December 17, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
527 
Supers Filled Rapidly. 
Instead of waiting tbe prescribed two or three week-* after the 
bee3 have been hived I hive them into the supers, and if the day 
is tine (as it is only when the weather appears to be in a settled 
state I do this) I allow them to begin working in them a few hours. 
They are placed upon the hiv9 they are to occupy, having a little 
comb, so as to induce breeding there, and so preserve the purity 
of the supers. By this departure from the common practice I 
have often secured supers of the greatest purity at times when 
they were not to be had otherwise. 
Divisional Supers. 
These are very often used by me, although I am fully aware 
that full-sized supers are filled more quickly in proportion than 
small ones are. The latter are, however, more certain of being 
finished in a short spell of fine weather, and is one of the reasons 
supers are had from straw hives when not to be had from wooden 
ones. 
In our variable climate it is a mistake to have much super space 
laterally. During a long continuance of fine weather bees will 
enter and store in supers placed anywhere about their hive, which, in 
the majority of seasons, they absolutely refuse to enter. Novices 
who have b9en favoured with a fine season or two at the start 
have not only misled themselves but many others who have fol¬ 
lowed the rules laid down for managing bees under their short but 
successful period, having had no knowledge or experience whatever 
of adverse seasons. The question of whether the nearly completed 
super should be raised on the top of an empty one, or the latter 
to be placed uppermost, has been fully discussed without everyone 
being convinced which is the proper way. Perhaps a little reflec¬ 
tion on the bad seasons we have had will convince most that it 
is folly to interpose an empty super when there is no honey to 
gather, and that the more compact the comb is, and the more cosy 
the hive, the greater is the economy. 
It is partly upon these lines I advise small supers, while they 
are much more easily handled in every respect than large ones. Small 
supers proper I have often commented upon. In this instance I 
refer to sections and section cases other than those which may be 
used in conjunction with division or dividing boards. For my 
hives I prefer cases that hold nine sections, whether they be 1 lb. 
or 2 lb. ones—that is, three rows running parallel with the combs 
below, and two of which cover the frames between the super 
protector, which gives double protection to the supers in protecting 
them from injury when in transit, and greater warmth by the 
double casing where it is most needed. 
How to Make Section Cases. 
This might serve as a pastime for amateurs during the winter 
evenings. Procure the wood, so that when seasoned it will stand 
nearlyf inch broader than the height of the sections. For example, 
for inch by 4d inch sections the sides should measure lBf inches 
by 4| inches bare by f inch thick, make a rebate in the bottom edge 
a ! in and on ; it is now ready to be nailed to the end, which 
must be of the same breadth by ! inch thick by inches long 
These are easily cut to length or breadth by laying a pattern 
on the top and cut by drawing an ordinary pocket knife round 
the pattern, lightly at first into the wood to be cut. Now 
nail with fine wire nails through the thin ends into the ends 
of the sides for bearers, pieces of wood the exact length 
to fill the rebate crossways by ! by ^ inch full, and these nailed 
so as to catch the sections equally completes the case with the 
exception of end pieces to keep the sections square and tight to 
©ach other. They must be the length of the width of the case, 
by h by 3-lGths ; four are required for each case one for the 
bottom at each end, and the other two for the top. The under 
©nes should have a bevel on the face of the upper edge, so that the 
sections slip down easily and without hindrance. The top ones 
snay be used to keep the sections firm endways. 
The price of the wood for these cases, including two pieces 
14 inches by inches by ! inch, for covering top and bottom will 
cost about 2d. Heavier wood may be employed for the ends, but 
for an amateur would be more difficult to make. I used to have 
my cases made so that no nailing was required, but found that the 
foregoing plan was the most satisfactory, certainly the cheapest and 
readiest got at by the amateur. 
When cases are employed of this style the small supers may be 
employed in conjunction with them, and when attention is paid to 
build them up to the bee’s requirements, giving always plenty of 
room, but never much in excess, there will be, as a rule, few un¬ 
finished sections. When the bees have the two first cases well 
forward, lift the one on to the top of the other, and put the empty 
case or cases in their place. By doing this no vacuum is formed, 
and the bees being more concentrated work with vigour and satis¬ 
faction.—A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper. 
° a °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. 
Preserving Orchid Flowers (IF. F.).—A method such as you 
require is described ou page 5l(j this week. 
Everlasting Flowers (./. A. G.'). —You will find it difficult to 
remove any strong odour they may possess, but the majority are free 
from any scent of an objectionable character, and it would be wise to 
avoid using the strongest. Possibly if they were placed in boxes with 
Lavender or camphor for a time it might help to lessen the odour. 
Seedling Apple (./. B.). —Your seedling is too much like the 
Wyken Pippin to be considered distinct, but the fruits you send are not 
equal in quality to the old favourite, which, like your variety, has 
“ short stalks, and the fruit is not easily shaken from the trees by the 
wind.” It is right to say, however, your samples were not in the best 
condition. We do not say the variety is identical with Wyken Pippin, 
but only that it closely resembles it, and is not so good. 
Hardy Climbers for Trellis ( Northern Climate'). —Mixtures are 
seldom satisfactory, especially those comprising a number of varieties, 
and there are few climbers that will thrive in exposed situations on 
trellises, for they are always associated with other trees or objects from 
which they derive shelter as well as support. We advise you to have 
Honeysuckle and climbing Roses at the most exposed part, and these are 
very unsatisfactory in bleak situations. Clematis montana and C. vitalba 
are most likely to succeeJ. We had Honeysuckle (Caprifolium 
periclvmenum) interspersed with Ayrshire and Boursault Roses on a 
similar trellis, and they were beautiful in June. The plainer the beds 
are for a mixture of shrubs and flowers the better. Those you sketch 
would answer very well. 
Coriander (TF. IF).—The leaves of this plant are used both in salad 
and in soups for their high and peculiar aromatic flavour. The seeds 
are used medicinally, and are considered soothing and stomachic. They 
are also sold by confectioners, encrusted with sugar. If required early 
the seed is to be sown thinly on a hotbed in February or March ; and 
when 3 inches high the plants are ready for use. As they will soon run 
to seed another sowing must be made in April for a succession. This 
may be done in an open warm situation, in drills 6 inches apart, an inch 
deep, then covered over with light earth with a rake. When the leaves 
are 3 or 4 inches high, they may be gathered for use by cutting them off 
close to the ground. To have a supply all the summer a little should be 
sown every month, as it soon runs to seed. For winter use it may be 
sown in August and September on a warm border ; and when cold 
weather sets in the plants must be hooped over and protected. 
Methylated Spirit for Destroying Scale (A. 8.). —This is not 
always safe to use, because it is mixed with spirit of tar, and in that state 
