64 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 21,1887. 
edge. The sections are kept apart the proper distance 
from each other by tacks driven in the end pieces, while 
little loose slips of wood close the openings on the top. The 
bees take to these sections readily, and as they bang by 
the top bar travel with safety, and if the packing case is 
glazed on the bottom have a prettier appearance than sec¬ 
tions of the ordinary type, while they are easier manipu¬ 
lated on the hive. Although this season lias been more 
favourable to lifting the first and nearly filled super, and 
putting the empty one beneath, in nine cases out of ten it 
will prove a failure. The little supers holding from 3 lbs. 
to 8 lbs. are more easily managed than others, and by 
judicious lifting partly filled ones on the top of others and 
placing empty ones in the place of the partly filled ones 
the bees are kept better at work than when crowded. 
Crowded hives are a great mistake. Some time since the 
Germans announced that a medium swarm wrought better 
than an extra strong one, and many of the English bee¬ 
keepers supported that statement, but it is untenable. 
Doubtless if 100,000 bees are crowded into a space suit¬ 
able for half that number the results will be very unsatis¬ 
factory ; but give them the necessary space and grand 
results will follow. Much error in teaching bee husbandry 
has arisen through people not grasping the question of 
profitable bee-keeping and using hives not half the size 
they should be. 
LARGE SWARMS. 
Not only are these the most profitable, but they work 
more in proportion to their numbers than weak ones. I 
noticed in my last article the two swarms weighing 18 lbs. 
Now, according to the theory that large hives did not work 
well, this one would not have done well, and being the 
first cross Syrian would have done less, but this is not 
the case. In fourteen days from the time it swarmed it 
rose in weight more than 100 lbs., and at the end of that 
term it gave 50 lbs. of sealed supers. So much for 
foreign bees and large swarms, but remember they must 
not be crowded into little space, nor on to a few sheets of 
foundation as is commonly advised. 
WINTERING BEES. 
Naturalists and bee-keepers have long studied this* 
I have never had much difficulty in wintering my bees 
successfully, but the narrower the hive the better both for 
that purpose and supering. If fine seasons like the present 
one are likely to be experienced in the future the bee¬ 
keeper should have an extra breeding box, and it can be 
turned to good account for that purpose. By taking the 
frames of three body boxes and placing them into the 
four boxes with the honey at the top it will never be affected 
by frost, and the bees will remain healthy and never suffer 
from want while honey lasts during the most severe winter 
weather. Dividing boards the whole depth may be used. 
That space outside the combs with the additional space 
between the hive and outside case will thoroughly prevent 
frost injuring either honey or pollen, and all damp will 
pass downwards through the ventilating floor. When the 
hive in this state becomes crowded in May the frames may 
be arranged properly. 
The first half of July has not been so favourable for 
honey gathering as June was, and the great number of 
queens flying about has given much trouble by regicidial 
attacks. The late Mr. T. W. Woodbury was puzzled at these 
seemingly unnatural occurrences. They are all caused 
either bj stronger bees or queens entering hives, and 
works much mischief, rendering the hives they take pos¬ 
session of very often worthless. One interesting case I 
had this season is worth recording as substantiating the 
opinion I gave to Mr. Woodbury on the subject. A hive 
I had rendered queenless, and started raising pure queens, 
suddenly ceased raising royal cells. I observed a swarm 
attempting to enter, but only a few bees did so, though 
evidently a queen had, for the day after I gave it a royal 
cell that was detached from all combs, and which I found 
lying loose on the floor of a hive I was utilising queen 
cells from, which hatched immediately and was well 
received Next morning I was surprised to see a queen 
being turned out, which I examined and dissected, and 
found her fertilised just as Woodbury found his, which 
puzzled him to know the cause. This queen had been 
fertilised the day previous, and the young queen was victor. 
Other singular facts I shall have to mention again, but 
it will be acting wisely if all hives are examined at the 
end of this month, so as to make certain a young fertile 
queen is at the head of every stock, or otherwise disap¬ 
pointment may follow.—A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper. 
Editor” or to “ The Publisher.” Letters addressed to Dr. 
Hogg or members of the staff often remain unopened un¬ 
avoidably. 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. Ail 
articles intended for insertion should be written on one side of 
the paper only. We cannct reply to questions through the 
post, and we do not undertake to return rejected communica¬ 
tions. 
LATE INQUIRIES.—It is necessary to again remind correspondents that 
letters arriving on WEDNESDAY MORNING cannot be answered 
in the “ next issue,” which is then far advanced for press. 
Strawberries at th.e Chertsey District Show (Visitor). —You are quite 
right, some very good dishes of fruit were staged, but it is quite impossible 
to give the details of all classes in reporting shows at a time when the 
pressure is so great on our space. We think the first prize for Strawberries 
at the show in question was won by Mr. D. Hopkins, gardener to J. Wod- 
derspoon, Esq., The Chestnuts, Walton-on-Tliames, with a very fine dish 
of President; Mr. Waite following with James Veitch; and Mr. Sharpe 
of Knowle Hill, Virginia Water, exhibited splendid fruits of British Queen, 
not for competition. Mr. Sharpe’s Strawberry garden has been described 
in the Journal, and must be regarded-as one of the most remarkable in the 
kingdom, the plants apparently growing in a sand bed, and without any 
manure. We are obliged by your letter. 
Peach Trees Unsatisfactory (17. Ii.). —The trees, from which you have 
sent shoots, require lifting. The wood of last year was not ripened, and 
this year’s grovili is much too succulent. More fibrous roots nearer the 
surface in firm calcareous loam are requisite for inducing firm fruitful 
wood. As soon as the leaves show signs of changing take up the trees 
carefully, shading them in the meantime, and not letting the roots get dry 
replanting quickly in a firm border 18 inches deep, covering the roots 
4 inches, and mulching to prevent the soil drying. To twelve barrowfuls 
of good turfy loam add two of lime rubbish and one of w r ood ashes, making 
the soil firm. Syringe and shade the trees to keep the leaves fresh as long 
as possible, and fresh roots will form at once. Any long straight fibreless 
roots may be shortened. You may lift the trees sooner if you can keep the 
foliage fresh for inducing fresh root-action. 
Forget-me-nots (E. Leg get). —It is not too soon, but, on the contrary, 
rather too late for sowing seeds of Forget-me-not3 for raising fine plants for 
flowering next year. We sow early in June and have sturdy plants 3 or 4 
inches in diameter in the autumn. By sowing at once thinly in light soil 
kept continually moist the plants raised will flower next year, but must be 
planted closdy together in the beds for producing a good effect. Strong 
slips of Myosotia dissitiflora inserted now, or as soon as they can he 
obtained, in moist rich soil and a shaded position make fine plants for 
flowering in the spring. 
Asparagus (G. £>.).—You cannot expect fine Asparagus if you allow the 
beds to be impoverished by weeds. There is no greater mistake than to 
suppose that negligence in cleaning the beds in summer can be compensated 
for by salting and manuring the beds in the winter. Salting in winter does 
little good, and may do harm in strong wet ground. We salt our beds in 
