334 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 23, l«l. 
invert it over a block of wood, having a hole in the centre corre¬ 
sponding with the neck of the bottle, and which leadj to the 
interior of the hive. Cover the bottle, and in a few seconds the 
bees will join the cluster without the risk of killing or being 
killed, and will put spirit in the older bees to defend and 
work better than anything I know. Several bottlefuls of bees 
may be put in, which may be gathered from all the hives 
in the apiary. Many a hive have I improved in this way 
which yielded large quantities o£ Heather honey, and in some cases 
a surplus of Clover honey. The above plan is quite practical in 
■the case of “ C. E’s ” weak hive. 
Covering Hives. 
A correspondent has erred in covering his hives by placing the 
dried grass between boards. It should be kept close to the sides 
and the tops of alljhives, the top 'always demanding the greatest 
quantity. Although the treatment of bees in some cases should be 
different from that of human beings, in this case it should not. 
Just as blankets are kept close to the body for warmth in the bed, 
ao should the covering upon the hive. I am glad to ihear the sup¬ 
posed lost queen is safe. Many an older and greater experienced 
bee-keeper has taken a swollen worker for a queen ; aye, and 
authors of works on bees, but lacked the right knowledge. It 
makes little difference whether the super cover is removed or not, 
providing the covering touches the crovn and sides.—A Lanark¬ 
shire Bee-keeper. 
[An interesting letter on the patent laws by “ Hallamshire Bee¬ 
keeper ” cannot be published this week.] 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
Thomas Painter, Smallwood .—Catalogue of Dahlias. 
W. L. Lewis & Co., Southgate, London .—Price List of OrchUh. 
William Paul «Sc Son, Waltham Cross .—Catalogue of Kciv Hoses and 
Florists' Flowers. 
All 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 communica¬ 
tions. 
dazing without Putty (i?. A. P .').—Possibly the system to 
which you refer is Helliwell’s. We do not know whether they have a 
branch at Birmingham or not, and we do not find any advertisement in 
the “ Horticultural Directory.” 
Woodllce (J. E. J.).—There was neither a pink nor any other 
coloured specimen in the box on its arrival here, but from what you say 
we conclude that what you regard as a curiosity is Oniscus armadillo, 
and though by no means rare it is much less common than the ordinary 
kind, 0. asellus. 
Pelargoniums for Winter (iV. J/.).—Some varieties are better 
adapted for winter flowering than others. The plants you have ready 
for potting would, if grown as advised on page 299 last week, be very 
suitable for the purpose in view, choosing as far as possible the most 
floriferous varieties. If you thoroughly wash the cans immediately the 
weal killer has been used no ill results will follow. Mind you do not 
destroy Box or any other edging plants as well as weeds. 
Cutting down Vines (J. J. L .').—You must not cut down the 
Vines now, but the canes ought to have been shortenel, as we have 
repeatedly advised, in the autumn. When that has not been done the 
«ipper growths or buds may be rubbed off gradually at this season down 
ti where a good bud exists more than half way down the cane. See our 
reply to a correspondent on page 23.5. We fear you are not such a 
close and attentive reader of the Journal of Hortieulture as you ought 
to be. 
Tasmanian Apples (IF. M, B.'). — In a list of varieties of 
Tasmau’an Apples, sold by auction last week, we observe there were 
six times as many cases of Ribston Pippin as of any other varieties, 
those following in relatively greatest bulk beiug Adams’ Pearmain, 
Scarlet Pearmaiu, French Crab, Sturmer Pippin, Alexander, Scarlet 
Nonpareils, and some others not grown in this country. Perhaps the 
next cirgo may be different, both in varieties or the relative proportions 
of those enumerated. We have noticed a considerable number of Cox’s 
Orange Pippin and King of the Pippins in some fruiterers’ shops. We 
have no list of Pears. 
Tears not Ripening (F. II'). —If such fruits as you have sent 
had each been wrapped in tissue paper and placed in a sweet, closely 
fitting box they would have ripened, especially if brought into a 
warmer place than they have been kept in. By adopting the method 
advised a week or two after gathering the fruit, and introducing a few 
at a time into a plant stove, a succession of ripe Pears may be had of any 
good keeping variety. The paper rrsed must be perfectly free from 
newspaper ink, and the boxes sweet, or the flavour of the Pears will 
be spoiled. 
Encephalartos caffer Outdoors (V. Y. Z.). —This plant is very 
effective in sub-tropical gardens during the summer months ; but we are 
not awdi’e that it has proved sufficiently hardy, even in sheltered spots 
or warm nooks, to pass our winters safely. Perhaps it might succeed 
planted out in a sheltered spot on the lawn, the site being dry in winter 
and proto dion afforded in severe weather, but that is a matter for 
experiment, and we should not advise it without the full consent of your 
employer. The plants being covered with scale would enjoy a sojourn 
outdoors in summer, say from June to September inclusive ; they will 
be much freshened, and the scale, perhaps, washed off by rain. It may 
be destroyed by Brushing the affected parts carefully with methylated 
spirit. 
Raising Irises from Seed (^Somerset). —Sow the seed in sandy 
soil, preferably as soon as ripe, in pans or boxes, placed in a cold frame, 
keeping the Sjil moist. Sow thinly to prevent disturbing the seedlings, 
but they may be gently raised when large enough and pricked off a few 
inches apart. After June they should have full exposure, and for 
safety may be wintered in a frame, planting them out the following 
spring, or preferably assigning them their flowering quarters in autumn, 
protecting the roots with a mulch of cocoa-nut fibre refuse. Efficient 
drainage must be given, and the less the roots are drie 1 the better. The 
situation should be fully exposed to the sun, yet protected from 
easterly or strong winds. Roots sufficiently strong for flowering may 
be expected after three years’ growth. 
IWentzellas Qldem). —The Mentzelias are hardy, annual, biennial, 
or perennial herbaceous plants, closely allied to Bartonia, the flowers 
being orange or white, solitary, racemose or cymose, opening only during 
sunshine. They grow 1 to 2 feet high or more in rich soil. The species 
are showy and well worth growing. Any ordinary garden soil suits 
them, and the seed may be sown early in April where it is to remain ; 
but in dealing with doubtful species it is desirable to raise the plants 
in gentle heat in spring, and when the seedlings are suflSciently large 
they should be placed singly into small, well drained pots, keeping them 
near to the light, not too clo-e and not giving too much watering. 
Some of the seedlings could be planted out, others kept in pots and 
wintered, if not annuals, on a dry shelf in a cool greenhouse or protected 
frame, planting out the following spring after well hardened. 
Sweet Potatoes (A. J. A.).—It is not necessary to strike the tops of 
Batatas edulis if you can.keep the growths healthy and comparatively 
short by not starting them too soon in a warm and more or less shaded 
place. A frame on a mild hotbed is very suitable for them, starting 
them towards the ead of the month, or in May, in a temperature in 
which Kidney Beans would grow steadily. If the growths get too 
advanced it would be advisable to strike cuttings just as you would 
Dahlias, and treat the plan's similarly till they can be planted out in 
June. They require rich soil and a warm position, and we prefer 
placing sticks for supporting the growths to allowing them to trail 
like Vegetable Marrows, but you might try both methods. They are 
very tender and require to be prepared with care, and not planted out 
till the weather is suitable for planting Vegetable Marrows. 
Camellia and Tacsonla Iieaves Spotted (A". Y. Z.). — The 
brown spots are caused by the sun acting powerfully upon the parts 
w'hilst wet, or excessive evaporation from their surface when covered 
with water. It may be caused by drip or condensed moisture falling 
upon the leaves. Washing them will not prevent the spotting, but a 
freer circulation of air would be beneficial, especially in the early part 
of the day. This, we presume, is impracticable, as the roof being 
opaque, ventilation in that part is not provided for, which is sufficient 
to account for the spotted condition of the leaves through the moisture 
accumulating at the back part of such unsuitable structures for plant 
growth. A solution of 2 ozs. of Gishurst compound to a gallon of water 
is quite strong enough for washing the leaves, and you could not have 
a better substanee for the pui-pose. We do not know the soap you 
mention, and therefore cannot give any information as to its employment 
with petroleum. 
Peach Iieaves Scorched (.7. F.). —The leaves are very thin and 
badly scorched; in fact, the tissues are destroyed—skeletonised, the 
injured parts being separated from the living. It has been caused by 
excessive fumigation, and the destruction of the leaves causes the 
