270 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
I March 27, :39J. 
the queen kept prisoner, and the bees returning will simply cluster 
out, and in all probability the queen will be mutilated or killed, 
and a young queen will soon reign in her stead, much to the loss 
of the bee-keeper. 
It is considered illegal and dishonest in Scotland to have decoy 
hives in the apiary ; but when they are kept with an honest 
intention they need not be objected to. Hollow trees or boxes 
covered with bark, having some combs within, and under or 
opposite a door or hatch, are capital as decoys for swarms. We 
have had bees take to combs and store honey .3 feet from their 
hive, and knew of a bellglass belonging to “ R. S., Dumfriesshire," 
filled under similar circumstances with pure comb and honey. I 
have also worked bees on the collateral principle, the hives stand¬ 
ing some inches separate, but this is not commendable, and is not 
swarming. 
I have used a tunnel covered with glass, fitted with two slides, 
when driving bees ; when the queen appeared between the slides 
they were chased and the queen secured. The same device I have 
used for hiving bees, the tunnel being connected to the two hives ; 
the one containing the bees had no outlet saving through the 
tunnel. 
In the American device I have no faith whatever, and the 
English one is only a little different in form, which, owing to the 
bees’ love of liberty, they will, I feel sure, reject. When bees take 
to a hive containing combs of their own accord the queen follows, 
but when force has to be used the queen enters reluctantly, and 
often deserts the furnished hive. It is good that this is so, or many 
hives would be destroyed, but the nature of the bee is against it. 
T he knowledge of locality and sense of smell, so great in the queen, 
prevents her making any mistake to re-enter her own hive, although 
standing close to another. I do not believe queens get lost through 
entering adjoining hives, although reputed to do so. It is the bees 
that work the mischief ; many cases of the kind I can trace to mere 
stupidity of the owner or his adviser, by manipulations quite un¬ 
called for. 
Feeding. 
Neglect of timely feeding now will prove disastrous to those in 
immediate want. From 4 to G lbs. of syrup given as quick as the 
bees will take it, will in no way injure the hive, nor the honey 
that may be taken further on in the year. Many stocks are far 
reduced in stores, but have in place many youthful bees, ready to 
take advantage of the early flowers and fruit blossoms that will 
be appearing in about two weeks hence, and swarming, weather 
permitting, will begin in May. In all my experience I do not 
1 e nember a season when bees were so far advanced at this date as 
they are at the present time.—A Lanarksiiike Bee-kreper. 
All correspondence should be directed either to “ The 
Editor” or to “The Pdblisher.” Letters addressed to 
Dr. Hogg or members of the staff often remain unopened 
unavoidably. AVe 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. 
Address (A. 11. and .4. it/.). —We have published the address you 
require so often that we fear the repetition is becoming tedious to some 
readers. It is Mr. Collins, i), Martindale Road, Balham, S.W. 
Calendar {S. 0. A.).—We are not acquainted with any work of the 
precise nature indicated in your letter. 
Spots on Peaches (F. IF.).—The spot is caused by a fungus, but 
whether this is the result of the fruits not stoning as they should do cannot 
be satisfactorily determined. We rather suspect this may be the case, 
and if so the evil may arise from either defective fertilisation or a defi¬ 
ciency of calcareous matter in the soil. Try one of the fungicides, such 
as sulphur or sulphide of potassium to the affected fruits, also a copious 
application of lime water to the border. 
Sowing Pandanus utllis —Do not attempt to break the 
fruit, i.e., seed, open, but place them in pots or pans of light soil- 
turfy loam with a third of leaf soil and a sixth of sand —placing the 
thick end downwards, point or small end upwards, and cover about an 
inch deep. Place the pots in a house with a temperature of 00 to 05 
at night, and 70° to 75° by day, with 10° to 15° advance from sun heat y 
with uniform moisture plants will appear in due course, and when lb®/ 
are sufficiently advanced they may be placed singly in 3-inch pots. If 
two plants come from one seed, or “ fruit,” they are easily divided when 
potting. 
Fragaria indica (^Idem ).—It is a pretty greenhouse plant, Tvith 
red, insipid fruit, yet decidedly ornamental. It is of trailing habit, lixe 
the Strawberry. Seed may be sown in pots or pans, just covering the 
seeds, and placing in a house where there is a gentle warmth. Let them 
grow near the glass, and when large enough place singly in 3-inch pots, 
shading from bright sun until established. Eventually remove them to 
a greenhouse, and shift into larger pots as required. Six-inch pots arc 
sufficiently large for fruiting. Accord the same soil and treatment as 
to Strawberries in pots. 
Strawberries not Swelling (^Anxious ').—The misfortune is due 
to the too hasty development of the flowers. They are perfect as re¬ 
gards the calyx and corolla ; the stamens too may acquire their yellow 
colour, but are useless if the pistils are a mere tuft of abortions, 
and shrivel into black masses. This can only be prevented by giving 
the plants more time. They require to be brought on very gradually^, 
growing them slowly until the fruit is set in order that the parts of 
fructification may have time to form, as they naturally do, in gradual 
succession. We have not found either the Captain or Noble suitable for 
early forcing, though good for succession. As an early forcer we have 
found La Grosse Sucrce one of the best. 
Value of Asparagus and Seakale (A. A. IF.).—Your district 
produces some of the finest Asparagus in the country, and you ought to- 
be able to obtain some valuable information from local growers. Much 
in every case depends upon the suitability of the soil and the method of 
culture adopted. If your land resembles that of the Vale of Evesham 
generally it will stand abundance of manure, and the Asparagus will 
succeed best planted on the level. The rows ought not to be less than- 
30 inches apart, a similar distance dividing the plants in the rovvs. In 
this case you would require about 7000 roots for an acre of ground. Nob 
till these have been planted five or six years will they be very profitable, 
but if well attended to they will continue improving in value for 
years. When in its prime an acre of Asparagus ought to be worth £200. 
You omitted to state whether the Seakale is to be lifted for forcing, oi 
grown or blanched on the same ground for several years in succession. 
Supposing the former plan is intended you would require about 23,300 
roots or cuttings, putting these out 18 inches by 15 inches apart, and is 
very good their market value at the end of the season would be some¬ 
where about 10s. per 100. 
Mildew on Roses in Conservatory (Nf. Julia Arali). Mildew 
is apt to prove destructive in injudiciously ventilated structures. IS 
may often be checked or even prevented by attention to ventilation. 
Sulphur has proved the most reliable means of destroying the fungus. 
Flowers of sulphur dusted over the affected parts will destroy it, but as 
this may be inconvenient, boil 1 lb. floivers of sulphur and 1 _lb. of 
quicklime in 3 quarts of water in an earthen vessel for fifteen minutes, 
keeping constantly stirred while it is boiling ; allow to settle, and pour 
off the clear liquid for use, keeping it in a well stoppered or corked 
bottle. A quarter of a pint of the lime and sulphur preparation shoulcv 
be added to 3 gallons of rain wmter, and the Roses infested with mildew 
syringed with it thoroughly so as to wet every part. Allow the foliage 
to become dry, and in the course of a day or two repeat the application. 
Two or three syringings will mostly eradicate the fungus. As a pre¬ 
ventive the Roses may be occasionally syringed with a weak solution or^ 
softsoap, a couple of ounces to a three or four gallon watering pot ot 
water, using ic in a tepid state or 90°, thoroughly dissolved .and' 
mixed. Keep the roots moist, and take care that cold currents of air- 
do not drive against the plants. 
Barbe de Capncln—Haricot Beans (^Inquirer ').—The Barbe dc 
Capucin of the French is the growth of the common Chicory, forced 
in the dark, and used as salad. Some persons like it cooked, but for 
this purpose the large Brussels Chicory is preferable, the crown being 
made to push through 7 or 8 inches of light soil in the open, or for 
early use forced in the dark. This is known as Witloof. Sow seeds 
of either or both in drills 18 inches apart in deep rich soil in April or 
early May, thin out the plants as if they were Parsnips, and you will 
have good roots for forcing in the autumn. You can procure either 
tall or dwarf Haricot Beans from seedsmen. They are varieties of 
Kidney Beans, the tall sort sown and supported like Scarlet Runners,, 
the dwarf like the so-called French Beans. The seeds are cooked when 
they get firm, also when gathered before they get quite hard, all 
through the winter. There appears to have been a little delay in the 
