344 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Oc'ober 17, 1889. 
stock before the Heather season more honey would have been 
gathered ; but it brings us back to the old question, How can the 
bees be best disposed of without the aid of brimstone ? A series 
of years, such as 1888-89 has been, leaves no room for destroying 
bees, but the reverse ; but should seasons turn out as we wish I am 
inclined to think that many bees will have to be subjected to the 
brimstone pit we are all so anxious to avoid. The best way to 
accomplish it is on the non-swarming and uniting in July system. 
HOME APIARY. 
Nearly all my hives are prepared for the winter, well protected 
from wet, the entrances reduced to not more than three-quarters of 
an inch wide. This keeps away all draught, and the ventilating 
floor prevents evil consequences. The fine weather we are now 
•enjoying is giving the bees ample opportunities for exercise, pre¬ 
paring and fitting them to withstand an Arctic winter should it 
appear. Everywhere hives are in better condition for wintering 
than they were in the autumn of 1888, and this state of matters is 
more promising for a good harvest in 1890 than we could expect in 
1889.—A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIYED. 
Wm. Paul & Son, Waltham Cross.— Catalogue of Roses, 1889-1890. 
Charles Turner, Slough. — Catalogue of Roses, Fruit Trees, and 
Nursery Stock. 
S. P. Dixon & Sons, Hull.— Catalogue of Roses. 
Jefferies <fc Son, Cirencester. —Catalogues of Trees and Roses. 
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. 
large Sales ( TF. F.). —What you send for publication is purely an 
advertisement, and a very striking one. The publisher will send you 
the terms for insertion if you desire to have them. 
Exhibiting- Orchard House Fruit (IF. J. and S. T .).— You will 
find the purport of your letters embodied in the first article in the 
present issue of the Journal, and we think it is not unlikely a change 
will be made of the nature suggested. 
Malva Seed ( C., Guernsey'). —We do not remember that anything 
•of the kind you mention has appeared in our columns, though we may 
have overlooked it. If you can quote the page on which the difficulty 
To procure seed of the varieties you name appears, and send your full 
name and address, the matter shall have due consideration. 
Fruit Trees for Worth Wall (A. IF. S .').—The American 
Bramble, if it grew well, would cover a wall twice the height of 
yours, and we are not certain that the fruit would ripen well without 
sun in your district. Red Currants or Morello Cherries would be 
more likely to give satisfaction, both bearing and ripening well on 
'north aspects in South Yorkshire. 
Sulphur to ‘Vine Hoots (TF. Palmer ).—We are obliged by your 
note. We discovered the misprint too late for rectification. The word 
“ roots ” in the sixth line from the bottom of the article on p. 306-7 
last week should have been “ pipes.” Most gardeners, however, know 
that sulphur is not applied to the roots of Vines, but on the pipes in 
wineries as an antidote to red spider on the leaves. 
Vegetation on Carden Walks (F. J., Devon). —What you 
•enclosed in a box arrived in a jelly-like mass. The weed appears to 
•be a Conferva of some kind, and probably the walks are sodden with wet, 
drains being needed for carrying off superfluous water. However, we 
have never known any vegetation that did not succumb to the “ weed 
killers ” that are advertised. They will, we suspect, kill everything 
that grows if applied strong enough, and they are not expensive. 
illiquid Manure (A Youngster). —We are sorry to say your short 
communication on this subject will not, as you say, “ pass muster.” 
You by no means make clear what you intend to convey, the sentences 
being so involved. Only one is plain—namely, that in which you say 
“ unhealthy plants have been improved by liquid manure,” and cite as 
examples some pots of Lachenalias. This is all we can extract from 
what we are compelled to describe as your carelessly written article. 
Transplanting- Hoses (Engineer). — We have no doubt your 
Roses can be successfully removed, and the sooner the work is done the 
better after most of the leaves can be shaken or rubbed off the stems ; 
indeed, we should not hesitate to cut them off and transplant at once ; 
if left on after removal they conduct the moisture from the stems by 
evaporation. Do not permit the roots to become dry in transit, trim 
off any broken ends, place light gritty soil in contact with them, then 
fill in with the ordinary soil, pressing it down, and cover the surface 
with manure. Any strong growth may be shortened to a foot or so in 
length, pruning closely towards the end of March or early in April 
according to the weather. They ought to grow well in such soil as 
you describe. 
Planting Rhododendrons (E. TF).—There is no better time than 
the autumn for planting these shrubs, but they will answer when planted 
under favourable conditions of soil and weather any time during the 
next five months. They are the most accommodating of shrubs to 
remove, and if due care be exercised in the work not one out of five 
hundred of healthy, well rooted examples will fail to grow. A mixture 
of turfy loam that contains little or no lime, leaf soil, and turfy peat in 
equal parts, will answer your purpose, pressing it down firmly. In some 
districts these shrubs grow well in loam without any admixture, and 
much better than in some kinds of peat. They do not answer where the 
soil is shallow on a hard, dry subsoil ; nor do they succeed in any soil 
where the ground is deeply dug amongst them annually. It should be 
merely scratched over, and top-dressings of decayed vegetable matter 
never fail to have a beneficial effect. 
Culture of Sipladenia amabilis ( T'. II.). —The plant will not 
require cutting down now. Keep it growing slowly until spring, when 
it can be placed in a brisk stove temperature, syringing frequently, and 
maintaining a humid atmosphere, but be careful not to give too much 
water to the roots, as Dipladenias are easily damaged in this respect. 
Just keep the soil moist, but never waterlogged or stagnant. Next 
autumn the growths may be cut back to within 5 or 6 feet of the pot 
and treated similaily in other respects. The shoots must be trained to 
a trellis for exhibition, but when growing they can be trained to strings 
taken from the pot to the roof of the house. Give the plant a light 
position, and do not allow much root space. A 24-size pot will be 
sufficient for a good specimen, and you will probably only need a 
smaller one at present. 
Culture of Antholyza (Idem). —The Antholyzas generally require 
a cool house, but in some positions they will succeed out of doors. 
They are best grown in pots of light sandy soil. Give plenty of water 
if growth is now advancing, but do not have the plants in too warm a 
place or they will become weak. An ordinary greenhouse suits them 
well enough. You can use the lime for the plants named, but it would 
not be safe for Heaths and hardwooded plants generally. 
Autumn Pears (Mum). —We presume from your remark that you 
do not wish for late varieties that remain long on the trees, but sorts 
that can be gathered when nearly ripe and soon afterwards ready for 
use. The following half-dozen combine good size with quality, and 
afford a supply of fruit over three or four months :—Williams’ Bon 
Chretien, Beurrd Superfin, Marie Louise, Louise Bonne of Jersey, 
Pitmaston Duchess, and Doyennd du Comice. The last but one is not a 
Pear of the first quality, but is included because of its large size and 
handsome appearance combined with fair quality. If you prefer a 
smaller Pear of richer flavour plant Fondante d’Automne. We should 
plant single cordons about 20 inches apart, having as many of a sort as 
the length of the wall permits. Train them upright or nearly so the 
first year, not taking off the tops except any that may terminate with a 
blossom bud, but cut back any side shoots to within an inch of their 
base. When the trees are growing freely and nearly reach the top of 
the wall, they can be depressed and secured at an angle of 60° for the 
season, then brought down to 45°, gaining a length of 3 feet of stem 
over keeping them upright. The trees are cheap, easy to manage, and 
cover in the quickest time. 
Chrysanthemums Damping- (F. J.). —It is very difficult to point 
out the cause of your blooms damping without seeing them and knowing 
exactly how they have been treated in every respect. If the plants are 
active at their roots, we arc inclined to think they may have been left 
outside too long, and have been slightly checked. Damping is also due 
to a superabundance of moisture in the atmosphere and defective ven¬ 
tilation. During changeable weather the utmost care is necessary tq 
maintain a uniform condition of moisture in the atmosphere. When 
the sun bursts out brightly, and ample ventilation is not quickly pro¬ 
vided, the moisture of the atmosphere is condensed on the florets, and 
quickly ends in their destruction. The varieties you name are very 
liable to damp, especially in a house where a little fire heat may be 
used and the atmosphere close and rather moist. They always open 
best when housed before the flower buds are too far advanced, and where 
they can have liberal ventilation. Any attempt at hurrying them fre¬ 
quently ends in damping. With the best of men scores of fine blooms 
are often lost after a fog. It is possible that a few early buds on some 
of your plants may have been taken, and this will account for other 
