively in the West Indies ; and this is also known 
as the w'hite Guava, in contradistinction to the fruit of P. pomiferum 
or red Guava, which has a red flesh, very acid, and much inferior to 
the white. The common or white Guava is about as large as a tennis 
ball, the rind of a russet colour, tinged with red. The pulp is sweet, 
aiomatic, of an agreeable flavour, and interspersed with numerous small 
white seeds. The fruit is very extensively eaten in the West Indies, 
both by the natives and by the Europeans, either raw or in the state of 
jelly ; but it possesses great astringency, and is not suited to those of 
costive habits. The rind, when stewed, is eaten with milk, and is pre¬ 
ferred to any other stewed fruit. From the same part marmalade is 
made ; and the whole fruit, prepared with sugar, furnishes the celebrated 
Guava jelly. The buds of Guava, boiled with barley and liquorice, pro¬ 
duce an excellent drink for diarrhoeas, and even dysentery, when not 
too inveterate. The wood furnishes excellent fuel, burns with a bright 
heat, and lasts a long time. The fruit of P. Cattleianum is about the 
size of a small Walnut, nearly round, of a deep purple colour. The skin 
is of the consistence of that of a Fig, but is thinner. The interior is a 
soft, fleshy pulp, purplish-red next the skin, but becoming paler towards 
the middle, and at the centre it is quite white. It is juicy, and, in con¬ 
sistence, is much like a Strawberry, which it resembles in flavour. This 
is one of the best of the Guavas, and is a native of China, whence it ha& 
been introduced to Brazil, and now it is grown extensively in both- 
countries. 
