20 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
January 3, 1895, 
damp proof, as after the late boisterous weather the roofs that 
have not been securely fastened down have in many instances 
been lifted ofE and carried some distance, and the covering 
blown in all directions. All damp covers should be taken off 
and dried before being replaced on the hives, as no stock can 
remain healthy if condensed moisture is allowed to remain in the 
hive. 
Stocks should now be examined to see that they are not 
short of stores ; this is done by rolling the quilt off two or three 
of the outside frames; look down between the frames, and if 
there are a fair amount of sealed stores they are safe. The 
covering can be replaced, and not a bee will be disturbed. No 
smoke will be needed, and a few minutes will suffice to examine 
several colonies. Make a note of any that appear to be short 
of stores, as after the open weather we have had bees have 
consumed more than is usually the case when the weather is 
severe. Bees have been daily on the wing, and such cleansing 
flights is of great advantage, and tend to the general health of the 
stocks. 
The weather having kept mild so long, no bees have been 
lost, as is often the case when snow has fallen and lain on the 
ground for several days, and the sun has shone brightly for an 
hour or two in the middle of the day. The bees have been 
tempted to leave their hive, falling on the snow never to rise 
again, becoming numbed in a very short time. Strong colonies 
are sometimes very much reduced from this cause. When there 
is danger of this happening it is well to close the entrance for 
an hour or two during the middle of the day, and no harm will 
happen to them ; but it is better if they have ventilating floor 
boards. 
I do not find it advisable to feed with syrup at this time of 
the year, as the bees will die of starvation, although the syrup 
may be close to the brood nest. It is better to feed with candy 
for the next three months. This is made by using one pint of 
water to 5 lbs. of granulated sugar. Put it in a saucepan and set 
over a slow fire, stir carefully and boil for a few minutes. To 
know when sufficiently boiled, take a little out with a spoon and 
drop it into cold water. If it remain liquid boil a little longer, 
as when ready it will set in cold water. It should then be 
taken off the fire and the saucepan stood in a vessel of cold 
water. Stir incessantly until the whole gets into a thick pasty 
state, then pour off into saucers, or any shallow dish, in which a 
piece of thin paper has been previously placed. When quite cold 
turn out of the moulds, place as required directly over the brood 
nest under the quilt of any of the stocks that require feeding, 
covering the whole up warm. These may be replaced as occasion 
may require, and the stocks will be perfectly safe. It is better 
to err on the safe side by giving plenty of stores.— An English 
Bee-keepee. 
Presentation to “ A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper.” — On the 
21st ult. the Blantyre Bee Club and its guests, representing Larkhall, 
Cambuslang, Hamilton, and Renfrewshire, sat down to an exceedingly 
well-purveyed dinner in Mr. Struther’s, High Blantyre. Mr. Pearson, 
of Rutherglen, presided in a most genial way, giving an excellent 
speech, full of sense and humour. Thereafter Mr. Wilson delivered a 
kindly address, detailing how much help they, the novices, had required, 
and what difficulties were met in bee culture, but how quickly these 
vanished whenever Mr. William Thomson was asked to assist them, 
so now he handed over a watch and chain to be a memento to him of 
their appreciation, and he trusted Mr. Thomson would be long spared 
to go out and in amongst them and enjoy the delights of bee-keeping, 
helping everybody, and writing instructions for many readers. Mr. 
Thomson replied, and said that though somewhat put out by the 
unexpected presentation, and though able to speak till morning on 
bees, he was unable to express his feelings at their kindness and the 
manner in which they had joined in this token of goodwill, and all 
from his own district. He then, amidst much cheering, proceeded to 
narrate his bee-life, how ere his seventh year he had been interested in 
bees—detailing with zest the methods in vogue now and then. He 
graphically sketched the old times with the present, showing how much 
bee-keepers were helped by parcel-post transmission of queen bees from 
all countries ; while steamers and railroads made going to the Heather 
a simple task to-day. 
GARDENERS’ CHARITABLE AND PROVIDENT 
INSTITUTIONS. 
The Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution. — Secretary, 
Mr. G. J. Ingram, 50, Parliament Street, London, W.C. 
United Horticultural Benefit and Provident Society.— 
Secretary, Mr. W. Collins, 9, Martindale Road, Balham, London, S.W. 
Royal Gardeners’ Orphan 'FvsiX).—Secretary, Mr. A. P. Barron, 
Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens, Chiswick, London, W. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
Wm. Clibran & Son, Oldfield Nurseries, Altrincham.— Catalogue of 
Vegetable and Flower Seeds. 
B. P. Dixon & Sons, Hull.— Seed Catalogue. 
Hogg & Robertson, Dublin.— Seed List for 1895. 
Chr. Lorenz, Erfurt.— Illustrated Catalogue for Gardeners and 
Amateurs. 
H. & F. Sharpe, Wisbech.— Wholesale Seed Catalogue, 
Stuart & Mein, Kelso, N.B.— Amateur Gardening Guide. 
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 communications. 
X>abels ( 6 . S. B.'). —Your letter has been forwarded, in accordance 
with your desire. 
Examinations (A. E, O.'). —If you will send your full address a 
letter will be sent to you. The address given is possibly not quite 
complete. 
Oil Stove (_The Boy'). —Success with the stoves you name is very 
much a question of management—cleanliness of the wick, the best oil, 
and not overheating. We have known some persons succeed with them, 
but others fail. We should prefer a different mode of heating a house 
in which Orchids are intended to be grown. 
Hyaclntb Roots Decaylner ^C. 0 .).—We are unable to account 
for this misfortune except on the possibility of something deleterious in 
the soil, either when it was mixed or given in watering. We have no 
doubt, however, that one of the plants would have grown and flowered 
very well, as the roots were in much better condition than the other. 
This tends to suggest that there has been some mishap in watering. We 
should allow the soil to become drier than is usual, then give two or 
three good waterings with pure water in the hope of “ washing ” the 
soil and leaving it more healthy for the roots. We think you will not 
have a total failure. 
Caustic Soda and Potasb Solution for Wasblngr Frulk 
Trees (J. E.). —Only one thing can be meant by caustic soda (NaHO), 
a white, opaque, brittle substance, with a fibrous texture. This you 
may obtain of most druggists, or they will procure it for you in various 
strengths, 98 per cent, being the strongest. Washing soda 
(Na CO 3 IOH 2 O) is a different substance, and not suitable for the 
purpose. The caustic soda and potash solution must only be used at the 
strength named for Plum trees, for bush fruits have not nearly such 
thick rinds as the larger fruit trees, and it should be reduced to 8 gallons, 
or if the growths be soft to 10 gallons. The substances do not require 
boiling, but merely dissolving, the solution being applied by a spraying 
apparatus in mild weather, but when the bushes are dry, damping 
them thoroughly, but not excessively. It has been found effectual 
where used 
Carbon XTlbs from Electric Iilgbts {Perth). —You will get 
nothing more, nor indeed so much, out of the small pieces of carbon 
than from charcoal, which is not a manure, but from its absorption of 
manurial matters is considered to benefit crops. Its chief value consists 
in its porosity, sweetening properties, and keeping the soil open. Its 
carbon is of no use to plants as food, for it is insoluble, practically 
indestructible, and supports only certain very low forms of vegetable 
life. Considering the hardness of the carbon points we should consider 
them of little gardening value. 
Flam Trees not Setting Fruit {Yorhshire). —The trees have 
probably suffered from drought at the roots, a common occurrence with 
those against walls!; the buds are thus neither well developed nor can the 
flowers attain a perfect condition. The rains, however, were abundant 
in the autumn and early winter, so that the trees can scarcely lack 
water now, except it be close to the wall, where it would certainly not 
do any harm to supply liquid manure copiously when the buds 
commence swelling. We would also advise thinning the blossom if 
very abundant, and cross-fertilisation c£ the flowers would be attended 
with great benefit; indeed, we have known cases in which it has been 
