260 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
September 13, 1894. 
and two on the 3rd. Twenty fair days since April came in are 
all we have had, and rain fell on some of these days. The 
8th September opened with a hard frost, but otherwise was more 
promising of warmer weather, but we must be silent about the 
future, so mutable his the past been. 
Bee-keepers during the beginning of September flocked to see 
their bees, in the hope of taking otE filled supers, but they were 
disappointed. I have not heard from lower districts where the 
temperature is higher, but hereabouts from 4 to 8 lbs. is a fair 
average gathering. There are exceptions. Some of my hives are 
heavy, but their weights must be deferred till later, when I will 
give them. Again I invite those who wrote against Punics, young 
queens, and swarms to visit my bees, and if they are not what I 
have said about them I will pay all expenses. If apiarians travel in 
search of health here is the place to find it, and if geologically 
inclined there is ample scope for study. Mr. Wm. Millar, Lead- 
hills, has a rare collection of all of the specimen minerals of the 
district, from the pure gold to the different pyrites, which he 
willingly shows to visitors. 
I am in great hope that my next article will be more cheer¬ 
ing, but meanwhile advise bee-keepers to make sure this month 
that all hives have ample stores for winter, youthful queens and 
good numbers of bees. For better wintering remove all solid 
floors. Substitute, therefore, perforated zinc, with a space beneath 
it, and where confidence is yet to be gained in that metal try a 
thoroughly dried peat sod ; either will obviate the necessity of a 
“ hooked wire,” the bees will be alive when spring comes, and 
well-honeyed hives the reward in summer.—A Lanakkshire 
Bee-keeper. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
J. Cheal & Son, Lowfield Nurseries, Crawley.— Dutch Bulbs and 
Trees and Shrubs, 
Dobbie & Co., Rothesay.— Butch and Other Bulbs. 
Hogg & Wood, Coldstream and Duns.— Bulbous Roots. 
E. H. Krelarge & Son, Bloemhof Nurseries, Haarlem, Holland.— 
Bulbs for Autumn Planting. 
T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham.— Catalogues of Lilies, 
Irises and Xarcissi; Carnations, Picotees, Peeonies, and other plants ; 
and the Autumn Bulb Guide. 
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 
unavoidably. We request that no one will write privately 
to any of our coiTespondents, 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 communications. 
Stands and Box for Cbrysanthemum Blooms (J. 22).— 
Stands for twelve blooms are usually 2 feet long, 18 inches wide, 
6 inches high at the back, and 3 inches in the front, bat some societies 
permit larger stands for Japanese blooms. A travelling box cannot be 
made clear without an illustration, and you may find an excellent one in 
Mr. Molyneux’s book, which can be had by post for Is. 2d. from this 
office. 
Trapping-Woodllce {Old Subscriber'). —1, Procure some old half- 
rotten boards, cut them into lengths of a foot to 18 inches, place on 
damp ground, and when fairly moist place one of these boards on the 
floor or other part of the greenhouse where woodlice frequent, sprinkle 
a little oatmeal on its upper surface, and place another board on the 
first. If the boards are warped so as to admit the animals between 
them the bait is perfect, if not introduce a small stone at one end of the 
boards between them. Examine these baits every morning, and either 
brush the captured crustaceans into a pail of hot water or cast them 
before fowls. These relish them immensely for breakfast. 2, Wrap a 
boiled potato in a little hay loosely, put it in a small flower-pot not very 
tightly, lay the pot on its side where the woodlice visit, and shake those 
which are caught out of the hay every morning into boiling water. 
Persevere with either of these methods, and you will scon make the 
woodlice scarce in your greenhouse. 
Flowering Tree {Sunbeam). —Catalpa syringasfolia is the tree to 
which you refer. It was introduced from North America in 1726, and 
attains a height of about 25 feet. We have seen many trees flowering 
with unusual freedom this year, in consequence probably of the pro¬ 
longed heat of last year maturing the wood. The Catalpa grows well in 
the vicinity of towns in the couth of England, and there are 
several trees in gardens adjoining the Houses of Parliament. 
Vuccas Flowering (22. C. L ).—We are obliged by the excellent 
photographs. The plants must be very ornamental with their noble 
spikes, but the flowering of Yucca gloriosa is not at all uncommon. 
We know of old specimens having several growths, some of which rarely 
fail to flower— i.e., flowers can be seen on the plants almost every year* 
When the side growths, which will be produced by your plants, become 
strong enough they will flower. The time will depend on the vigour of 
the plants, but if the soil is good we suspect you will not have to wait 
half of twenty years for more spikes of wax-like flowers, but they may 
not be so fine as those of which you have reason to be proud. 
“ Complete ” Books {F, W. TF.).—There is little in comparison 
between some of the books you mention. Nicholson’s work is the most 
complete of its kind. Thompson’s is more complete culturally, having 
in view garden crops generally. The “ Gardeners’ Dictionary ” is not 
expensive, and gives good cultural notes on useful plants and crops. 
The most complete work on fruit and its culture is the “ Fruit Growers’ 
Guide,” in which nearly all methods of pruning are treated and 
illustrated. It is regarded as being “up to date” in varieties and 
methods, but cannot be had for less than a guinea a volume, or 
3 guineas complete. If you want a cheap work on fruit try Wright’s 
gold medal prize essay, free by post from this office for Is. 3d. You will 
find your favourite method of pruning advocated in its pages. 
Border of Xilllums Unsatisfactory (22. H.). —The season has 
been very unfavourable for Liliums, which may account for their not 
doing so well as usual. As they have been planted a considerable time, 
it would be a good plan to lift them and, if possible, give them a change 
of ground, stirring it deeply and working in some well decayed manure. 
If you cannot do that lift the bulbs when the foliage has died down, 
trench the ground, and mix with it a good dressing of well decayed 
manure, adding some fresh loam or turf free from grubs and roots of 
perennial weeds, or some peat soil, and replant the best bulbs only with 
as little delay as possible, using sharp clean sand under, around, and 
over each bulb—say a handful each, covering with soil about 4 inches 
deep. The smaller bulbs may be planted elsewhere for stock, and they 
will gain strength, being usually the healthiest in the end. 
Grubs In Iiawn {E. II. L .).—The larvm or grubs are correctly 
named by you in the Welsh language, in England are called the lesser 
May (or June) bug, the bracken block and rose chafer (incorrectly). The 
proper name is Phyllopetha horticola (garden chafer). Starlings are 
the best natural corrective, and will clear all their stomachs allow them. 
Nitrate of soda crushed fine and applied at the rate of 2 lbs. per rod 
will paralyse the grubs and kill several. Gas liquor, if you can procure 
it, is the best of all remedies, and good for the grass. It may be had at 
gas works, and should be diluted with three times the quantity of water. 
It may be applied with a watercart with a back-spreader, or with a rose 
watering can, using about a gallon of the diluted liquor per square yard. 
It will make the grass grow sickly or brown for a short time, but after¬ 
wards cause it to grow thickly, and assume a deep green colour. Avoid 
gas lime. It will kill the grubs, however, but the grass will not grow 
well for a long time afterwards. 
Bilberries and Cranberries {D. B.). —There is no doubt the fruit 
is wholesome, and enjoyed by some palates. The reason why the plants 
do not grow in your district is probably because, as you say, it is “ high 
and dry.” They like moisture. The berries are sub-acid, moderately 
astringent, and agreeably flavoured, and contain mucilage, sugar, malic 
and citric acid, and an astringent substance, which exercises a tonic 
effect. The common Bilberry or Blaeberry (Yaccinium myrtillus) grows 
abundantly on the moors of England and Scotland, and produces berries 
of the size of Currants, of a bluish-black colour, covered with a mealy 
bloom. They are eaten either raw or in tarts with cream, or made into 
jellies with sugar. In Devonshire they are eaten with clotted cream. 
With the juice of the berries mixed with the bark of Alder, powdered 
and mixed with alum, the inhabitants of Northern Russia dye their hair 
of a bright red colour. The fruit of the Great Whortleberry (V. uligi- 
nosum) is large and black, but less juicy than the preceding, and neither 
so agreeable nor so wholesome, on account of its narcotic properties, 
which, when the fruit is eaten to any extent, cause headaches and 
vertigo; they are sometimes put in beer to make it heady, and, when 
fermented, they make an intoxicating liquor. The Cowberry, or Red 
Whortleberry (V. vitis idsea) is abundant on the dry barren moors of 
Scotland. The berries are dark red, acid, and austere, and not so agree¬ 
able as either the Cranberry or Bilberry. They make an excellent jelly, 
which is esteemed for colds and sore throats, or to eat with roasted meat, 
for which latter purpose the Swedes use it extensively to venison, and 
consider it superior to Currant jelly. In Wales it is eaten with roast 
mutton. The common Cranberry (Oxycoccus palustris) grows in moun¬ 
tainous districts in the northern regions of the Old and New World, and 
is also found in many parts of Britain. The berries are Pear-shaped, 
globular, often spotted, crimson, of a peculiar flavour, with a strong 
acidity. They are much esteemed in tarts. The American Cranberry 
(0. macrocarpus) produces fruit much larger than the preceding, and 
of a brighter red colour. The plant grows wild in many parts of 
America, but is also cultivated for its fruit. 
