196 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
February 2a, 1895. 
Parsnips. —If wanted extra fine somewhat early seeds should be 
sown as soon as the ground can be got into a finely divided state. 
Supposing it was well manured for a previous crop, which ought not to 
be a tap-rooted species, no solid manure should be used. If any is dug 
in it should be buried at least 18 inches deep, an early contact with 
strong manure causing the tap root to fork badly. The old-fashioned 
plan of boring deep holes with a crowbar and filling with sifted soil, 
still holds good in the case of hard, lumpy, or otherwise badly prepared 
ground. These holes may be 9 inches apart, in rows 15 inches asunder. 
Three seeds to be sown over each, and the plants resulting must be 
reduced to one in each case. Very fine, cleanly grown Parsnips can be 
obtained in that way. 
m bbe-ke)eper. 
. I - I .) . ,. 1 ■ I - r» I .. T 1 ■ I ■ < - t - 
i] 
APIARIAN NOTES. 
The weather since the 18th has become milder, although still 
wintry ; the thermometer rose for a little on the 20th to 40°, 
this being the highest temperature recorded this year. 
Bees have never had a thorough flight, many left their hives 
only to be chilled to death wherever they rested. So far as I have 
observed Carniolans are again proving themselves the best 
winterers. Those in the best condition have kept breeding during 
the past arctic weather. Many bee-keepers are still sceptical 
regarding bees breeding during severe weather, arguing it is 
impossible for them to keep up the necessary degree of heat. But 
it is by doing this that preserves them in a healthy state by 
keeping up the temperature for the safety of the young. 
As there are neither dust, debris, nor damp on our perforated 
zinc floors, evils are greatly reduced. It is perhaps premature to 
say too much in favour of my mode of management yet, but of 
two apiaries in the same garden I observe 50 per cent, with solid 
floors are dead, while in those having ventilating floors all are 
alive. Whatever shortcomings the severe winter has brought 
about, I sincerely hope the future will make amends, and that arctic 
winters will not visit us again.—A Lanarkshire Bee-Keeper. 
SEASONABLE NOTES. 
The severe frost which has lasted for upwards of seven weeks 
has now every appearance of going rapidly. To-day, Feb. 21st, 
the highest reading of thermometer placed in the shade was 43°, 
and it is the first time the temperature has been so high since 
December 28th. As the sun was shining brightly at midday a 
great many bees were on the wing, a cleansing flight at this time 
proving a great advantage to them ; and from a casual inspection 
during the brightest part of the day I find my stocks have all come 
through the late severe frost without loss. 
As I have upwards of thirty stocks placed in a variety of 
aspects, the evidence is pretty conclusive that it is not necessary 
to have large, expensive, and unwieldy hives with wide space 
round the sides for packing with cork dust, chaff, or similar 
material to keep the cold out. This, I am convinced, is quite 
unnecessary. After examining my hives more closely I will report 
what difference there may be, if any, in the condition of the bees 
wintered in hives packed with cork dust round the sides, others 
with air spaces instead of packing, and those with single sides. 
The majority of my hives have only single boards, but all are 
covered on the top, with ample ventilation from the bottom. 
One thing noticeable is the activity of some stocks in comparison 
with others on the same stand. From some of the hives there 
would probably be several hundreds of bees on the wing, other 
stocks would be quiet and only a few stragglers be visible, giving 
one the impression that all was not right, but on lifting the quilt 
the bees were found to be snugly clustered in their hive amid 
ample stores. I am inclined to think it is the most excitable 
stocks that are affected in this way, as to all appearance there is no 
difference in the strength of the colonies. 
Another reason may be that the hives with the thinnest sides 
may be more easily affected by the external warmth, but no doubt 
bees are like human beings, they vary somewhat in temperament. 
Other bee-keepers have noticed the same peculiarity, but if one 
and all come out strong in the spring, and are healthy, good 
workers, no more is required.— An English Bee-keeper, 
PROSPECTS OF 1895. 
It is a little premature to venture anything like a reliable 
opinion as to what may be the prospects of the bee-keepers in 
our border county during the spring and summer of 1895. Of 
course it was admitted on all hands that the summer of 1894 was 
anything but a profitable one, for in this locality summer feeding 
was a necessity to keep the hives in order. Even those who 
took them to the Heather derived little or no super honey to 
repay the outlay ; but at the same time the strong hives in most 
cases collected sufficient stores for winter keep. 
As the autumn months were mild and favourable for breeding, 
most hives with stores either gathered or artificially supplied were 
strong with bees in the beginning of the winter, and, notwithstand¬ 
ing the two months of heavy snow storms and exceptionally severe 
frosts during January and February, such hives are strong and in 
good condition still. In many instances heavy losses have been 
incurred through the bees coming out for a flight in sunshine and 
“ perished ” among the snow ; but with a good spring any such 
loss will soon be recouped. 
So much for the better class of hives. However, where hives 
had only limited stores and few bees, they have been losing a 
considerable number of bees. As soon as the weather permits it 
will be for the interest of the owners of such to see that any dead 
bees which may have accumulated on the floor-board or amongst 
the combs are cleared away. Twelve months ago the hives were all 
rearing brood, but at the present time the rearing of brood is all to 
come, and I need not say that this being the case, there is a great 
risk of the weaker hives dying out in the spring months unless 
the weather is all the more favourable. However, we are now 
more likely to have a continuancj of fresh weather, and with a 
good spring and summer let us hope that 1895 will be a record year 
for honey gathering.—A Berwickshire Bee-keeper. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
Laing & Mather, Kelso, N.B. — Trees and Shrubs, and Garden 
Seeds. 
T. S.Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham.— New Hoses and other 
Plants, Hardy Florists' Flowers, Choice Hardy Perennials. 
Cyclamen Flowers (S'. F.'). —The flowers show diversity and 
purity of colouration, but they did not arrive in good condition. 
Red Spider (C. and S.). —Your letter obviously comes within the 
category of advertisements, but this would not occur to you. Vendors 
of articles which are not advertised do not expect them to be extolled 
in literary contributions. 
IVZarguerites (IF. A).—The Marguerites arrived in an imperfect 
condition ; it is one of the Chrysanthemum frutescens, being a variety 
of Etoile d’Or. We are unable to say whether the sport is an original 
one, but we do not know of any like it. 
Sallx QF, N. R.'). —The specimen you sent is a Salix, but sufficient 
was not sent to identify the species. For propagating cut off well- 
ripened growths about a foot in length and insert in light soil either 
in the spring or autumn, when they will take root readily. 
.Analysis of Tulip (IF. J. P.'). —We have some information on the 
subject, but cannot lay our hands upon it at present. If we come 
across it we will insert it in these columns in due course, or perhaps 
some correspondent may forestall us with the information our inquirer 
desires. 
Iiily of the Valley (X. Y,') .—There is no difficulty in producing Lily 
of the Valley flowers every month in the year. The method is to freeze 
the crowns as soon as they are lifted, or can be obtained in the autumn, 
and keep them in a frozen condition until they are required, Hundreds 
of thousands are frozen annually, and are now being retailed. Those 
who have an ice-house can retard the crowns themselves, but those who 
have not can obtain them through most nurserymen if they order early 
so as to give them an opportunity of obtaining them for the time 
required. Once the crowns are removed and thawed they must be 
allowed to come into flower at once ; they cannot then be further 
retarded, if this is attempted they soon wither and die. Very often if 
packed in a box and sent by train during September and October they 
' commence growing in the box. 
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. 
