62 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
[ January 19, 1893. 
APIARIAN NOTES. 
Knowledge on Bees. 
It does not follow that the person with most knowledge on 
bees and their habits is always the most successful in securing 
the most and the best honey. On the contrary, it sometimes 
happens that things are reversed, and the novice, through favouring 
local circumstances, has the best of it. The experienced bee- 
master will, however, as a rule, far outstrip the inexperienced one. 
Although it is not entirely essential for bee-keepers to know all 
about the natural history of the bee, it is desirable for them and 
naturalists to know as much as possible. In order to assist both 
in the study, I will explain several things on which there is a wide 
divergence of opinion. 
Egg Transference and Deposition. 
It has been frequently asserted that bees transfer eggs to queen 
and other cells, and that the queen regnant deposits eggs in partly 
made queen cells. In hundreds of examinations and experiments 
I never found either. This past summer, in order to test the 
matter more thoroughly, I made many crucial tests, but not in one 
single instance did I detect an egg transferred to any cell from 
where the queen deposited them. I have witnessed very often 
eggs deposited in partly built queen cells, but in every instance 
these were eggs from fertile workers, or unfertilised ones deposited 
by the queen regnant, inasmuch as they always developed into 
drones. 
Were we to believe the theory that bees transfer eggs to queen 
cells or that queens deposit them there, then, on the other hand, 
we should be compelled to believe that bees had various ways of 
accomplishing their ends. When a hive is deprived of its queen 
the bees raise queens upon worker cells containing eggs or larvse 
only, whether there be queen cells or not. I have never observed 
an egg transferred. I raised thousands of queens during the past 
summer 5 inches above the brood nest, and there never was an 
egg removed to it. 
Notwithstanding all that has been asserted to the contrary, the 
student may dismiss from his mind the wild idea that bees either 
transfer eggs or that queens deposit them in queen cells. If there 
has ever been a reliable case it is exceptional, and but proves the 
rule, that the queen deposits the eggs where they are to hatch and 
be nursed into perfect insects, whether they be queen, worker, 
or drone. 
A Bee-killing Queen. 
In 1863 an imported Italian queen was introduced to a hive of 
common bees, which she attacked and killed over a thousand of 
them, and since then we have had others with a similar spirit. 
Such refractory queens are, I believe, the direct cause of their own 
death, and it is that fighting spirit in both bees and queens that 
we have to guard against and get rid of before we can depend upon 
a successful union. Our safety queening cage enables us to discern 
at a glance when it is safe to let them remain together.—A 
Lanarkshire Bee-keeper. 
Fennel and Bees. 
For two or three years past I have noticed in a neighbouring 
garden where several plants of Fennel flower and seed every year, 
that a number of bees are invariably at work amongst the flowers, 
presumably for the pollen for the cell formation in their hives. 
I am not a bee-keeper, so am not at all learned in bee lore, and it 
may be a well-known fact that Fennel is cultivated by bee-keepers ; 
at all events I mention the circumstance as one coming under my 
notice, and there was no mistake about the bees being very partial 
to these raids upon the flowers of the herb Fennel.—W. D. 
The Lanarkshire Hive. 
I have tried this hive, and find all that is claimed for it by our 
friend “ A. L. B. K.” is quite true. Although a large hive it is by 
no means clumsy, but is light and portable ; the ventilating floor I 
consider is perfect in every way. Those who move their bees to 
the Heather or Clover districts could not do better than adopt this 
hive. Some time ago three members of the Goole Bee-keepers’ 
Association paid me a visit, and they were so pleased with the 
Lanarkshire hive that they have decided to use it, so the standard 
hive and it will be tested side by side next season. My best comb 
honey in sections last season, and for which I obtained two first 
prizes, were taken from the Lanarkshire hives. 
Soiled Honeycomb. 
I have come to the conclusion if we want honeycomb of spot¬ 
less whiteness we must follow the advice which for many years 
has been given in the pages of this Journal by “A L. B. K.”' 
We modern bee-keepers make a great mistake in opening all the- 
crown of the hive when the supers are put on, and we have in 
consequence discoloured honeycomb. This might be prevented by 
admitting the bees by the sides of the hive only. 
The Season of 1892. 
The past season was disappointing to many bee-keepers. In 
this district (Howden) very little honey has been gathered ; in 
some cases the in-gathering will not tide the bees over the winter, 
and feeding had to be done to keep them alive. But personally I do 
not grumble ; most of my hives did not swarm, and being strong 
in bees I got a good supply. Non-swarming hives with me have 
done the best, in some cases giving plenty of stores to last till 
the spring, while swarms and stocks that swarmed had to be fed. 
Strong hives pay the best.—A Bowdenshire Bee-keeper. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham.— Flower and Vegetable 
Seeds, Begonias, Lilies and Miscellaneous Bulbs, Clirysantheviuvis, and 
Dahlias. 
Popes & Sons, King’s Norton, Birmingham.— Seed Catalogue. 
C. R. Shilling, Winchfield, Hants.— Vegetable and Floicer Seed%. 
W. Bull, King’s Road, Chelsea, S.W.— Flower and Vegetable Seeds. 
W. Drummond & Sons, Dublin.— Garden Seeds. 
W. Piercy, 89, Beadnell Road, Forest Hill, S.E.— Early and ScmU 
early Chrysanthemums. 
Fisher, Son, & Sibray, Handsworth Nurseries, SheflSeld.— Kitchen 
Garden and Flower Seeds. 
W. K. Woodcock, Barkby Road Nurseries, Syston, Leicester.— 
Chrysanthemums. 
J. R. Pearson & Sons, Chilwell Nurseries, Nottingham.— Garden 
Seeds, Sundries, ^'c. 
Peter Henderson & Co., New York, U.S.A.— Manual of Everything 
for the Garden. 
F. C. Heinemann.— Flower and Vegetable Seeds. 
Henry Eckford, Wem, Salop.— Sweet Feas, Vegetable, and Floicer 
Seeds. 
Cunningham & Wythe, West Mill Street, Glasgow.— Garden Seeds. 
•**A11 correspondence should be directed either to “ The 
Editor ” or to “ The Publisher.” Letters addressed to 
Dr. Hogg or members of the stafE 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 
“ The Orchid Review ’’ QT. C .')—This new periodical is published 
by Messrs. West, Newman, & Co., 54, Hatton Garden, London, E.C. As 
we have already notified, its price is Is., and it is to be issued monthly. 
Corrug'ated Zinc for Plant Stagres (_Yorh'). —It is extensively 
used for broad flat stages, and covered with gravel or broken shell 
answers admirably. You can let it slope a little if you wish for carry¬ 
ing off superfluous water, and level the surfaee with gravel for the pots 
to stand on. 
Double Primula (W. J .").—The spike is decidedly more robust in 
character than those of the old double white usually are and the flowers 
tinted. We can quite understand its being regarded as a useful variety, 
but as you have no idea how it cams into your possession we can 
scarcely be expected to solve the problem. The Apples cannot be 
named this week if at all, but they shall be carefully examined. 
lilly of the Valley (A. A.).—If the crowns have been exposed to 
frost they will start freely into growth. If wanted as sharp as possible 
they should be plunged in brisk bottom heat, covering the crowns 
from light by the aid of cocoa-nut fibre refuse, say one inch below the 
surface, of the bed and allow them to grow through. As you have 
not the convenience of bottom heat plunge the crowns into boxes 
and stand them on the hot-water pipes. 
Forcing: Dllacs (FI ).').—These will come forward if placed in brisk 
heat, especially if the plants have been exposed to the frosts we have 
