824 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 28, 1892. 
APIARIAN NOTES. 
The Apiahy. 
Since the 10th of April my bees have been almost wholly con¬ 
fined to their hives. Heavy showers of snow fell on seven days in 
succession. The temperature was low, and the frost destroyed all 
flowers except Daffodils. The temperature on three successive 
mornings was as low as 17'’, and the day register on the 16th 35°. 
Gooseberries are much injured, especially Warringtons and White¬ 
smiths—in fact none have escaped, but the Early Sulphurs appear 
to have suffered less than most of the reds. The bees, however, 
being kept within the hives have suffered less than if the weather 
had been less severe and occasional sunny intervals had lured them 
out to destruction. I hear of a number of hives ruined because of 
short supplies of food. Bees allowed to suffer now by want of 
food seldom recover from the check and become profitable. 
Comb Foundation. 
As a rule the sooner personal discussions cease the better, but 
not before both sides of the question have been heard, and inaccu¬ 
racies rectified. Mr. J. M. Hooker seems to boast a little about 
his experience and success on page 306, yet from his own statement 
I find I am his senior in bee-keeping, and though this is my fifty- 
second year of practice I do not claim superiority either over younger 
or older men. I am pleased, however, to know that I have instructed 
many in the art, if I am to believe the letters in my possession from 
Mr. C. N. Abbott and others, either asking for information or thank 
ing me for it. I have also Mr. Abbott’s request that I should write 
in his Journal on “ How to make comb foundation.” 
I agree with Mr. Hooker that it supports an argument when 
quoting to state the book, year, and page, and had he been accurate 
in his article on page 306, April 12tb, it would have saved this 
reply. He makes a great blunder when he says he visited me in 
1876. It was in 1875, the year after I taught the bee-keeping 
world the art of making comb foundation as I made it then, and 
from 1862. He, in the presence of witnesses, said “ comb founda¬ 
tion was a failure.” This surprised me after the eulogiums that bad 
been passed on it at the first Crystal Palace Show. I put a question 
to Mr. Hooker, and his answer revealed the cause of his failure 
with it, and I then put him right. 
I remember perfectly well the stupid awards at the 1875 Show 
as well as the audacity of men undertaking to judge articles on 
which they had not a full knowledge. The first prize award for 
foundation on that occasion was a blunder. The winner was a 
pupil of my own, and was, by the queer verdict, surprised. I did 
not compete with foundation in 1877, as I did not think it worth 
my while doing so against my pupils ; but on hearing so much 
about Mr. Raitt’s foundation I competed in 1878, and won the first 
prize easily. Mr. Hooker says Mr. Alfred Neighbour accompanied 
him in his call on me. That is not correct, as Mr. Neighbour did 
not come till 1877. 
I have no recollection whatever of giving Mr. Hooker bees,"^ 
and I had none at the Show to which he alludes, and I protest 
against the accusation that the wax was adulterated. It was made 
from the combs of my own apiary. The cause of his bees rejecting 
it may be found in the construction of the super. I have known 
samples of pure wax pronounced to be adulterated with paraffin by 
clever experts. 
Mr. Hooker cannot, I think, be ignorant of the fact that there 
have been no less than four patents taken out within the past few 
years by different persons for what I made upwards of thirty years 
since.—A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper. 
Ethics in Controversy. 
In the Journal for April 21st, page 306, Mr. Hooker says 
“ In recommending anything to bee-keepers I know only their 
interest. I have no axe of my own to grind, and do not desire to 
raise a controversy as a means of advertising any particular article 
or kind of bee, or assisting any other persons to prop up anything 
they have written.” I do not know why your correspondent should 
advertise himself as being peculiar in that respect, unless it is to 
suggest that other writers are not actuated by equally honourable 
motives. A man can serve his fellows in many ways ; making 
* The word “ bees ” should have been printed “ box ” in the article reterred to. 
them a better article than they already have is one way, or if he 
can sell them a better bee it is his duty to do so. Mr. Hooker 
should remember that it is not age which gives authority, or 
having “ friends at Court,” and unless a person’s own work will 
bear criticism he has no right to dictate, no matter what his age 
may be.— A Hallamshire 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 
Qnavoidably. 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 questiots 
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- 
Cheuilcal Manures (JZ. C. A.).—We often wonder why specified 
kinds of the most important chemical manures are not more generally 
advertised ; however, the majority of those you name are mentioned in 
the advertisement of the Horticultural Supply Co., Old Shot Tower 
Wharf, London, S.E., and no doubt all the kinds can be supplied. 
Iiobellas for Edging' {Yorlt). — When we consider the grea 
divergence in the tastes of individuals we naturally hesitate to 
characterise any variety of any kind of plant as absolutely the best, 
and thus tacitly stamp all other varieties as inferior. If we wished an 
edging of dark blue Lobelia we could provide it to our satisfaction with 
pumila magnifica. 
Red Spider on Gooseberry Bushes (J. W .'),—Applying clear 
lime water in the form of spray to the under sides of the leaves through 
a bent nozzle will check if not destroy the pest; or it may, perhaps, be 
more convenient to you to apply a solution made by dissolving soft- 
soap at the rate of 1 to 2 ozs. in a gallon of hot water, and well 
mixing a small handful of sulphur in a pail or pot holding about 
4 gallons of the solution. Carbolic softsoap is good to use for this 
purpose. 
Professional Flower Bressers (^Exhibitor). — While we agree 
with you that it is desirable that persons who win prizes for flowers 
should not only grow their own but prepare them for the shows, we 
also know that “experts” are employed by cultivators to dress 
Auriculas, Carnations, and Chrysanthemums for staging. Some of these 
experts are paid for their skill in floral millinery, others give gratuitous 
friendly assistance. One able dresser is said to first trim up the floweis 
of his friends and then assist in judging them. We have not the least 
doubt that he acts with the strictest integrity, but the example thus set 
is not altogether approved, and, as may be easily understood, opens the 
door to possible abuse. 
Violets In Pits {Violet ').—Thousands of Violets might be grown- 
in the length of frames you describe, and some persons would realise a 
substantial sum by the sale of the flowers. The Marie Louise would 
probably be the most profitable of those you mention, and the single- 
Russian the least. It is of the first importance to have stout young 
plants. These are provided by establishing the best procurable offsets- 
now in rich soil, supporting them well in the summer, pinching the- 
runners, and preventing attacks by red spider. They may be treated 
practically the same as young Strawberry plants, and if grown about 
15 inches apart, with sturdy foliage and bold crowns, blooms would be 
afforded in profusion during the winter and early spring. They are best 
planted in frames as soon as they can be cleared in September, but not 
closing the sashes. Very good results have followed October planting^ 
but the sooner they are established in the frames in September the better 
will be the crop of flowers. 
XmproviniT Ba-wn {W. G .).—You are rather late in your applica¬ 
tion, and appear to have overlooked instructions that have been previously 
given. If you rake out the weeds as well as you can, also take advantage 
of favourable weather for scratching the surface of the ground well 
with a sharp toothed rake, then sow lawn seeds freely and roll them, 
in, a good number will grow ; but more would do so if a film of 
soil could be sifted over them. If you describe the extent of lawn to- 
a vendor of seeds and ask for the proper quantity, they will be sent.. 
Also we advise you to sow a mixture of superphosphate of lime and 
