248 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Mar«h 31, 1892. 
from Tunis. He said that Mr. Hewitt proposed to call them 
‘ Punic bees,’ and had distributed them under this name, which, 
if the race be considered sufficiently distinct, might as well be 
retained for them. They are larger than the black Apis unicolor, 
Latr., of Mauritius and Bourbon, and are almost entirely black, 
except the legs, which are more or less reddish colour ; but there is 
net a trace of red colouring on the base of the abdomen, which 
is almost invariably the case in typical specimens of Apis melli- 
fica, L. Mr. Kirby stated that Mr. Hewitt had informed him 
that these bees are remarkable for their peaceable disposition, 
and their unwillingness to use their stings, and also for the 
fact that the workers are much more frequently fertile than 
those of the common house bee, with which, however, these 
black bees will freely hybridise. 
“ He further said that Mr. Hewitt had told him that he had 
made some important original observations on the fertility of 
workers, which he would be pleased to communicate to the 
Society.” 
The above is a verbatim copy of the report printed in the 
Transactions, part 4, 1891. It will be seen that Mr. Kirby 
simply repeats what Mr. Hewitt told him, and does not express 
any opinion of his own. On reference to “ Whitakers’ Almanack,” 
page 163, I find that Dr. Albert Gunther, F.R.S., is the Keeper, 
Mr. A. G. Butler is the Assistant Keeper, that there are two 
classes of assistants in addition, and that Wm. Forsell Kirby’s 
name appears as one of these assistants in the zoological depart¬ 
ment of the Natural History Museum, but not as “ Curator.” 
Interview with Mr. W. F. Kirby. 
Mr. Kirby kindly gave me an opportunity of seeing the bees he 
had received from Mr. Hewitt. Mr. Kirby explained that he had 
not named them Punic bees, but that it was the practice when 
specimens are received the name of the sender and the name 
given to the specimens by him are written under them. Mr. 
Kirby very frankly said he had nothing to do with bees himself, 
and that the collection in the students’ room, which I saw, were 
arranged by Mr. Smith.— John M. Hooker. 
•*®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 
Chemical Preparations {Jt. T. C .').—We are very much obliged 
by your kind endeavour to alleviate the “ misery of the poor man ” 
referred to. 
iksparag-us (TF. L .').—Your letter was not stamped, and 2d. is due 
from you to defray postage. On receipt of scamps to that amount the 
subject will have attention. 
A Damp-testing Instrument (TF. G. Hoard, Wisconsiti ).—If 
you write direct to Mr. F. W. Beck, East Grinstead, Sussex, he will 
send you the price and particulars of the instrument to which yon 
refer. 
Insects on Spray (G. F .').—The fragile box was quite flattened 
and the contents crushed. The insects appear to be mealy bug, but 
whatever they are we think an application of spirits of wine will destroy 
them. Try it with a small soft brush. 
Cinerarias (G. Parruwf).—Evidently the plants have been well 
grown, and the rich crimson variety with florets flve-eighths of an inch 
broad is worth perpetuating by suckers. The blue variety is also good, 
but most of the others, though attractive, are not of noteworthy quality. 
The Freesia spike referred to in another page is very good indeed. 
Camellia Buds not Opening (P. F .').—One or two varieties are 
prone to form very hard buds, which become sealed, so to say. When 
Mr. W. Wright was at Cromwell House, Croydon, he found a plant of 
that character, and he could only induce the flowers to open by taking 
off the tips of the buds with a sharp knife the same as cutting off the 
end of a cigar. If you have any buds still healthy you might try the 
plan, but it would be useless as applied to such as those you have 
sent. 
Various (JWilliam ').—Prick out the seedling Lobelias directly they 
are large enough, and continue to divide the stock plants of named 
varieties, soft cuttings also striking readily. Nicotians affinis grown 
thinly from the early stages will flower well in the borders. Cuttings of 
Iresines and Coleuses strike readily in brisk heat. Sow Phlox Drum- 
mondi, and the earliest Stocks may be sown now, as well as Asters, 
Marigolds and Zinnias. Pansies may be raised now in gentle heat for 
affording a late display of flowers. 
Ground Beetles and Strawberries (J1 C .').—Ground beetles 
rarely feed on the Strawberry fruits, but some weevils prey on the leaves 
and flower trusses, perfoiating the former and eating partly through the 
petioles. The ground beetles are carnivorous, though they may vary 
their die^ with vegetables at certain times, though we have not found 
ripe fruit similarly attacked. Of course there are some beetles that 
may prove destructive in certain cases, but, as a rule, they confine their 
work to the destruction of the gardener’s worst enemies, molluscs, 
centipedes, and grubs. 
Sparmannla Beaves Scorched ( W. IF.).—The leaves have been 
scorched or injured, an overdose of tobacco smoke, or some other sub¬ 
stance used in fumigating the house. The scorching has probably been 
accelerated by the foliage being damp at the time, or the recent severe 
weather would tend to render the leaves tender and more susceptible of 
injury from the fumigation. There is no trace of insector of “rust” 
caused by fungi on the leaves. The only means of avoiding such 
disasters is to use the best material for fumigating, have the foliage 
dry, and deliver the smoke cool. 
Slimy Ponds (J. C .').—It is very common and natural for water 
remaining still to become foul with Algte and Confervoidete in summer. 
To concrete or asphalt the bottom of the lake would be of no use 
whatever, as we have seen ponds similarly offensive that were lined 
entirely with cement, and the only remedy was to keep waterfowl on 
them. Ducks of various breeds are effective where the w’ater is not 
very deep, but swans in some cases are necessary, and both, say two of 
the latter and half a dozen of the former, would be as pleasing to the 
eye as useful in keeping the water free from Conferva. 
Waiting' for Information (IF. G. C .).—Though you are neither 
quite accurate in the quotation, nor the author of it, yet you will have 
seen that what you wanted has come by waiting. We do not for 
a moment believe that the best Chrysanthemum growers desireto “ keep 
their methods in the dark till November.” On the contrary, really able 
men are the most ready of all others to impart information; it is those 
who know comparatively little that can least afford to let slip a little of 
that little they know. Perhaps you had better make a note of this, and 
you may yet be enrolled in the noble army of teachers. 
The Winter of 1860-1861 (^W. Smitli). —Unusual pressure on 
our pages prevented your letter being attended to last week. As you 
have no records, and your memory does not enable you to mention the 
frost register, the publication of your letter would not afford the needed 
information. Like you, we well remember the unusual severity of the 
frost on Christmas Eve, 1860, and we have a clear recollection of the 
thermometer registering 7° below zero. There were still lower records, 
as also there were in January, 1881, but the destruction to shrub life 
was, we think, greater during the former memorable frost. 
Verbenas (IF. I. <?.). —Your stock plants must be kept away from 
the hot-water pipes, or the cuttings will soon be too hard to strike. Soft 
growths inserted in boxes of sandy soil, covered with glass, in a warm 
house or pit, will root in a week. Kemove the glass then, and do not 
stop the plants till the tops are large enough to make into other cuttings. 
Seedlings should be pricked off not less than 3 inches apart in boxes of 
good loamy soil, and the tops of these may also be struck. Verbena 
venosa can be raised from seed, but is best propagated by means of 
root cuttings with two joints inserted closely in boxes and placed in heat. 
Moveable Stages for Creenbouse (A. G.'). —Corrugated zinc 
roofing is extensively used in some places for stages and answers remark¬ 
ably well. The sheets are not placed flush with the wall or pit sides, 
but a little space is left for heat to pass up ; but it is better to let the 
“ roofing ” extend to the walls, and have a hot-water pipe (2 inch) 
under the roof at the base of the rafters. These shelves are easily put 
up and quickly taken down, and they answer better than wood staging, 
and ate much more durable. Some persons grow Cucumbers in summer 
and Mushrooms in winter in the same structures, but the structures can 
be utilised for any purpose for which they are suitable, and for the 
produce of which there exists a demand. 
Destroying Woodlics (^Idevi ').—There is no better plan than to 
get some pieces of old boards, sprinkle one laid on the floor or bed with 
a little oatmeal or crumbs of a floury boiled Potato, and another board 
of the same size placed upon it, with a small stone at one or both ends, 
»o as to keep the board sufficiently far from the lower one as to admit 
the woodlice. The vermin will soon find out the food, when it is a 
matter only of removing the pebbles and crushing the woodlice between 
the boards. Some persons use the old boards only, which, partly 
decayed, attract the woodlice, and they are swept into boiling water,. 
