March 31, 1392. ] 
JOURXAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
247 
floors and other surfaces in the morning and evening, and syringe the 
plants lightly on fine afternoons. 
Attend to stopping and regulating the growths not less frequently 
than once a week. To keep the plants in steady progress and secure 
straiarht, tender, crisp, well flavoured fruit a temperature of 65 to <0 
at night, 70° to 75° by day artificially, 80° to 85° with sun, closing 
sufficiently early to run to 90° or 100°, with abundance of atmospheric 
moisture will be suitable. Ventilate early but moderately, avoiding 
sudden changes of temperature, pernicious cutting winds, and currents 
of cold air, cripple the foliage and deform the fruit. 
In pits and frames the necessary heat should be maintained by 
renewin <7 the linings, taking care to keep rank steam out of the frarnes. 
Train the growths rather thinly, and stop them one or two joints 
beyond the show of fruit. Supply fresh warmed soil to the hillocks or 
ridges as the roots extend, and be careful in the application of water. 
Admit a little air early, so as to dry the foliage before the sun acts power¬ 
fully upon it. Keep the temperature through the day at 80° to 90 from 
sun, and close early in the afternoon, no harm accruing if the tempera¬ 
ture rise to 90° to 95°, provided there is no rank steam. 
Stkawbebbies Pots.—T he weather has been very unfavourable 
to plants in flower until lately. Mildew flourishes on plants that are 
chilled on the one hand and confined on the other, and sulphur is much 
less effective against it in winter than in summer ; therefore a change 
in the weather"^ has proved very acceptable. In dull weather it is well 
to shake the flowers occasionally when the pollen is ripe, and to remove 
the smallest and least desirable, leaving the boldest, which are usually 
the first to expand, and they afford the largest fruit generally. Thin the 
fruits after they are set, leaving the number on each plant it is 
calculated to mature weU. Colour and size are the chief points in a forced 
Strawberrv, and a few good fruits are better than many small. The 
plants should be exaniined twice a day, and any needing a supply 
of water must have it liberally, affording liquid manure two or three 
times a week when the fruit is swelling. Steady progressive growth is 
most favourable for Strawberries until after flowering, then they swell 
better in a high temperature, and moist but not very close atmosphere. 
In the later plants the trusses are coming strong, but aphides also are 
making their appearance, and should be destroyed by timely fumigation. 
PLANT HOUSES. 
■V 
Azaleas .—As these go out of flower pick off the seed pods, and place 
the plants where they can be assisted by gentle heat and moisture to 
make their growth. Those which flowered early and have started into 
growth may be repotted if they need it. _ We have found loam and leaf 
mould in equal proportions with the addition of coarse sand as good as 
peat for growing Azaleas. The soil should be pressed firmly, so that 
water will not pass through the new and leave the old balls of soil dry. 
Plants required for late flowering should, if practicable, be placed in a 
house with a north aspect. Careful watering is essential, and the 
syringe may also be used freely to keep thrips in check ; if any are seen 
the best method of destroying them is a thorough application of weak 
tobacco water. 
Erica hyemalis .—If the plants are not repotted the work should be 
done at once. Do not give them a large shift, and use peat and sand as 
a compost. In potting do not disturb the roots further than is necessary 
in the removal of the drainage. If the new soil is pressed firmly the 
roots will soon take possession of it. Where convenient place the plants 
in a frame, where they can stand on a base of ashes and be safe from 
frost. The plants may be syringed early on fine afternoons and the 
frame closed. 
Camellias .—Those which have flowered may be kept close and warm 
to promote free growth. They enjoy much water at the roots, and the 
syringe should be used freely. While growing these plants are benefited 
bv shade, which should be gradually removed, so that they can be fully 
exposed by the time the foliage is developed. This is necessary to ripen 
the wood and the production of buds. Plants that need repotting 
grow freely in good fibry loam, with one-seventh of cow manure 
^nd. Those in large pots and tubs may be top-dressed with rich 
material, while those planted out if they are weakly may be supplied 
with stimulants. 
Greenhouse Rhododendnms .—These may be grown with Camellias 
during the period of growth, and then fully exposed to the sun. The 
wav in which they flower another year entirely depends upon the 
amount of light and sunshine they receive during the growing season. 
Any plants that need larger pots should be afforded them when flowering 
ceases. K. Gibsoni and Princess Royal are excellent for planting out to 
cover a wall, and when established they flower profusely. The latter 
has been furnishing flowers since last October. For shallow glasses and 
table decoration the flowers are invaluable. The plants grow well in 
peat and sand. 
Daphne indica .—These plants are frequently destroyed by trying to 
push them forward in a close atmosphere. After they have flowered 
place them in frames where they will enjoy a cool base and plenty of 
air. Apply water carefully, but do not allow them to become dry. 
Epiic rises .—Cut back all that have done flowering, and keep them 
slightly closer until they break into growth, when they may be repotted 
if 'thev neeil it. Careful watering for some time is necessary after 
repotting until the plants are rooting freely in the new soil. Those 
that were potted some time ago and now growing freely should have 
plenty of air, so that a firm but sturdy growth will be made. 
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L^'.» '-T—:—:—TT":—:—:— 
APIARIAN NOTES. 
Accur.^cy IX Bee M.ytters. 
Ix the Journal of Horticulture of the 10th of March, page 189, 
your correspondent, A. H. B. K.,” appears to question a statement 
contained in an extract from “ Bees,” by Mr. Frank Benton. 
There is no person so well qualified as he, Mr. F. Benton, is, from 
the very large experience he has had with foreign races of bees 
in their native country, to give an opinion upon the subject. He 
is an experienced bee-master, and not likely to make a mistake. 
He writes as follows :— 
XORTHERX AFRIC.4.X BeES, 
“ There has been estabhshed in Tunis, the site of ancient 
Carthage, an apiary of forty hives, to be conducted ou modern 
methods. The name chosen is ‘ The Kassartyr Apiary,’ the estate 
to which it adds a pleasing feature being known by the name of 
‘ Kassartyr.’ ” Writing 1885, he says “ At present the moveable- 
comb hives are not in suitable condition to take full advantage of 
the first yield of honey, that from the wild Rosemary blossoms, 
hut some surplus has been obtained, and many combs have been 
constructed, so that when the Jujube blossoms open next month 
an excellent harvest may be safely counted upon. The Rosemary 
yields wonderfully, and, as thousands of acres are covered with its 
pale blue blossoms during January, February, and March it will 
be a great dependence.” 
Rosemary Hoxey. 
“ The Kassartyr honey is most excellent in quality. Some of 
it is quite transparent, very thick, and possesses a pleasing aromatic 
taste.” “Two other apiaries on the same plan are soon to be 
established in the province, and several enterprising parties are 
talking of introducing the culture of bees on their estates.” 
A Fe-sv Words about the Bees of Tuxis. 
“ They are dark, even darker than our common black bees, but, 
strange to say, possess nearly the qualities of Syrian bees, and 
show except in colour, very little resemblance to the black or 
German bees. Like the Cyprians and Syrians, they are somewhat 
smaller bodied than are the common bees, adhere very well to the 
combs when handled, but can be shaken off readily. 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. They 
bear smoke rather better than other Oriental races. Queens show 
a tinge of bronze colour, and are very prolific. On the whole, the 
Tuuisitiii b66s ar6 not to bo despised, even if they are true .A.frican 
^^^*There is, I think, no doubt that the bees which Mr. Hewitt 
wishes to be called Punic bees, and which Mr. W. F. Kirby said 
were reared by Mr. John Hewitt from bees imported frona Tunis, 
are none other than the ordinary Tunisian bees which Mr. 
Frank Benton describes ; the queens of which are imported into 
this country at about the same price as Carniolans and Italians. 
The Seasox of Rest ix North Africa. 
It is quite true that in January, February, and March, as Mr. 
F. Benton tells us, a quantity of honey is obtained ; but you 
will see that after the Rosemary honey flow is over, he says, “ 
that when the Jujube blossoms open next month an excellent 
harvest maybe counted upon.” And it is simply “begging the 
question” to say that the period of our summer is their winter, 
or as “ A. H. B. K.” puts it, “ That their natural months for 
rest (for Punics) is our summer, which is their winter. 
can the hottest months in the year be a season of rest, when 
they are constantly fanning to keep down the temperature of 
the hive to prevent the melting of the combs ? All bee keepers 
know that when the honey flow ceases and the bees are unable 
to collect any nectar, breeding ceases also ; but this cannot be 
called their season of rest in the same sense as when we speak 
of our winters as a season of rest for bees. 
Mr. Kirby .\xd Tuxisi.a.x Bees. 
I will now give the report as published in the Transacti^s of 
the Entomological Society November 4th, 1891, Dr. David 
Sharp, M.A., F.R.S., Yice-President, m the chair. Mr. 
W F Kirby exhibited a series of a very dark coloured^ form of 
Apis reared by Mr. John Hewitt of Sheffield, from bees imported 
