414 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
I November 1 , 18 ' 8 ; 
its sides, so they always leave a row of empty cells all round till 
the last ; nor do they fill them until they have well waxed the 
wooden sides. To hide these defects, a host of contrivances have 
been brought out, many of which are patented.—A HALLAM3HIRE 
Bee-keeper. 
[The section referred to arrived quite safely, the glass being 
made secure in position by fine wire, and the whole wall packed in 
a wood box. The section is, as represented, well filled, neat, and 
•even tempting in appearance. Obviously any person who can use a 
•glass cutter can make sections of this kind and put them together 
•quickly. Our correspondent should send samples to “ A Lanark¬ 
shire Bee-keeper ” and “ Felix.” They can be forwarded through 
•this office if desired.] 
BEES AS EDUCATORS. 
EDUCATED EYES. 
No sooner does a person become the owner of a colony of bees 
tfchan he looks around to see what are the prospects of future gain. 
Heretofore he drove or rode along the highways, noticing the ruts, 
bridges, fences, and houses, but now his vision takes in a wider 
■range. His observation is quickened, and trees, shrubs and plants 
have put on new life, as it were, to his enlivened faculties. From 
•the first opening buds in spring until the last rustling leaf has 
^fallen his interest never lag3, as he constantly watches the opening 
flowers, and notes with pleasure the busy workers roaming over 
.them in quest of treasure to storse in their hives. 
NECTAR IN WEEDS. 
What was to him once a useless weed, to be cut down with the 
-scythe or whacked off with a hoe, is clothed in beauty, and 
becomes a priceless treasure. Whoever saw any beauty in the 
Figwort, or watched for the appearance of its tiny cupboard, looked 
•down into their depths for the first appearance of sparkling nectar, 
•but a bee-keeper ? Or whoever saw any utility in Spanish Needles 
-or Beggar-ticks ? There is a bond of friendship existing between 
the bee-keeper and nectar-bearing plants, and they appear to spring 
up to greet him wherever he gies. The Indian calls White Clover 
■“ the White Man’s Foot,” and well he may, for its modest flower 
;soon appears as the harbinger of peace and plenty. 
. SOILS. 
The interest thus awakened in plants soon takes on a wider 
range, and extends to the soil. Seeds of Sweet Clover (Melilot) are 
^scattered on gravelly soil, take root, penetrating deeply, keep it 
from washing and dying and add to its fertility. Dreary wastes 
-thus become clothed with verdure, adding to the beauty of the 
landscape and yielding choice nectar, fit fo «d for gods. On a recent 
trip of a dozen miles on the railroad we were agreeably surprised to 
find this plant growing luxuriantly nearly the whole distance, and 
some deep cuts were so covered with it that the soil could not be 
seen. It is to be hoped that the officei’3 of railroads will appreciate 
the utility of this plant in keeping the soil from washing away and 
prevent damage and danger thereby, and foster its growth. I have 
.seen the yellow variety of this plant growing on the borders of salt 
marshes on the shores of Long Island Sound. 
MOISTURE. 
Marshes and wet lands along rivers and watercourses come in 
for a share of attention by the bee-keeper. His eye quickly detects 
anything in the interest of his winged stock. If by digging a ditch 
and running off water the growth of favourite bee plants is promoted, 
it is done. He then benefits his neighbours as well as himself, for 
as the ground becomes dry Blue Grass and the Clovers will take 
root, thus promoting grazing for stock, and malaria will disappear. 
New plants will spring up as if by magic, the Button-bush (Cepha- 
lanthus occidentals) growing in water. It seems as if the seeds of 
honey plants rattled from the be '-keeper’s clothes. The seed of 
many honey plants is food for birds, which are our friends and 
co-workers in destroying many noxious insects. 
EDUCATED EARS. 
As seeing is cultivated by bee culture, so is hearing—even all 
The senses are quickened much better than they can be in a kinder¬ 
garten. How soon the trained ear discovers the note of the robber, 
the sound of swarming, the piping of queens, the happy hum of 
plenty, or the sorrowful moan when the queen is lost. The sense 
•of smell reveals the blooming of Apples, as also the opening of the 
fragrant Basswood, Buckwheat, &c., and reveals the presence of 
-that terrible disease, foul brood.— Mrs. L. Harrison.— (The 
Prairie Farmer ). t 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
Dicksons, Limited, Chester .—Catalogues of Roses, Auriculas, Car¬ 
nations, and other Florists' Flowers. 
* 6 * All correspondence should be directed either to “ The 
Editor” or to “ Tiie 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. 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 communica¬ 
tions. 
Cattleyas {(]. E. I).). —The occurrmce you notice is probably due 
to the strength of the plants. It is occ isionally seen, but is not 
constant. 
Dendrobiums ( Reader ).—A temperature not falling below 50° will 
suit the plants named until it is desired to start them for flowering. 
Let them have a sunny position, and very little water will be needed, 
only sufficient to prevent the growths shrivelling, and but little damping 
will be required on the paths—none in damp, cold weather. Watershould 
be employed about the same temperature as the atmosphere of the house, 
and it is never wise to supply very cold water to plants grown under 
glass. 
Pleiones {Idem').— They will flower well in the Odontoglossum or 
cool house, and the flowera last longer in a cool temperature than in a 
warm hou-e. provided there is not too much moisture. The flower sent 
is P. lagenaria, and is one of the most free of the genus. 
Areas of Glass Structures (A Youngster').—We have no record 
of the extent of ground covered with glass for growing fruit and flowers 
for market by different cultivators, therefore we cannot say whether 
Mr. Ladd’s “ glass area ” is the most extensive or not. Possibly some of 
our readers may be able to give information on the subject. Our reply 
to your second question is, Write to the Curator, Royal Gardens, Kew. 
Staging Chrysanthemums {Inquirer). —The regulation size of a 
stand for twelve blooms is 2 feet long, 18 inches wide, 6 inches high at 
the back, and 3 inches in the front. This you will find large enough if 
you elevate the Japanese blooms just sufficiently for the florets to show 
themselves in the best manner. A good deal depends on cupping the 
blooms, and on this and other details of staging you should study Mr. 
Molyneux’s book, which can be had by post for Is. 2d. from this office. 
Land Improvement {Justitia).— Are you not somewhat late in 
your critique ? 1 ou do not name the persons to whom you suggest 
credit is due—a somewhat singular omission under the circumstances. 
It is quite ceitain that our correspondent had no intention of conveying 
a wrong imp essioa, and equally certain that such an idea as you 
indicate con! I not be entertained by regular readers of the Journal who 
have been mad; well acquainted by special announcements (chat you 
can scarcely nave seen) with the circumstances of the case. 
Tanks tor Aain Water ( Subscriber ).—The size of tanks must 
obviously be determined by the rainfall of the district, governed also 
by the probable withdrawal of water for domestic and other purposes. 
A tank 12 feet by 11 feet, and 5 feet deep, holds aboqt 4000 gallons. An 
inch of rain on an acre is about 23,000 gallons, and from this, and the 
probable weekly withdrawals, you will be able to ascertain the extent 
of storage to provide. There is another way of arriving at the matter. 
Assuming the rainfall is 24 inches, and you double your area, you have 
the amount in cubic feet. But is your area correct ? It is not the roof 
surface, but the area of ground that the roofs cover on which calcula¬ 
tions should be based, or a great excess will be presented. This is all 
we can say in the absence of sufficient data on the subject. 
Truit Trees for a xtforth Wall {Planter).— As the Currants are 
not wanted Plums and Cherries may be grown. Morello Cherries would 
be more, certain to bear and ripen well than dessert sorts, though we 
have no doubt good, fruit might be had from these. All except the 
latest Plums would answer. YVe have had good crops of Czar, Victoria, 
YVhite Magnum Bonum, Prince Englebert, Kirke’s, Pond’s Seedling, and 
Purple Gage, from trees against a wall facing due north, the second- 
named bearing most heavily. YVe should prefer covering the wall with 
diagonal cordons, planted about 18 or 20 inches apart. The space would 
Pe covered much more quickly than with fan-shaped trees, and the 
former are inexpensive. YVhen you decide whieh form of tree you 
intend planting we will name some good varieties if you wish, repeating 
the length of the wall and aspect, as your letter cannot be preserved. 
Petroleum and Vines {F. A.). —You say you have pruned your 
Vines, and “dressed them with petroleum in a pure state as purchased,” 
for the extirpation of the mealy bug, and now ask whether the petroleum 
will injure the buds. YVe occasionally receive a letter of this kind that 
