JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 29, 1888. 
and tnen (as now j they were carried out to a successful issue. 
After a while new teachers appeared, who either knew not or 
•entirely ignored the then existing satisfactory state of good bee 
management. One “ idea ” after another rose in rapid succession, 
hut to fall as suddenly as they rose. Rational bee management in 
all its forms was denounced, and interested persons for a time held 
the sway. This continued for about a dozen years or more, with 
perhaps more than that number of different kinds of hives, every 
•one of which was an improvement on the one previously launched 
.■as the best and eclipsing all others. 
The British Bee-keepers’ Association’s ten-framed standard, with 
which no other kind of hive was allowed to compete at shows under 
their auspices, has had its rise and fall. The old Stewarton system 
of placing an empty raise beneath stocks during winter, as well as 
dhat of giving wide entrances, is but being introduced in some 
•quarters, and one writer recently seemed to regard it as new and 
Iris own idea. In America many other things we have long taught 
•and practised are just being tried, such as our hiving apparatus, 
■clearing supers of bees (the latter perfected by me with the 
■carbolicised paper years since), then the possibility of transmitting 
honey in paper packages, is receiving their attention. Several years 
ago I put this to test, and lately I had samples of honey sent me 
successfully by post in paper. The above are but a few matters 
ihat are being discussed which we have practised for a long time. 
It is a trying season such as the past one that tests the bee¬ 
keeper and his system of management, and when we find a number 
of bee-keepers located near each other managing their bees on 
■different principles, one being successful and the other not, it is 
safe to assume that success was due to hives and management. 
“Within the last month I have received upwards of a score of 
letters from different localities, all the writers having had a fair 
■average honey harvest of from 40 to 50 lbs. from each hive. 
"Nearly every one of these ascribe their success jto information in 
this Journal. 
In future articles I will be guided, as previously, by the state of 
my own bees, always keeping in mind the difference that exists 
between the seasons in different parts of the kingdom. Mean¬ 
while, I advise all who contemplate making any change in hives 
and system of management, to embrace the opportunities that 
often arise during the winter months, and get all in readiness for 
the summer of 1889, which, it is to be hoped, will be more lavish 
in her gifts in the way of sunshine and nectar than 1888 has 
■been. 
SUPERS. 
As small supers are in greater repute with many bee-keepers 
than sections, it will please some to learn that these can be had 
•at an outlay of about 7d. per dozen for material. The wood is of 
dwo thicknesses. The sides and top bars are one-eiglith of an inch, 
a,nd front and back five-sixteenths of an inch. All should have a 
slight planing, and the upper edge forming backs and fronts should 
be rebated. A common three-eighth match plane does this. After 
a number of lengths are cleaned, rebated, and clamped together, 
set a compass to the lengths required, mark and square over 
them, cut to the line, and the pieces are ready for nailing. The 
bars averaging 1) inch broad ought to have a groove in the centre 
for the foundation. It can be made with a circular saw or a 
■drawer bottom plane. The sides of the supers should be from 
4 inches to 4' f inches broad. 
There are no better receptacles for honeycomb than these small 
■supers holding about 5 lbs. each, and they are the cheapest and 
handiest in every respect, while they are unsurpassed for marketing 
•purposes, and command a ready sale, often too, when sections are 
a drug on the market. 
HOW LONG DO QUEENS CONTINUE LAYING? 
“ J. B. J.” asks, “ How long do queens continue to lay ? ” 
"When a hive is fairly populous, and in a normal condition as to 
health, &c., the queen of such a hive begins to lay shortly after the 
shortest day, and continues to do so until the month of September, 
when, as a rule, queens of a year or more old discontinue to deposit 
eggs, and the bees naturally cluster up. But if feeding be resorted 
to, or a change of situation take place, and the hive well filled with 
honey, breeding will be resumed, and continued until stress of 
weather puts an end to the flight of the bees. Young queens 
especially Syrians, will sometimes breed the whole winter. But 
all varieties seek a time for repose.—A Lanarkshire Bee¬ 
keeper. 
Erratum.— In the third paragraph, page 479, third line from 
bottom, “ the bottom box first and work upwards,” should read, 
“upper box first and work downwards.” 
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 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. 
Book (TU. &). —The work you mention has been long out of print. 
Address ((7. 0. ( S.).—The address you require is Mr. W. Collins, 
9, Martinhoe Terrace, Martindale Road, Balham. 
Bouvardias Sporting (.7. J. A).—-These plants are much given to 
“ sporting,” and the double varieties possess a similar character. Cuttings 
of the shoots bearing the flowers differing from the parent may, if 
rooted, retain their character. 
Chrysanthemum Sport (A. J/.).—The sport seems to be a 
promising one, but you would do well to place it in the hands of an 
expert grower for exhibition, who another season would prove whether 
it is ready distinct and valuable. 
Buttonhole Holder (./. R. A.).—The holder you send is a simple 
and efficient one, the indiarubber cap preventing the water escaping, and 
also serving to retain the buttonhole in its place. No doubt, if well 
advertised as you suggest, it would obtain a ready sale, especially as the 
price you mention would be a moderate one. Ordinary holders are much 
used, and it is probable when the improvement was made known the 
demand would be increased. 
Camellia Buds Palling (0. T. A.).—Assuming the buds were 
well set on ripe wood their falling is either the result of defective root 
action, the consequence of the soil getting too dry occasionally—it may 
be some weeks ago—or of a sudden change of conditions,,such as remov¬ 
ing them from a damp house, or from the open air, into a dry structure. 
You should have stated the conditions under which they have been 
grown and the treatment to which they have been subjected. 
Cinerarias Flowering Prematurely ( Idem ').—When Cinerarias 
“ show flower buds instead of growing ” it is certain there has been some 
mismanagement. The plants may have been crowded too long in the 
seed pans or pots, have been too dry, placed in a compost not favourable 
for free root action, been too root-bound before repotting, or in some 
other way received a check. The mixture you name would have been 
more than rich enough without the soot, and an excess of this arrests 
instead of promotes the growth of these and other plants. 
Misnamed Vines ( Kiltcnnan ).—No one can tell you “ with cer¬ 
tainty ” the name of the Grape from one shrivelled berry. You ought 
to have sent sooner, a'so have sent samples to the nurseryman who 
supplied the Vines, and he, being a man of high character, would regret 
any mistake on the part of his assistants, and doubtless supply other 
Vines gratuitously if convinced of the mistake. The berry resembles 
Foster’s SeedliDg, and the leaf also, but the examples are insufficient 
for positive identification. 
Preparing Manure ( Sewage ).—There is nothing so good as dry 
soil, and the drier and finer it is the better for mixing with the contents 
of the closet, sufficient soil being used for clean and free incorporation. 
1 f you have plenty of powdered charcoal or dry wood ashes, a quantity 
of either could be used also with great advantage. The mixture would 
be of great value for top-dTessing plants that need assistance, and incs. 
It must be used cautiously, however, as it will probably be much stronger 
