182 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Ma-ch 4, 1888. 
which I may briefly call attention, as by this plan one of the 
objections urged against the reversing principle is obviated. 
It appears to me to be greatly superior, both in principle and 
practice, to the other more troublesome and time-losing 
manipulation. In order to give some idea of the plan I 
will take the Stewarton hive as being the one which lends 
itself most easily to the adoption of honey and brood-displace¬ 
ment. Its principal use will be at the end of the honey 
flow, and at no other time ought it to be attempted, when a 
super is unfinished, and there appears to be no prospect of its 
being completed in the natural way. Suppose, then, the 
honey flow being over, we have a Stewarton hive composed 
of three body boxes and a super not complete enough for 
removal. We first ascertain if the top body box contains 
honey sufficient for our purpose, and if so we remove it and 
place it without reversing it beneath the other two boxes; the 
brood nest will thus be at the top and the honey below, with 
the result that the latter will be carried into the super, which 
will thus be completed without entailing any great labour 
upon the bees, such as cutting down the cells and building 
them up again, thus doing away with a great amount of 
exhausting labour, and with this additional advantage, that 
the bees are not kept at home when they might be gathering 
in the fields. This is a suggestion only, and must be tried 
as an experiment with the sole endeavour to get unfinished 
supers completed. In the course of the present season 
experiments with reversible frames on a large scale will be 
made, and a means will thus be afforded us of gauging their 
practical value. At present my verdict must—after getting 
information from every available source—be, that they are 
of very uncertain utility, and not likely ever to come into 
general use amongst practical apiarians. There are 
always, however, certain bee-keepers who love novelty, 
and are ever ready to adopt the latest so-called improve¬ 
ments, only to discard them again, and return to proved and 
valuable appliances. No displacement of the relative posi¬ 
tions of the honey and brood will come into practice in all 
probability, but on exceptional occasions it may be advan¬ 
tageous to effect such displacement when it can be done 
without reversing the combs. Reversing of combs will, in a 
few years, be entombed with many other inventions of a like 
nature, and will be remembered only as a glaring instance of 
the strange infatuation which possesses a not inconsiderable 
section of the b9e-keepers of the present day.— Felix. 
BEE NOTES. 
Balloting foe Hives at County Bee-iceepers’ Meetings.— 
At the annual meeting of the Worcestershire Bee-Keepers’ Association, 
held at the Guildhall, Worcester, on the 20th inst., Mr. j. Hiam, Astwood 
Bank, was fortunate enough to win one of three bar-frame hives allotted 
to the members annually. As there are 266 members, only a few of whom 
have had hives, the chances are about eighty-five to one ; or, to put it 
another way, if we all live eighty-five years longer, and there are as many 
members and the same quantity of hives distributed annually, we should 
be entitled at the end of another eighty-five years to another chance. Not 
long to wait 1 
Tomtits v. Bees. —Before any replies are sent in answer to 
“ G. H. P.,” page 162, let us be clear as to the bird referred to. From the 
description of the habits of the bird and from the remark, ‘ 1 the black¬ 
headed tomtit,” I have no doubt that “ G. H. P.” refers to what is locally 
known here as the “ Tom Collier,” or ox-eye (Parus major). I am well 
aware that these are particularly, fond of bees, and have often watched 
them pick up stray bees and pull them to pieces, and pick out the dainty 
morsels from the inside of the bees, discarding the wings, legs, and outside. 
But this much I can safely say, that I have never seen them kill my bees, 
although I will not say that they do not. The bird I referred to, and 
which there could be no mistake about, as I had one at the meeting 
referred to, which was shown in his little domicile purposely provided for 
him, where he sleeps every night, going about his business during the 
day, was the bluetit (Parus cceruleus), which is always understood as the 
tomtit in this locality, and by reference to many books. If I used the 
word “ harmless,” it was with reference to killing bees. I know they 
have a decided relish for many kinds of fruit, and the worst of it is, with 
Apples and Pears, they like to taste too many; it would not matter if they 
would stick to one and finish it. On the other hand, they are of immense 
value in destroying caterpillars, aphides, scale, red spider, &c. I could go 
thoroughly into this subject from obseivation, but it would occupy too 
much space and time. Knowing their value, I encourage them. I have 
had exactly three dozen reared in the past three summers in an old tin 
teapot fixed in a Plum tree for them.—J. Hiam. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
Osman & Co., 14, Windsor Street, Bishopggate, London. E.— Wholesale 
Price l.ist of Nurserymen, Seedsmen, and Florists' Sundries, 18S6. 
J. C. Vaughan, Chicago .—Catalogue of Tools and Bulbs. 
Hogg & Wood, Coldstream and Duns, N.B .—List of Agricultural Seeds, 
Spring, 1886. 
Edmund Philip DixoD, Hull .—Farm Seed Catalogue for 1886. 
H. Gusmus, Rosenheim, Bayern .—List of Alpine Plants. 
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 correspon¬ 
dents, as doing so subjects them to unjustifiable trouble and 
expense. 
Correspondents should not mix up on the same 6heet questions relat¬ 
ing to Gardening and those on Bee subjects, and should never 
send more than two or three questions at once. All articles in¬ 
tended 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. 
Address (R. J?.).—The Secretary of the United Horticultural Benefit 
Society is Mr. John F. M’Elroy, The Gardens, Moray Lodge, Campden 
Hill, Kensington, W. 
Specimen Glasses for Roses ( Juvenis ).—We do not understand to what 
glasses you refer, nor do we sea anything concerning them on the page you 
give. Write to the Editor of the “ Rosarian’s Year Book,” the Rev. H. H. 
D’Ombrain, Westwell Vicarage, Ashford, Kent. 
Artificial Manure ( C. W., Coventry'). —As we have many times stated, 
we cannot possibly undertake to analyse either soils or manures. The. 
sample sent resembles phosphate of lime. Apply a portion in differing 
quantities to Cabbages or gras3 and note the results. We do not suppose 
that 3 ozs. to the square yard would do any harm. About that quantity we 
think would be good for Potatoes and most other crops, but proceed 
experimentally. 
Rhubarb from Seed (D. J .).—Plants can be raised from seed quite 
easily by sowing in the open ground dnring fine weather in April. It is a 
good plan to sow in drills a foot apart, placing a few seeds at intervals of a 
toot, then when the plants appear thin them out as may be needed, allowing 
one to remain. These plants grow to a good size the first year, and an idea 
cau be formed as to which are likely to be the best, there being usually con¬ 
siderable variation, and the worst can be removed. The others can either 
remain for affording produce the following year, or be taken up and planted 
at wider intervals for forming a permanent bed. 
Sparrows and Gooseberry Buds ( G. S.). — Undoubtedly these birds 
destroy the buds, and we have known bushes ruined by their attacks. Where 
the pests are troublesome it is a good plan not to prune till late in the spring, 
as we have known autumn-pruned bushes divested of every bud in the 
winter ; but they are seldom all destroyed on unprunecl bushes. Some 
persons use worsted, and if this is stretched from the ends of the branches 
so as to form a rough network, it is often, but not always, efficaoious. 
Dusting the bushe 3 when they are quite wet, as on a still misty day, with 
freshly slaked lime is an excellent bud preservative, it also keeps the branches 
free from moss, and the lime falling to the ground is good for the trees in 
most if not in all soils. 
Planting of Gladioli ( Ebor). —Certainly Gladioli may be grown as “ far 
north ” as where you reside, and are, in fact, splendidly grown a great deal 
further north—in Scotland. They are grown as well in the north as the 
south, if not better. The time for planting should be governed by the 
weather and the consideration of the soil, not by the almanack. We have 
planted in February in light soil in a free dry state, and in April in strong 
land with equal satisfaction. Anytime from the middle of March to the 
middle of April is suitable, always taking advantage of favourable weather, 
when the land is dry on the surface. An article from an experienced, 
cultivator, “D., Deal," on the culture of these beautiful hut often fickle 
flowers, will shortly be published. 
Adiantum cardiochlaena Unhealthy (/. T. S.). —The plant may need 
repotting or the drainage may he insufficient, and your best plan, if it has 
not been repotted for some time, will be to turn it out, removing the whole 
drainage and a little of the old soil, especially if it seems to be sour. Gave 
a thoroughly clean pot of suitable size, well drain it with clean potsherds 
to one-third of its depth, and repot the Fern in fresh fibrous peat and a 
small proportion of light loam, with a liberal admixture of silver sand. 
Ke p the plant in a close warm house for a week or two, and give only 
sufficient water to render the soil moist until growth is advancing. Do not 
let the plant be fully exposed to the sun at any time, and avoid placing water 
on the fronds, though a moist atmosphere is necessary. 
