40 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
[ January 12, 1893. 
trapping bullfinches these birds (P. major) are a nuisance by 
entering the cages. I invariably give them their liberty. A lump 
of suet is an irresistible bait.—J. Hiam. 
Punic Bees and Colouked Combs. 
I DID not intend to say anything re “ C., NortlmmlerlandC 
(page 558) until others had had a say, as I was completely puzzled, 
not having heard of or seen a case where Punics sealed their 
combs “ yellow.” Of course I naturally thought this yellow was 
due to propolis, but the latter explanation of “ C.” clearly shows 
that it was not the cause. I have one theory to account for it, which 
may or may not be correct, which seems to have escaped our friend 
“ A.L. B. K.,” which is this : when bees are working on some kinds 
of flowers. Sainfoin for instance, all the wax they make is a very 
deep yellow. I do not know if Punics can make white wax from 
this source, but every other race seals Sainfoin honey with very 
golden yellow sealing. Other sources, such as the Dandelion and 
Black Currants, produce yellow wax ; in fact, every honey seems 
to yield wax of a different colour, which to me is a mystery. Why 
is this difference in colour ? Is it pollen, or what ? 
Now I know Punics will work on anything that will yield any 
sweetness, even if neglected by any other bees, and they will also 
travel a greater distance to collect it, hence it seems to me that the 
bees simply got their stores from a source neglected by the other 
bees, either by working on a source neglected by them, or by going 
a greater distance for it, and the fact that they sealed honey both 
in supers and body of the hive shows they were not to be despised. 
Some time ago I received a query on this very subject from a 
lady in Northumberland, who intimated that she intended asking 
it in these pages. Being puzzled, I thought it best to see what the 
public had to say, as some infer that these bees soil their combs 
with propolis, which I deny, not having seen or heard of a case, 
even with hybrids. The bees of “ C.” are hybrids. What interests 
me most is the fact that “ C.'’ makes it clear that propolis is not 
the cause of the yellowmess of sealings. 
I may here say that if “ C.” or anyone else who have had these 
bees from me are dissatisfied with them, they have only to apply 
for their money back. Mr. W. H. Ley of Easton, near Stamford, 
averaged 140 lbs. of honey from his Punics and 40 lbs. from natives 
(British) the past season ; figures like these tell their own tale. 
His British bees were from queens of my breeding, while many of 
his neighbours got no honey at all from their English bees.— 
A Hallamsiiire 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 
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 
Books (TF. B.'). —Some of the works mentioned are, as you probably 
know, published at this office. We will send your letter to our corre¬ 
spondent, and he may write to you on the subject. The last work you 
name would not be of substantial value, and you could employ the some¬ 
what large amount to better advantage. 
Address of Correspondents (M. (7.).—It is hopeless for readers 
to expect editors to supply the names and addresses of correspondents 
who do not send them for publication. We have sent your card to the 
writer to whom you allude in case he may like to communicate with 
you. That is all we can do in the matter. 
Scale on Vines (72. 72.).—Judging from the dried leaves sent 
the Vines must be in a deplorable state. You did right in taking off 
the infested leaves and burning them, also in washing the house and 
Vines. We should not paint the rods with anything, but dress them 
with a petroleum emulsion, such as is advised on page 16 last week for 
destroying American blight on fruit trees, but half the quantities of soft- 
soap and petroleum there recommended would be safer for the Vines, 
and a temperature of 120° would destroy all the scale insects covered. 
You must be very watchful in spring and prevent anything like such an 
incrustation as occrrrred last year. You will master the scale with 
perseverance. The Vines must have sustained serious injury. 
Prize IVIedal Essays (^E. A. IF.).—The names of gardeners to 
whom silver medals have been awarded have been published. We 
repeat them—Mr. T. Garnett, Mr. E. D. Smith, and Mr. G. A. Bishop. 
We shall shortly announce the names of other medallists for essays now 
under adjudication. 
Iilquld Ammonia from Gasworks (7. E .').—We presume the 
liquid ammonia is the “gas liquor” from which sulphate of ammonia 
is manufactured ; if so, it must be used very carefully, and highly 
diluted with water. For vegetables it may be used at strengths corre¬ 
sponding to the vigour of the plants, about 1 pint to a 3-gallon water- 
potful of water being quite strong enough when it is used over the 
foliage, and in some cases it will brown the plants at that ratio, not 
only because the foliage differs in hardiness, but through the variable¬ 
ness of the strength of the gas liquor. For pouring between the rows 
of growing crops it need only be diluted with six times the quantity of 
water, and is valuable for all the Brassica tribe and Peas, taking care 
not to apply it to their stems. For fruit trees it should be diluted with 
ten times the quantity of water, and be applied during the swelling of 
their crops, preferably in the first half of their swelling, as given late 
it has a tendency to induce late growths. It will benefit every kind of 
plant that needs support, only take care to supply it weak, and to pour 
it clear of their foliage. It, however, requires to be used with care, as 
an overdose is fatal. 
national Chrysanthemum Society’s Catalogue QH. B .).— 
As intimated on page 18 last week, we sent your letter to Mr. Eichard 
Dean, the Secretary of the N.C.S., who replies as follows:—“This 
matter is readily explained. Mr. Richardson wrote for a catalogue and 
said he had enclosed a postal order for Is., which was not in his letter. 
I sent him a supplemental catalogue, and asked him to return 6d. in 
postage stamps. Then he writes on a post card to say I had made a 
mistake, that he did send Is., and that he wanted the larger catalogue. 
His post card contained no address, and, unfortunately, his previous 
letter had been destroyed, and I could not refer to that. I now send 
him the Centenary catalogue, but I have not received a single penny 
for either. If he enclosed the postal order it must have been abstracted 
during the transit. I give an official receipt for every sixpence sent for 
a catalogue. If Mr. Richardson’s order had been received my receipt 
book would have shown a counterfoil to that amount, but there is none.” 
It appears that at the time Mr. Dean wrote the above, instead of his 
(as alleged) owing you sixpence, you owed him eighteenpence. Whether 
the amount has been remitted or not, you will admit he has met the 
case fairly. 
Encharls Ealllng (2?. S .').—Your plants are no doubt infested by 
the bulb mite, or what is so commonly termed the Eucharis mite. To 
clean the plants and restore them again to health and vigour has baffled 
the skill of many an expert in plant culture. We, however, advise you 
to try and clean them. It is unfortunate that you turned the plants 
out of their pots before you could give them gentle bottom heat to again 
start them into growth. You must go over the bulbs, and remove all 
decayed portions carefully. The three outer scales of the bulbs have 
been removed in some instances. In your case it may be necessary to 
remove one or more, then wash the bulbs thoroughly in tepid water, 
but before doing so remove every portion in which these mites can 
secrete themselves. After washing lay the bulbs in dry sand to harden 
the outer scales in order that they can bear a stronger solution of 
insecticide, in which they should be well dipped. Any favourite 
insecticide will do, and may be used the strength that would destroy 
aphides (green fly). Eucharis bulbs take a good deal of killing, but the 
process of cleaning will weaken them, and after they are started again 
the feeblest of growth only will result. Some cultivators have claimed 
the eradication of these pests by a free use of lime water, which is well 
worth trying also in your case. Others by the use of an insecticide that 
is advertised and sold for the purpose. The soil at first should at any 
rate consist of good rich loam and sand. For years we have used nothing 
else for Eucharis. 
Barge Tomatoes (A. G, A).—The variety Royal Sovereign about 
which you inquire was exhibited at the Drill Hall on July 26th, 1892, 
by Mr. E. Gilbert, Burghley Gardens, Stamford, and received an 
award of merit from the Fruit Committee of the Royal Horticultural 
Society. It is an American introduction, and we believe catalogued in 
the United States under the name of Ponderosa. Most probably it is 
the heaviest fruited variety in cultivation, the six fruits shown by Mr. 
Gilbert weighing lOJ lbs., and it is possible to grow them still larger. 
As may reasonably be conjectured, the fruit are very solid, and the 
flavour is good. All the same, it will never be extensively grown 
unless prizes are offered for the heaviest Tomatoes, irrespective of form 
and colour. Royal Sovereign is far too coarse, and the colour, pale red, 
is also objectionable. The fruit sets freely, and if the flowers with 
fasciated pistils are pinched off early some moderately large well-formed 
fruit may be had. For exhibition purposes no variety surpasses a good 
stock of Perfection. Grow this strongly and sturdily, pinch off the first 
unshapely flowers as advised in the case of Royal Sovereign, fertilise 
those reserved, avoid overcropping, feed plants well at the roots, and 
plenty of perfectly formed richly coloured fruit will be had, or such as 
will win prizes. If after reading this you still have a desire to grow 
Royal Sovereign with a view to winning prizes write to Mr. Gilbert for 
his price list of novelties. 
