484 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
November 23,1894. 
eventually have to be cut out and be fixed in the frames in 
the same manner as transferring is done. 
I experienced a difficulty of this kind last year. A farmer who 
had kept bees in straw skeps for several years was very timid of 
them, so the work of hiving swarms was delegated to one of the 
farm hands. He invested in a frame hive, and about the end of 
May a swarm came off from one of his straw skeps. It was hived, 
and at once shook into the frame hive without any guide comb or 
covering of any description on top of the frames. Fortunately the 
roof was put on the hive, and so they were left to take their chance. 
About the middle of September he asked me to come and look at 
his bees, as he could not lift the roof off the frame hive, and I soon 
found out the reason. The bees had fixed their combs to the roof, 
and had filled the hive from roof to floor board with combs of 
splendid honey. The combs were built across the frames, so all 
had to be cut out. This was done by forcing the roof up until a 
knife could be inserted, the combs were then cut off level with the 
top of frames. The roof of hive was then reversed and the combs 
of honey lifted out, and the bees brushed into a straw skep, after¬ 
wards putting them in a frame hive on some fully drawn out 
combs. They were at once fed for winter, and came out strong 
the following spring. There were upwards of 60 lbs. of honey 
from this hive, which came as a great surprise to the farmer, as he 
had never seen so much honey from one hive before. 
For transferring I find nothing better than strips of raffia for 
keeping the combs in position, as by spreading out four or five 
strips on a table and laying the frame on them and putting the 
combs in them whilst in this position, bring the strips of raffia round 
the bottom of the frame and tie round the top bar. The bees will 
fasten the combs secure, and in twenty-four hours the covers can 
be lifted from the top of frames, the raffia cut and drawn out from 
the top without disturbing the frames.— An English Bee-keeper. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIYED. 
James Cocker & Sons, Aberdeen .—Forest Irees, Shruls, and Eases. 
Dicksons, Ltd,, The Nurseries, Chester .—Forest and Ornamental 
Trees. 
E. Domaille, La Colombelle, Guernsey .—Pinhs and Carnations. 
Henry Eckford, Wem, Shropshire.— Neio, Culinary, and Sweet Peas, 
J. Jefferies & Son, Cirencester .—Forest and Fruit Trees and Roses, 
Little & Ballantyne, Carlisle .—Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, and 
Roses. 
J. B. Riding, Chingford, Essex.—Aew and Choice Chrysanthemums, 
•jj* 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 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 communications. 
Carnation Diseases (Scientist'), — We have an article of the 
nature you suggest from Mr. G. Abbey, which will appear in an early 
issue of the Journal of Hort'ieulture. 
Pbotographs (J. S .).—We are always pleased to see good photo¬ 
graphs of picturesque garden scenes, or representing superior examples 
of culture ; but by no means all that come to hand are suitable for 
engraving. We return such as are not used, if desired to do so at the 
time they are sent, 
Cycas revoluta (J. J. <7,).—“ The proof of the pudding is in the 
eating,” and so the proof of your Cycas ovules being perfect can only be 
proved by their healthy germination. These plants being dioecious, or 
bearing male and female organs on separate plants, and as you had no 
male plant it is extremely unlikely that the ovules are fertilised. They 
may have albumen, but probably have no embryo developed. It is by 
DO means uncommon for ovaries to be developed that bear no seeds, or 
for seeds to be formed minus any embryo; 
Exhibiting Reflexed Chrysanthemums (U. K .).—Most judges 
would disqualify a stand containing the varieties you mention, and there 
is nothing in the schedule to show they would not be right in doing so. 
You need not sound the “ x ” in either of the names you indicate. 
Setting out Flower Beds (Constant Reader ),—You would find all 
you require in Loudon’s “ Self Instruction for Young Gardeners” if you 
could procure a second-hand copy ; the price is 23. or 3s. Or procure 
Clifford’s “ Primer of Geometry,” Is., from Macmillan. A little 
practical experience with straight-edge and line with a few pegs on 
the ground, will enable you to lay out the figures. 
Goodla latlfolla (A Young Gardener ),—There is much truth in 
your remark, which applies with equal force to many other similar plants 
that are now rarely cultivated, though they would help materially in 
increasing the diversity of effect in houses too frequently distinguished 
by monotony. Goodia latifolia (fig. 73) is an Australian evergreen 
shrub which has been in this country for a great number of years, but 
has gained a small share of popularity. These old plants are unknown 
to the present-day gardeners, and when a specimen is exhibited or some 
old collection is visited when the plants are flowering they attract as 
much attention as a novelty. This Goodia is not a sensational plant 
by any means, but it is well worth growing. The golden flowers, with 
a dash of red at the base of the “ standard,” are numerously borne, 
though comparatively small individually, and a well-developed specimen 
is a useful occupant of a conservatory or greenhouse. Both G. latifolia 
and its relative G. pubescens require a compost of loam and peat with 
good drainage, and they can be increased either by seeds or cuttings, 
the latter receiving similar treatment to Heaths or other hardwooded 
plants. 
Crassane Pear Growths Thorny (H. T ,).—It is not unusual 
for some Pear trees in their young state to have long thorny spurs, some 
of them, as in your case, very sharp. They are more disposed to 
produce the thorny growths on the free or Pear stock than on the 
Quince, for they bear earlier and produce fruitful growths on the Quince 
sooner than on the Pear stock, but they have the thorns on both stocks 
when young and extra vigorous. It is not likely the tree is on the 
White Thorn, as nurserymen very rarely use it as a stock, but it may be 
