212 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 5, 1369. 
considerable elevation rather less than a quarter of a mile distant, 
where the Heather is extra fine, and where gold was at one time 
plentiful and is sometimes wrought for yet, in a straight line the 
bees would have come down the hill at an angle, but instead 
they flew right down the second named glen until they reached 
the bottom, then turned to the east at a right angle again, flew 
down the main glen, and past their hives from 150 to 200 yards 
where the valley and dyke nearly intersect, then over the dyke, 
reaching their hives on the lee side of it, flying at least a mile 
further when windy than when calm. 
DIFFERENT RACES OF BEES. 
The only regret I have is that those who have lifted their 
voices against the foreign races of bees were not here to judge for 
themselves of their superiority. I have read of a colony in 
America gathering 30 lbs. in a day, which the owner thinks will be 
able to record 40 lbs. when his hives are in order along with the 
pasturage. I had a colony of Syrians that gathered 60 lbs. in 
three days, but 33 lbs. is the highest I ever heard of in this 
country, and yet my queens never filled “ twenty four standard 
frames ” with brood in twenty days. I think one-half of the 
above is not bad work, which I consider would be the extreme of 
the breeding powers of my queens this year, and a great deal more 
than “ ten standard frames ” would contain. The amount gathered, 
by my bees is treble that any ten-standard frame hive could possibly 
■do. But more of this again. 
THE PUNIC BEE. 
In compliance with the request of “A Hallamshire Bee-keeper” 
I took one of these queens to the Heather, but singular to say it 
has done the least of any hive I had, but must add one trial is in¬ 
sufficient to decide the merits of any race, and it may be the good 
qualities of this race that has precluded it from reaching the pro¬ 
portionable weight of others ; but it is now well forward with 
young bees, and may at the end surpass others. If the chance of 
competition fails owing to unsettled weather the good quality of 
the Punic bee must remain an untried one for another year. Be 
that as it may, I will give them every chance, but am sure it will 
be difficult to get a race of bees to surpass the eastern ones. As 
my convenience for scribbling is not the best I will defer other 
experiences till another time.—A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper. 
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. 
Carnations Dying- (71 L .).—The plants sent appear to have been 
very weak to begin with—too weak, and hence unable to resist the 
attacks of a fungus which causes the destruction of so many that are in 
a debilitated state. 
Plants Unhealthy (C. IV.). —If the house is suitable in other re¬ 
spects and a genial atmosphere maintained, or in other words, if you 
have been able to grow similar plants in other structures, you may, we 
think, conclude the glass is unsuitable, and we should not think of 
employing the kind you describe. We have seen many failures arise by 
the use of very thick rough glass, and we consider it unsuitable for 
hothouses generally. 
Stirling Castle Apple (77. I. 17.). — It is not an acid Apple, but 
an excellent early culinary fruit, with white flesh, very tender, juicy, 
with an agreeable and pleasant flavour, not in any respect similar to 
Dumelow’s Seedling or Wellington. It is in use in August and Sep¬ 
tember, the tree being a great bearer, and more suitable for dwarf than 
large culture. Perhaps the specimens were unusually fine from being 
grown against a wall. 
Defective Valve Arrangement (7?.). — We have several times 
stated that for having the heat under control valves must be placed on 
return as well as on flow pipes under the circumstances you describe. 
You had better make the necessary provision at once, or cease firing 
briskly and continuously, or an accident may occur. The more water is 
heated the more it expands, and it traverses most freely where it meets 
with the least resistance, and this it appears in your case is along the 
return pipes. 
Stopping Mignonette (IF. S. S.~). —It takes about a month to six 
weeks from pinching off the flower spikes until the plants make fresh 
growths and are furnished with fresh spikes, but much depends upon 
the condition of the plants at the time of stopping. If they are not very 
woody when pinched young growths will be produced more quickly than 
when the wood is hard and stunted ; in the latter case it will take six to 
eight weeks, the plants never being satisfactory when allowed to become 
exhausted before resorting to pinching. 
The “ Best ” Manures (A. &). —No one can say what is the 
“ best ” manure for a particular soil without knowing the constituents 
of that soil. If you describe the nature of the soil to which you refer, 
and especially the herbage, assuming turf is taken from a pasture, we 
shall be in a better position to advise than by giving a categorical reply 
to your question in the absence of any data whatever on which to form 
an opinion worth giving. The quantity of manure to use is also most 
important, and you do not indicate your proposals in that respect. 
Vine Deaf Mottled (A. 7?.).—There is nothing the matter with 
the Vine leaf. On the contrary, it is a good leaf, and if all the others 
are like it the Vine cannot be in a very bad state. The colouring is 
natural to the variety when the leaves change and assume their 
autumnal tints. The soil in which you grow Tomatoes will be improved 
by an admixture of lime shortly before planting, though water from 
a drain may contain small vibrios which are injurious to the roots of 
many plants, causing them to have a warty appearance. The 
crushed flower sent is probably a Nerine. 
Injured Vine leaves (id 7.).—We do most readily admit there is 
“ something wrong ” with the leaves sent, but only in one respect can the 
wrong be righted now, and that is clearing off the red spider with which 
they are infested. If there is only one young Vine in this state, you 
had better sponge the leaves carefully yet thoroughly with Gishurst 
compound, nicotine soap, or even softsoap and tobacco water. This 
must be done on both sides, for on both we find insects plentifully. 
This will not materially improve such leaves as you send, as they are 
beyond restoration, but as you observe others are not so bad, by all 
means cleanse the whole of them at once. The Vine may then be to 
some extent benefited, and it will be a decided advantage to destroy 
the attacking pest. The leaves are also scorched and wanted, mainly 
through errors in ventilation and general management. 
Fungus on Plum Trees (77. 7?.). — We are of opinion that the 
condition of the leaves sent is mainly the result of aphides, the filth 
attending which is almost invariably taken possession of by the black 
fungus. We have seen many instances of this, not with Plums alone 
but various kinds of trees and plants. If you can prevent insects, 
attacking the trees, no matter by what means, and also maintain 
healthy root action in good soil, we do not think the fungus will attack 
the trees. This is not the “ red rust,” which is more difficult to combat 
and overcome. When trees lose their leaves soon after midsummer 
they cannot be expected to store material for the production of fruit. 
We have seen many trees rendered black with fungus this year, the 
certain result of a previous and serious attack of aphides. The leaves 
you have- sent have always arrived dead and dried ; if you send more 
we should much prefer their reaching us fresher in a box with a little 
green grass. 
Neglected Fruit Trees ( Northumberland ). — 1, The procedure 
pursued with the wall trees is the correct one, and we can only further 
suggest that root-pruning be resorted to early in autumn, forming out a 
trench about one-third the distance from the stem the trees cover in 
extent of wall space, and as deeply as the roots, which should be detached, 
the trench being left open for a week or ten days, when it may be filled 
in, firming the soil well. This may be done early in October. It tends 
to ripen the wood and buds, and induce shorter jointed and more fruit¬ 
ful wood. If the cutting of the roots be done in a dry time it is possible 
the leaves may become limp, which will not do any harm, but the soil 
must not be allowed to become so dry as to cause severe flagging, 
water being applied to the part undisturbed to prevent the foliage 
flagging and its premature falling. 2, There ought not to be any suckers 
at the base of fruit trees. Remove them at once, and in future whenever 
they appear. The trees are in much too vigorous growth for the forma¬ 
tion of fruit buds, for which the heavy manuring is accountable. This, 
with the looseness of surface, is sufficient cause of their not fruiting. 
Sowing with Turnips to be dug in in autumn is a novel way of seeking 
fertility. It would be much better to give a dressing of clay marl, 
