34 
[ July 11, 1889. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
I have just formed two nuclei with Pumice (?) queens at their head, 
kindly sent me by “ A Hallamshire Bee-keeper.” More lively 
queens I have not seen ; the slightest movement of the body makes 
them start and try to conceal themselves. One of the queens is 
about the largest I have had, and if their progeny is equally 
vigorous we shall have very strong workers indeed. 
CARNIOLIASS. 
As time goes on I am still more favourably impressed with the 
hardiness and good working qualities of this breed. They are so 
docile that for twelve or thirteen years I have had them I never 
knew a bee to attack anyone. When crossed with other varieties, 
however, they use their stilettos freely ; but I cannot understand 
why some people insist that they so closely resemble the common 
black variety as to be scarcely distinguishable from them. At a 
distance the Carniolian bee is easily distinguished from the com¬ 
mon bee, and crosses with that variety betray their character by 
their less tapered body and darker colour, which any experienced 
bee-keeper can, at a glance, recognise. Some persons object to 
them because they say they are much given to swarming. They 
are not more liable to swarm than other varieties, and are less 
prone to it than some. They are lively at swarming, and refuse to 
settle quickly, and after swarms are sometimes more numerous 
than Ligurians are. This, however, is easily prevented by the 
timely excision of royal cells. 
HINTS TO BEGINNERS. 
I gather from my correspondence that there are many who are 
■only beginning to keep bees. The first thing for them to consider 
is the procuring of stocks. They are advised to visit some 
established and well conducted apiary and there ascertain what a 
good stock of bees is like. Then will be the time to make the 
necessary purchases in bees and appliances, taking care not to 
procure more than may be required, nor articles which may be 
•of no use. A hive that is to be sent home must be thoroughly 
ventilated. A common straw hive only requires a cheese cloth 
placed under the corners, tied at the top, and a cord wound round 
the body ; the hive to be then inverted and carried by hand ; or if 
sent it may be placed in a box having a piece of perforated zinc on 
the lid. If an ordinary frame hive is obtained a ventilating floor 
should be substituted for the common one and made secure. 
Whenever a hive reaches its destination give the bees their liberty ; 
never close them in unless thoroughly ventilated, nor at any time 
unless for some particular purpose, which I will explain in future. 
UNITING SWARMS TO STOCKS. 
A Hampshire correspondent desires information on this subject, 
but has unfortunately omitted to state the number and kind of 
hives. The principal query is, “What is the best method of 
uniting young swarms of bees with old stocks ?” To be sure of 
success, both lots of bees should be compelled to gorge themselves 
with honey or sweetened water (thin syrup), so that the bees will 
sip it, and not be smeared with it. The swarm should be set close 
to the old stock a day or so before joining. The swarm in an 
•empty hive or box may be inverted with the bees, and the old 
stock set on it, when both will unite peaceably, or the swarm may 
be shaken on to a sheet and the stock placed over it. Two fillets 
•of wood should be laid upon the sheet to prevent the old stock 
hive crushing the bees. Provided there are young queens in 
nuclei, or in stocks, for next year’s stocks, we advise saving the 
old queen at present, but if not it might be the best course to kill 
ihe old queen, though we have a strong repugnance to this so long 
as increase of bees is wanted. Young queens in nuclei are always 
an insurance against loss of stock by the loss of young queens. 
The subject will shortly be discussed in these pages for the 
benefit of the inexperienced.—A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
Seeger & Tropp, 112, Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, London.— 
Interleaved Catalogue of Orchids. 
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. 
Purple Pea (A. J. S .).—The pods you send are good samples of 
the Purple American Pea, an old variety occasionaPy met with in 
cottage gardens. 
Insects on Gloxinias (F. J .~).—We have received your letter but 
no box containing Gloxinia leaves or insects. Very light fumigations, 
just sufficient to maintain a smell of tobacco in the house, should be 
employed early in the season to prevent the attacks of insects of the 
aphis tribe. 
Spongy Peat (If. D. J}.'). —The sample sent is such as is used by 
Orchid growers for Cattleyas and some other kinds. It is of no use for 
plants generally other than those of the nature indicated. We do not 
prepare analysis of soils. If you do not grow Orchids you can perhaps 
send a sample to someone who does and ask him to cry it. 
Pelargonium Sport (J. G. fy Col ).—The flowers have arrived 
quite fresh this time, and the variety which is distinct from Dr. Masters 
in the show decorative class, and is rich in colour with good substance 
of petal, appears a promising one for market and for contributing 
effectively to the floral display in the conservatory. 
Bouble Begonia (TP. J. 31.). —The flower you send, buff tinged 
with rose, is very fine, and the variety, especially as the plant is a 
vigorous grower, worthy of preservation. We have seen some similar in 
shape, and not very dissimilar in colour, though perhaps not identical. 
This can only be determined by comparison, and you can, if you wish, 
send samples to the raiser of the seed, if it was purchased, or to Messrs. 
Cannell or Laing. 
Quality of Peaches (J. F.).—We have tasted much worse fruit 
than those vou send. Are the leaves free from red spider ? These 
insects greatly impair the quality of fruit. Apart from that we think 
you are overcropping the trees, and in consequence giving stable 
drainings in excess, or rather continuing their application too long. 
They should be discontinued when the first fruits change for ripening, 
and a perfectly sweet atmosphere maintained. 
Grapes Scalded (TF TF A.). — The berries sent are what gar¬ 
deners call scalded, and very much has been published on the cause and 
prevention during the present season. A low night temperature, with 
late morning ventilation, are contributory causes, and the evil would 
doubtless be aggravated by drought at the root3. The temperature 
ought not to fall much below 65°, with a little ventilation. You have 
omitted to describe the treatment to which the Vines have been sub¬ 
jected. 
Blood Manure (A E. Ilf). —It is suitable for Roses and Chrysan¬ 
themums that need extra support. To plants in the open ground it may 
be sprinkled on the soil at the rate of between 1 or 2 ozs. to each square 
yard, and a pinch between your thumb and finger may be scattered on 
the soil in 7 or 8-inch pots. You had, however, try its strength on some 
grass or small weeds, and note the effects. These manures vary very 
considerably. They may either do good or harm, according as they are 
used. 
Peach Trees Injured (J. TF. B .).—We cannot give the “ full ex¬ 
planation ” you appear to desire, but that is scarcely our fault. The 
letter should have been posted a day or two sooner. We have no 
doubt the carbolic acid in the cesspool has done the injury, and you 
could do nothing better than give pure water copiously. We do not 
think the trees were in the best of condition before the liquid manure 
was given, and would therefore be the more liable to injury. We 
should remove half the fruit or more, then if fresh growth follows, a 
light crop may perhaps ripen, and if it does it will be quite safe to 
eat. It appears the Vines could endure what the Peaeh trees could 
not. Possibly several roots were not reached. Do not apply any 
more of the sewage to them. 
