FtTiruary 14, 1895. 
JOURNAL OF HORTIGULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
151 
Grevlllea robusta.— This is an elegant, serviceable, but by no 
means showy plant, and can only be raised from seed. Sow at once in 
pans of peaty soil. Bury the seed point uppermost, and it may then 
germinate quickly. Place the seedlings as they become large enough 
to handle singly into thumb pots, and keep in gentle heat till well 
established. 
Cbamsepeuce and Centaurea.— A good stock of strong young 
plants of these are of the greatest assistance. Sow the seeds at once 
in pans of sandy soil, plunge in a hotbed, cover with squares of glass, 
shade heavily, and keep the soil uniformly moist. The seedlings must 
be carefully lifted out of the pan and placed singly in small pots as 
they attain size. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Kidney Beans.— There is every likelihood of outdoor vegetables 
proving scarce this spring, and for this reason, and also because Kidney 
Beans are always acceptable, as many as possible should be grown under 
glass. Those grown on the back shelves, fronts, and walls of forcing 
houses are the quickest to come into full bearing, while those who can 
afford to devote a well heated house principally to Beans may venture 
to cover the roof thinly with the new climbing Kidney Bean. The 
latter, if not unduly crowded and well fed at the roots, will produce fine 
succulent pods in abundance and in a fairly long succession. Do not 
sow dwarf varieties in small pots with a view to shifting them into 
larger ones unless house room is very scarce, as this makes extra work 
without compensating advantages. Nor when the seed is sown in 8-inch 
or larger pots ought space to be left for top-dressings, as the latter are 
rarely taken possession of by the roots. Fill the pots to within 3 inches 
of the rim with rich loamy soil, sow eight or nine sound seeds on this, 
and cover with 2 inches of soil. If wanted quickly stand the pots on 
the hot-water pipes, and if the soil is kept moist the seed will germinate 
in a few days. Reduce to about six plants in a pot if Ne Plus Ultra, 
Sion House, or other comparatively small varieties are grown, while 
three plants of Canadian Wonder are enough for a 9-inch pot. Keep 
the plants growing in a warm, light position, support them early with 
Birch or Hazel spray, using stakes and strips of raffia by way of a 
substitute. They must never become dry at the roots, should have 
liquid manure freely directly they commence cropping, and the pods 
ought to be gathered as fast as they are fit. Sow every ten days. 
Kidney Beans succeed well in boxes, such, for instance, as herrings are 
largely packed in, and require less water in these than they do in pots. 
Cabbage.— In many places only quite the earliest Cabbage finds its 
way into the dining-room, and if it can be cut at Easter or thereabouts 
it invariably meets with favour. Severe frosts will have seriously 
checked the growth of the plants, the more forward probably coming 
to grief. Directly the state of the ground permits hoe lightly among 
the plants, and either apply soot freely or nitrate of soda if the soil is 
somewhat light, sulphate of ammonia on the heavier soils, at the rate in 
the two last cases of about 2 ozs. per square yard. Cabbages can be 
forwarded as easily as Cauliflowers, and pay for the trouble. Where 
possible cover patches of four or five plants with hand-lights, give a 
little air on bright warm days, and apply liquid manure freely when¬ 
ever the soil approaches dryness. If there is a scarcity of autumn- 
raised plants, or if the latter give early signs of bolting, sow a pinch of 
seed of a quick-hearting variety in a frame or box over a gentle hotbed. 
Giving the whole of a light up to this purpose answers best, as then by 
sowing thinly the plants may eventually be transplanted direct to 
where they are to grow. These early raised plants make very rapid 
progress on rich ground. 
PLANT HOUSES. 
Adlaatam cuneatum.— Plants /rom which all the fronds have 
been removed and display signs of growth should be potted at once. If 
larger plants are needed do not disturb the old ball beyond the removal 
of the drainage. By this method the plants quickly establish them¬ 
selves. The soil should be placed in the house to warm before potting 
is done, and may consist of three parts of good loam and one of leaf 
mould, to which a liberal quantity of coarse sand should be added. 
Press the soil firmly into the pots and water carefully until root action 
has well commenced. The plants soon commence growth if placed after 
potting in a temperature of 60°. 
Mlcrolepla hlrta crlstata.— This is a most useful Fern, and 
makes a splendid basket plant for the conservatory. It is a good Fern 
for rooms, and is admirable for dinner table decorations. The best 
method of keeping a good stock is to constantly divide a few plants. 
For our smallest plants we cut over, at this season of the year, two or 
three plants and then divide them into small pieces. These are planted 
thickly in boxes and placed in brisk moist heat. In a very short time 
the plants commence growing, and are then potted singly in sizes varying 
from thumbs to 2 ‘ inches. In from 5 to 7 inch pots, for the embellish¬ 
ment of the conservatory, they will be found most useful. This 
variety does well in the compost advised for Adiantum cuneatum. 
Pterls serrulata.— This and its many crested forms are amongst 
the most useful Ferns for furnishing purposes, and are so easily 
raised that any plants seriously damaged may be thrown away. If the 
fronds only have been injured the plants may be cut down and 
started into growth in any house where an intermediate temperature 
can be maintained. Those that have been confined in small pots may 
be placed in larger, while seedlings from pans and boxes may be 
potted singly or in little bunches as opportunity offers. 
Pterls tremula.— This is also useful and nearly hardy. Plants 
are so easily raised from spores and grow so rapidly that once they 
are damaged it is best to throw them out. For nearly all furnishing 
purposes this variety is best when little bunches of seedlings are potted 
together. 
Polystlchum prollferum. —This is exceedingly useful in small 
pots for edging purposes, and will stand in rooms exceedingly well. It 
is a good plan to plant in a fairly warm place about two well-established 
specimens. These will produce plantlets freely and even rapidly. 
These fronds should be pegged down on light sandy soil, and when well 
rooted the fronds can be cut off and the young plants placed m 
boxes and grown in any position where a little warmth can be 
maintained. From the boxes the young plants should be placed in 
2J-inch pots, and the second season beautiful plants in 4 and 5-inch 
pots are produced. Plants well established in small pots may be placed 
in 4-inch at once, and if put in warmth new fronds will quickly 
follow. Where a good stock has been wintered in a cool place they can 
be potted and introduced as required. 
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IHE BEE-KEEPERfi 
APIARIAN NOTES. 
The Weather. 
For several mornings previous to, and including the 9th, the 
thermometer stood at zero, continuing at that low temperature 
during the night, and in some places it was 10° lower. It is when 
high or low temperatures are protracted that we feel the effects of 
them most. How the bees will come through the rigorous 
time remains to be seen, but we may make up our minds that 
some will have succumbed. I had occasion to move my bees 
about fifty yards a few days since, and was surprised to find 
many of them much lighter than I anticipated. The moment 
a thaw sets in they will be attended to with food, as the tempera¬ 
ture at present does not justify the slightest interference with 
them. 
Foul Brood. 
The question of foul brood being so much before the country 
at present, the Blantyre No. 1 Bee Club and Vale of Clyde Bee¬ 
keepers’ Association at a meeting on the 7th inst. resolved, “In 
order to keep the enemy at bay, as it has been amongst some of its 
members’ hives, to adopt similar hives to those used by some bee¬ 
keepers so successfully for so long a period.” It was also decided 
that the Club should have full power to inspect members’ apiaries, 
and overhaul suspicious cases should any symptoms appear. All 
the members agreed to report to the Secretary from time to time 
the state and health of their stocks. One of the rules of the Club 
makes these measures imperative on its members. 
It was also unanimously agreed to, in order to prevent any 
measure becoming law, or in any way inimical to privacy, success, 
or profit in and from the apiary, that the President of the Board 
of Trade and member of Parliament be written to, detailing several 
facts concerning foul brood, and suggesting likely measures which 
would be agreeable and satisfactory to all concerned. 
The Blantyre Bee Club and Vale of Clyde Bee-keepers’ 
Association intend holding a honey show, open to all comers, in 
October, when prizes will be given for honey pressers, and technical 
instructions given from time to time on bee-keeping generally. The 
President of the Association, Mr. Pearson, Rutherglen, gave a 
handsome donation, with the promise of more towards making the 
show a success, while silver medals and other prizes have been 
promised from other sources.—A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper. 
SEASONABLE NOTES—LOOKING FORWARD. 
The severe frost and heavy fall of snow which appear to have 
been general throughout the country will be the means of keeping 
the bees snugly clustered in their hives, and if previous instructions 
have been carried out they will be dry, warm, and ready to take 
advantage of the fine weather when it comes. Spring-flowering 
plants are well protected under a warm covering of snow. The 
Winter Aconite (one of the earliest bee flowers) and the Snowdrops 
were ready to burst into bloom when the frost came in all its 
severity. When the frost and snow disappear, and a higher 
temperature prevails, the merry hum of the busy workers on these 
and other spring flowers will remind bee-keepers that spring has 
indeed come. Every day will bring its work, and the negligent 
bee-keeper will regret the time lost during the quiet winter months 
in not making preparation for another season. 
Now is a good time to have a general stock-taking, as necessary 
to the cottager with his solitary hive as to the bee-keeper who 
counts his stocks by the dozen. All spare hives should have a coat 
of paint; roofs should be examined to see that no leaks occur; 
