Jannary 8, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF llORTTCULTURF AND COTTAGE GARDENEFy,. 
83 
thawed, be far too wet to be of any service, tliis conducting rather than 
excluding extreme cold. More of the dry litter to bo in readiness for 
covering the mats or old carpets that are thrown over the lights. Keep 
the plants as dry as possible, and remove all decaying stems and leaves 
whenever discovered. 
Preparing for J^ossihle Faihirex. — Although Zonal Pelargoniums, 
Calceolarias, Verbenas, and other tender jilants arc not nearly so much 
used in the flower ganlen as in fc rmer years, there is yet a considerable 
number required in most places, and should there be a possibility of a 
scarcity substitutes must be found. Neither Pelargoniums nor Calceo¬ 
larias fit for bedding out can be raised from seed, and the cheapest sub¬ 
stitute for the former will bo found in dwarf Tropmolums, of which 
there are several very showy compact varieties that come true to name 
from seed, and if not unduly crowded are very effective. Tuberous 
Begonias are superior to either these or Pelargoniums, and it is possible 
to raise a stock of these from seed ready for bedding out next June. 
Dwarf French Marigolds and Tagetes signata pumila are perhaps the 
best substitutes for Calceolarias, though Gaillardias picta and Ijorenziana 
arc easily raised from seed, and present a gay appearance in flower beds 
or borders. Verbenas arc not difficult to raise from seed, and beils of 
mixed seedlings are pleasing. So also are beds of Phlox Drummondi, 
cither in separate colours or in mixture. Antirrhinums if strong plants 
are put out are very showy in beds and border.s, as also are Stocks, 
Asters, Zinnias, Godetias, Sweet Sultan, Petunias, and a few other 
annuals and biennials. Nicotiana aflinis is very effective in borders, 
and so also is the variegated Maize or Zaa japonica variegata. Dahlias 
also can be raised from seed, but plants raised from cuttings of named 
sorts arc preferable. Centaurcas can be raised from seed in time to be.l 
out this season, and a stock of seedling plants of the silvery-leaved 
Cinerarias maritima and aconitifolia might prove very serviceable. 
The new Dracaena or Croton-leaved Beet is the best substitute for 
Iresincs, while for edging purposes hundreds or thousands of Golden 
Pyrethrum, dwarf Tjobelias and Ageratums can each be had from single 
packets of seed. Some or all of the foregoing ought then to be ordered 
with the other seeds now, in order to have them in readiness when the 
proper time for sowing arrives. 
Starting Stock Plants. —Where there is only a moderately large 
stock of old plants wintered for the purpose of affording cuttings 
these might well be introduced into gentle heat shortly. A newly 
started vinery or Peach house is particularly well adapted for this 
purpose, the plants producing better cuttings, and are less liable to be 
infested by red spider and thrips than is the case if they came into 
contact with a variety of stove plants. Zonal Pelargoniums, Heliotropes, 
Verbenas, Abutilons, and Fuchsias are principally started into active 
growth at this early date. Matured tops of the former will not strike 
with any certainty unless first subjected to gentle heat for a few weeks. 
After these are taken off and rooted there will yet be good time for a 
number of side shoots to form and bo propagated. Tjarge boxes or pots 
full of old plants of either flowering or variegated varieties, and whiclr 
were cut well back when lifted, ought now to bo started in heat. They 
will soon yield a number of cuttings, the plants obtained in this way 
frequently proving very serviceable. 
Jtahhits in the Flower Oarden. —Babbits appear to be unusually 
plentiful this winter, and never before has greater destruction among 
shrubs and flowers taken place. Long-continued severe frosts and 
much snow has deprived the rabbits of their ordinary means of 
sustenance, and as a consequence trees, shrubs, and flowers have been 
badly preyed upon by them. They ajipcar to prefer the bark to foliage, 
the former prebably being the least bitter, and if many thousands of 
trees and shrubs are not completely ruined they must, at any rate, bo 
sadly crippled. Galvanised wire netting sunk well into the ground will 
usually exclude rabbits and hares from the pleasure grounds, but with 
snow banked against this they can walk over easily enough. Stems 
may also bo enclosed either with strips of bark, thorn bushes, or a 
coating of cart grease with which gas tar has been freely added. They 
do not like the smell of petroleum, but hunger soon forces them to face 
this. In order, therefore, to save the shrubs, Boses, Carnations, and' 
such like, it is advisable to feed the rabbits with Swedes, Turnips, and 
Mangold Wurtzcl roots. That is the best preventive. 
confidence that he was a gentleman of sterling worth, and many 
business transactions proved him to be so in deeds as well as in 
name. Honourable in every transaction, at all times anxious to 
have the “best material and workmanship,” always glad ■when ho 
had been the means of assisting those in distress, “ never letting his 
right hand know what his left hand did.” As an apiarian no 
person has done for bee-keeping what he has. He was the pioneer 
in all improvements, and the introducer of the foreign races of 
bees that have been tlio means of raising the honey yield of this 
country. If comb foundation was not first made by him it is' to 
him that we are all indebted for its introduction and manufacture 
in this country. He supplied friends and foes alike with plates,, 
and instructions how to make them, both to Britishers and 
Americans, 
Although a quiet and unassuming man he yet possessed con¬ 
siderable humour, and that in addition to his other qualities 
made him a very agreeable companion to ramble with, Ilis articles 
were always well written and to the point, free from exaggeration, 
but always truthful. Possessing a large library of works on bees 
and being a practical bee-keeper, he possessed much knowledge 
on bee matters. As author of “ Tlie Apiary ” he gained much 
confidence with many ladies and gentlemen throughout the 
empire. lie has left a widow to mourn the loss of a loving: 
and faithful husband. 
The Weatiieu. 
We have had a long, but not severe, frosty weather, and with¬ 
out snow. Since January lata mildness has sst in, but has become 
foggy, with indications of a renewal of frost. The change has 
enabled the bees to make a movement inside the hive, which wilt 
be to their advantage, but very few bo(is flew. 
Flowers Intoxic-atino Bees, 
Mr. Arnott mentioned lately that bees become intoxicated when 
working upon Sedum Fabaria, a thing at that date unobserved' 
by mo, but shortly after, while watching for the phenomenon, I 
noticed one bee alight, and almost instantly appeared drowsy, 
but on my approach it Hew off. This bee, if it was under tho 
influence of any somniferous agent, it must have been from tho 
odour, and not from tho nectar which it had not tasted. Some 
flowers affect people in a similar manner, and if I am right in- 
my conjectures, a field for investigation is opened up. Thistles 
and other flowers possess the same peculiar influence, and I 
trust Mr. Arnott will give the subject due attention when the 
time comes round, and let us all know the facts. 
Feeding Bees, 
I have only seen my hives once since the first day of December,, 
on which the bees were flying and carrying pollen, and I was 
putting some little matters right, when I accidentally touched and' 
moved a hive, the heaviest I had. I was surprised how light it 
seemed from what it was two months previous. The mild weather 
in December contributed largely to tho decrease in weight. It was 
too late to feed or disturb them in any way, but on the first oppor- 
•HI 
HE BEE-KEEPER. 
-i -T'-tt7-- I ■ I ■ I ■ I ■ I -t ■ 1 :n - P 
APIARIAN NOTES. 
The L.\te Alfred NEroiiMOUR. 
I HAVE but lately received an intimation to tho effect that 
Mr. Alfred Neighbour died at 1, Acol Hoad, West Hampstead, on 
tho Ifith of December, 1890, aged sixty-five years. Coming near 
tho end of tho year, and being but one of many intimating the 
death of many old associates and intimate friends, brought sadness 
and rofloction. It is nearly thirty years since I became acquainted 
with Mr. A. Neighbour. His first letter to mo imbued mo with 
tunity, after the bees have aired themselves, I shall give a little 
syrup in tin scoops holding from .3 to G ozs. These scoops are* 
pushed underneath the combs from tho front or other parts, and' 
have a spalo of wood as a float, and are kept flush with the hive, so that ■ 
bees are not marred on their return. This method is the speediest,, 
safest, and best of any for feeding in tho spring. Crown feeding, 
is troublesome, for it causes a draught, cools the hive, and brings' 
on dysentery. Giving candy on tho top of the hive is not advis¬ 
able, although its advocates say the vacuum formed by the quilt 
going over it, together with its consumption, gives a warm retreat for 
the bees. This entirely falls through when we are told by one ofr 
its advocates in replying to a correspondent, who complains of thei 
absence of heat on tho crown of a hive, says, “ You will find tlm 
warmth very perceptible when breeding begins.” 
