432 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Kovember 14,. IPS. 
of the bees perished, a thing I never saw in my own apiary nor 
where the floor and hive were kept thoroughly dry. It is well 
known that I have for many years been advocating the narrow 
•entrance and ventilating floor, an improvement on the eke belong¬ 
ing to the Stewarton, and have never had occasion to clean a 
floor. 
The wide doorway, long since given up by me, is still recom¬ 
mended by some. The evils, which are sure to arise from it in 
•certain seasons, are not unlike what are described above with damp 
floors. Dry combs, dry hives, and a dry atmosphere are the best 
conditions for wintering bees, and to secure these adopt the narrow 
doorway and ventilating floor. We have generally, particularly 
fluring winter, a damp atmosphere to contend with, when exposed 
things such as hives 'assume a greater or less degree of dampness, 
according to the nature of the material. Wax is a good non¬ 
conductor, but hives are deficient, and honey absorbs much 
moisture, and renders it injurious to the bees. A wide doorway is 
conducive to these evils, while it lowers the temperature of the 
hive, furthering the condensation of the perspired moisture from 
the bees upon the combs, walls, and floor of hive, thus bringing 
about the same condition of things as used to be the case in the 
more primitive hives, which the latter ones under proper manage¬ 
ment have an entire immunity from. It will be more to the advan¬ 
tage of bee-keepers to adopt the Scotch hive and advice than have 
need to be taking the advice of others to destroy bees suffering 
from a malady brought about by keeping them in improper hives 
and under similar treatment, which doubtless can be averted. 
When the interior of a hive is made draughty by having a wide 
■doorway the bees, to keep up the heat, consume more honey, 
perspire more, which from the coldness of the hive the bees are 
unable to expel, is consequently condensed inside, and the more 
protracted the cold is the more injurious it becomes to the bees 
with a less degree of chance for their safety. Whatever is done, 
let it be of such a nature as will tend to keep the atmosphere and 
hives dry. Bees are always most healthy when they are kept in 
•such a way that the slightest interference enables them to fly out- 
In this way less food is consumed, breeding goes on more briskly ) 
and bees are strengthened, so that when they fly out they can return 
with safety and with little effort, while disease will be unknown.— 
—Lanakksiiire 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. 
TO CORRESFOUDEIfTS. 
In consequence of the extraordinary pressure that will he experi¬ 
enced during the Chrysanthemum, season questions cannot be answered 
with the usual promptitude, and especially those arriving after 
Saturday. See notice below relative to the naming of fruit. 
Books (TF. A.).—You will find explanations of most of the terms 
named in the “ Cottage Gardeners’ Dictionary,” post free from this 
office 8s. 
Early Rhubarb (TF. U. S,). — We have no “offer ” to make on the 
subject of your note. We do not approve of Rhubarb that pushes its 
growths through “ thoroughly sodden manure out of the open yard,” 
as such manure varies considerably, and as a rule impairs the quality of 
the produce. 
Varieties of Cut Flowers (TF. P.). —When the schedule reads, 
as it usually does or ought, “ Eighteen distinct varieties of cut flowers,” 
each bunch should consist of one variety only, as to introduce two 
colours is a manifest evasion of the conditions of schedule, as there is 
not one, but two varieties, and the stand should be disqualified as con¬ 
taining nineteen instead of eighteen as required. 
Trellis for Peach Trees (Z>. II.'). — Having trees on the hack 
wall it is almost a necessity to have the front trellis low, so that the 
light may pass unobstructed to the trees on the back wall. There is no 
question, however, of the trees doing best trained to a trellis about a 
foot from the glass, and by utilising the whole of the roof in that way 
the fruit is not only much finer, but, taking all things into consideration, 
quite as much is obtained as when there are trees on the back wall, which 
in case of your having the trees trained to a trellis fixed to the roof is 
practically of no use for Peach trees. We have all ours trained to the 
roof, having trees only in front, and the back wall is used for Roses. 
The preparation ot the border seems to he good. 
Sulphide of Potassium as a Remedy for Mildew ( S.F.B .). 
—All the sulphides and sulphur solutions have a discolouring effect on 
paint, which in some cases is highly objectionable, the discolouration on 
white paint being such as to preclude its use in structures where appear¬ 
ance is studied. It is, however, an excellent remedy, we using it at the 
rate of quarter of an ounce per gallon for slight attacks, and ordinarily 
at the rate of 1 oz. to a three-gallon watering pot of water. It is readily 
soluble in water, to which it imparts the appearance of milk. Plants, 
of course, can readily be syringed by laying them on their sides, or in 
such position as will prevent the soil being saturated, and turning 
round so as to wet the affected parts thoroughly with the solution. 
Hydrochloric Acid for Killing- Weeds on Walks (C. Si). —The 
solution of this acid in water is, as you are no doubt aware, the muriatic 
acid of commere, the aqueous acid being also known as spirits of salt 
and marine acid. It is likely it would prove an effective weed de¬ 
stroyer, but we have no experience of it for this purpose, and it is pro¬ 
bable has not been generally used for this purpose. Muriatic acid 
contains about 326 per cent, of pure hydrochloric acid. It is probable 
that this diluted with 99 parts water would be sufficient to destroy 
weeds on walks, and being applied in spring would keep them free 
during the season. That, however, is matter for experiment. We 
should be obliged by those having experience of this substance for the 
destruction of weeds furnishing particulars, or any other they have 
found efficacious and safe. 
Chamaerops Out of Boors ( M.). —The well-known Chammrops 
humilis is the hardiest of Palms in cultivation, and is the only one 
found in Europe. This in the south of England succeeds well out of 
doors, and needs no protection ; but in exposed cold or damp situations, 
even around London, it is frequently injured during winter if not 
protected. The same remarks apply to C. Fortunei, which is, however, 
generally less hardy than the other, though in some gardens it requires 
no protection. Two of the finest specimens we have seen are at Heck- 
field, Winchfield, Hants. These were planted in 1869, and now have 
massive trunks and large heads. The plants or trees have had no 
protection afforded them since the first winter after they were planted, 
but they are supported with fresh soil annually, the turf being removed 
for that purpose and laid down again. It is to this care that must be 
attributed the large, handsome, glossy leaves. They are well matched 
in every respect, as they are not only of the same size but of different 
genders, and are the parents of many plants that have been raised from 
them since they were established in their positions. No doubt they 
would succeed equally well in your district if the soil is not too heavy. 
Perpetual or Spinach Beet [Amateur). — The following note 
was published, and it is to that you probably refer. “ The Perpetual is 
not considered so good flavoured as the ordinary Spinach, but if a little 
extra attention is paid to the cooking it would go unnoticed at the table 
by many of the less keen judges. It appears strange that such an easily 
grown plant should be so little known amongst gardeners, as many have 
exclaimed when passing through the garden here, ‘ What is that you 
have there V when the reply given was Spinach Beet. Here Spinach is 
most appreciated in early spring and in the autumn and winter. When 
other choice vegetables are plentiful in summer Spinach is overlooked ; 
that is to our advantage, as the ordinary varieties behave very in¬ 
differently on our soil, and I have known the same to be the case in 
other gardens. It is common in many places to see this vegetable 
assuming wonderful size, requiring much thinning to do it justice, but it 
is not so with us. We have tried artificial manures, lime, salt, wood 
ashes, soot, horse and cow manures, but all to no purpose in obtaining a 
luxuriant crop of Spinach. In future it is our intention to sow the 
round variety for early spring crops, and the Perpetual for autumn and 
winter supplies. Our seed of the latter variety was sown from the 
second week in May to the middle of June, and we have been able to 
pick quantities of leaves for some time ; in fact, we could have picked 
all the summer had the demand rendered it necessary, and we hope to 
continue it for a long time yet to come. When this variety is grown 
strongly the stems can be cooked and used like Seakale ; but I have 
only known it used as such in one or two instances, yet I see no reason 
why it should not become an established rule.” 
