SEPT. 4 
THE BUBAL WEW-YORKER. 
the character Bhe can justly claim—that of 
being the common mother of the family. So 
long as Bhe is present in the hive, all the eggs 
found therein are laid by her. The truth of 
this may readily be ascertained by Introducing 
an Italian queen among common bees. All 
the young subsequently hatched from her 
eggs, both workers and drones, will wear the 
livery of the foreign race ; and the old stock 
will gradually disappear, none of their own 
“kith and kin” being thenceforward pro¬ 
duced. 
It is thus'rendered certain that all the eggs 
originate with the queen. But as the cells in 
which the droues are bred differ In breadth 
and diameter from those which cradle the 
workers, and drones are besides reared at cer¬ 
tain seasons only, the queen must evidently 
possess the ability to distinguish between the 
two kinds of cells, and to lay male or female 
eggs at pleasure, according to the needs of 
the colony. That she has this ability is an 
undeniable fact, however difficult it may be to 
account for or explain it. The function of the 
queeu is simply to lay eggs, aud thus keep the 
colony populous; and this she docs with an 
energy that is fairly startling. It iB nothing un¬ 
common for a good queen to lay 3.000eggs in 24 
hows. We may confidently assume that a 
vigorous queen may aunuallylay from 150,000 
to 300,000 eggs, or at least 1,000,000 in the four 
years that constitute the average duration of a 
queen's life. 
A queen iB developed from an egg in 17 days 
in a preconstrueted cell, but will issue from 
wbat is called a post-constructed cell, some¬ 
times as early as the eleventh or twelfth day. 
Queen cells are usually built on the edge of 
the comb, or around an opening in it, which 
is necessitated from their size and form, as 
usually the combs are too close together to 
permit their location elsewhere. These cells 
extend either vertically or diagonally down¬ 
ward, arc composed of wax mixed with pollen, 
and In size aud form much resemble a peanut. 
The eggs must be placed in these colls, either 
by the queen or workers. Borne apiarists 
think that the queen never places an egg in a 
queen cell, but I have no doubt of the fact, 
though I never witnessed the act. 1 have fre¬ 
quently seen eggs in these cells, aud, without 
exception, in the exact position in which the 
queen always places her eggs in the other 
cells. I know that when royal cells are to be 
toru down, and inchoate queens destroyed, 
the workers aid the queen in this destruction. 
I have also se?n queenB pass by unguarded 
queen cells, aud yet respect them. I have also 
seen several young queens dwelling amicably 
together in the same hive. 
The queen is larger around the body than 
the worker, but not as large as the drone. 
Her body is longer than that of either, gradu¬ 
ally tapering to a poiut. She has a stiug, but 
uses it only upon imeting a rival in royalty. 
The queen usually leaves the hive only when 
accompanying a swarm, and when a few days 
old, to meet the droues, for the purpose of be¬ 
coming fertile. Once becoming such, she is 
so for ll/e. The old poetical notion that the 
queen is the revered aud admired sovereign of 
the colony, whose pathway is ever lined by 
obsequious courtiers, whose person is ever the 
recipient of loving caresses, and whose will is 
law in this bee-hive kingdom, controlling all 
the activities luside the hive, and leading the 
colony whithersoever they may go, is unques¬ 
tionably mere fiction. In the hive, as in the 
world, individuals are valued for what they 
are worth, The queeu, as the most important 
individual, is regarded with solicitude, and 
her removal or loss noted with consternation, 
as the welfare of the colony is threatened; 
yet, let the queen become useless, and she is 
dispatched with the same absence of emotion 
that characterizes the destruction of the droues 
when they have become supernumeraries. It 
is very doubtful if emotion or sentimentality 
is ever a moving force among the lower aui- 
mals. 
There are probably certain natural princi¬ 
ples that govern in the economy or the hive, 
and aught that conspires against or tends to 
intercept the action ot these pi iuciples, be¬ 
comes an enemy to the bees. All are interested, 
and doubtless more uulted than is generally 
believed, in a desire to promote the free action 
of these principles. No doubt the principle of 
autagouism among the various bees has been 
overrated. Even tbe drones, when they are 
being killed off in tbe Autumn, make but a 
sickly show of defense, as much as to say: 
«• The welfare of the colony demands that such 
worthless vagrants should be exterminated ; 
so mote it be ; go ahead.” It is most probable 
that what teuds most for the prosperity of the 
colony is well understood by all, and without 
doubt there is harmonious action among all 
the denizens of the hive, to foster that which 
will advance the general welfare, or make war 
on whatever may tend to interfere with it. 
If the course of any of the bees seems waver¬ 
ing aud Inconsistent, we may rest assured that 
circumstances have changed, and that, could 
wc perceive the beariug of all the surrounding 
conditions, all would appear consistent aud 
harmonious. Ligurian 
Jflotintltaal. 
Petunia* In Vmc». 
I often hear women speak of petunias as 
poor flowers for cutting purposes, and my 
awn experience is quite the reverse. I regard 
them as among the best. To fnlly appreciate 
them, they should be arranged in flat dishes 
in which twigs from evergreens, or small¬ 
leaved deciduouB shrubbery have first been 
placed, and form a support for the petunias. 
When this has been clone and the dish has beeu 
filled with water, cut the petunias and stick 
them around in the green 6tuff as quickly as 
possible, so that they do not wilt. A large, 
shallow plate can be made to have quite a dec¬ 
orative purpose for the table arranged in this 
way. Considerable skill can be displayed in 
the arrangement, too, if one cares for that, 
by placing the blossoms in rows, making each 
row of the same color or variety. A petunia 
bed at night and at uiorniug is tbe most delic- 
ously scented thing that I know of ; aud the 
only thing about oue that is not absolutely de¬ 
lightful, is that it cannot be tukeu up at will 
and set iu the midst of the dining table for a 
centerpiuee- You, who have morning-glories, 
pick at night the opening buds and arrange 
them aB described for petunias. Put the dish 
ou the breakfast table. Next morning you 
will find that the glories of the morning pre¬ 
side at your meal. Maky Wager-Fish br. 
Bryn Mawr, Pa. 
-- 
Give Flanl* Plenty of Boom. 
In the cultivation of flowers, I find that most 
people do not give them room enough in which 
to grow to perfection, and hence they do not 
feel satisfied with the seed, and will often con¬ 
demn th6 6t>urce whence it comes, as the flower 
is not as nice as the catalogue cut represented 
it to be, while tbe fault is wholly, or in great 
part, ou their owu side, in not giving 
room enough to the plants. Now, at the 
several 
moisture, and leaving the ground nearly level. 
In the finer and more varied operations of 
the garden or field culture of small fruits, the 
hoe playB a more important part, and In straw¬ 
berry culture especially it is the most impor¬ 
tant of all implements used, and requires more 
skill to use it expertly thau many people are 
aware of. In all my long experience I have 
never found a hand who, after years of trial 
and repeated showing, could or would hoe a 
row of strawberries so nearly like one of my 
own—which ho was to imitate — but that 
I could tell at a glance which was his. 
From this I conclude that skill aBd imitation— 
the former being the successful application of 
the latter—are qualities seldom found or suc¬ 
cessfully developed in such material as we 
have to rely on for help ou the farm or in the 
garden. In other words, competent and skill¬ 
ful hoers are like angels’ visits—few and far 
between._ 
Obscure Writing. —The most successful 
teacher is the one who can the most 
readily impart bis ideas to his pupils. 
The best writers are those who can ex¬ 
press their ideas so plainly and clearly as to 
enable the most uudisciplined mind to com¬ 
prehend them, and tbe beauty of all writing 
la its perspicuity ; and yet how often do we 
find an attempted description or an implement 
or method so obscure as to bailie our best 
efforts to understand the writer’s meaning. 
For instance, in tbe last nuqiber of a neat and 
sprightly contemporary, hailing from the city 
of Brotherly Love, the editor in an article on 
the fall plaming of strawberries, amoug other 
things, describes in this wise a machine for 
cutting off tbe runners. 
A circular kuife fastened to a 10-inch, 
wooden wheel made of one-half-inch plank. 
Let the knife project two inches from the 
wheel. This knife may be made in segments 
of steel or heavy sheet-iron ground sharp. At 
the end of the five-foot handle bolt a bent bar 
of^xll-inca iron so that the ends project 10 
inches. Two inches from the ends of this bar 
present time, 1 have iu my garden 
plants from seed sown last Spring, as nice as I p UDC h holes for the axle of the wheel to run 
the cuts iu any catalogue show them to be, aud 
a plant of the Shell Flower far excels the cut 
in the catalogue of the nurseryman from whom 
the seed was obtained. When planted out iu 
good soil. I find that Phlox DrutnwoudU will 
spread its branches bo as to cover a space 18 
inches across, and most aunnals will be much 
more beautiful if given pleuty of room; there¬ 
fore, do not try to crowd too much into a given 
space—better have less in number, and have 
them nicer. F - H - D - 
Corning, N. Y. 
Utiscfilantoua. 
JOTTINGS, 
Salt Marsh Hat.— The tables given by Mr. 
Stewart, iu his article on the Dairy Cow, page 
530, showing the relative value of feeding at* ffa, 
arc interesting, and if we could regard them 
even “as approximately correct,” as staled, 
they become more so. Beside the difference 
iu corn cobs and corn stalks noted I have been 
interested in the high value given to salt hay. 
exceeding even that of corn cobs and stalks, 
as well as Timothy hay, ripe and in full bloom, 
all the straws except bean, aud nearly equal to 
ripe clover. Again, the amount of fat ac¬ 
corded it exceeds that in all the straws and 
hay b, peas and rye. This will hardly be ac¬ 
cepted as correct or approximately so, by the 
practical masses, as it is completely at var¬ 
iance with the oft-repeated and quite general 
belief that a pound of fat never came off the 
salt madows in the shape of salt hay. Auy- 
oue at all familiar with this produce knows 
that it differs very materially iu quality. 
Bright, clean, fine salt hay is considered best 
for horses, and black grass, got in early and in 
good order, best for cattle, and both are regard¬ 
ed by old farmers hereabouts as about equal in 
money to half the price of fre6h hay. 
Hoeing.—'* It requires but a little skill to hoe 
a row of com, etc.” The above, from a recent 
editorial in the Rurax, will be accepted as 
true according to the value each individual 
places on the merit and thoroughness of the 
hoeing aud the object sought. The term. *' to 
hoe ’’ covers a wide range of soil manipula¬ 
tions, aDd the operation is one of the most im¬ 
portant of all the small labors in the garden, 
aud if but “ little Bkill is required to hoe a hill 
of corn,” iu my experience that little is more 
thau one in ten ordinary laboring men pos¬ 
sesses. If hoeing corn consists merely in 
hauling the earth to, and making a mound up 
around , the stalks to 6hcd off the rain, then I 
yield the point at once; and where the culti¬ 
vator has been freely and properly used, the 
area about a hill of corn, for the skillful exer¬ 
cise of the hoe is, 1 confess, very limited, and 
In many cases is regarded as not existing. 
Aside from the destruction of weeds, hoeing 
corn, as I use the term, embraces breaking the 
crust, loosening and pulverizing the soil close 
in and about the stalks and roots of the young 
plants for the free passage of warmth, air and 
in; put washers on eaeh side of the wheel to 
make it run true. It is now ready for use. 
Push the wheel before you with sufficient pres¬ 
sure to cut the runners. You can run as close to 
the plants as you please, and if the plants are 
set in rows both ways every runner can be cut 
off." 
Is not half an inch rather thin for a plank ? 
Almost any one with any gumption could rig 
up a machine that would answer the purpose, 
but I have been wondering how many readers 
could build one from the above blind descrip¬ 
tion and have it accord with the writer’s ideas. 
Descriptions of 6'imple contrivances like the 
above, though perfectly plain to the writer are 
often of no use to others, simply because of 
their ambiguity and lack of clearness. A 
simple illnBtration is often most effectual in 
conveying ideas and should be used where the 
importance of the matter will justify. Other 
portions of the above-quoted article are stolen 
verbatim from other sources without a word 
of credit, and appear as original with the 
writer. When one engages in plagiarism of 
this kind it would look a little better and more 
creditable to change the clothing of the ideas 
sufficiently to give at least the semblance ot 
originality. Kit. 
-» — 
THE BUFFALO HONEST FERTILIZERS. 
Evert year the use of commercial fertilizers 
is rapidly increasing throughout the country, 
except iu those newly-settled districts in which 
the exuberant fertility of the virgin soil has 
not yet been seusibly impaired by repeated 
croppings. Hundreds of thousands of dollars 
are annually spent by the farmers of this and 
neighboring States on these sources of fertility, 
aud it is much to be feared that no small propor¬ 
tion of the outlay brings uo Inadequate return 
in the shape of increased crops, owing partly 
to the unskilled mode in which they are used, 
partly to the uusuitablenoss ot the fertilizer 
employed either to the soil or crop to which 
it is applied, but mainly, perhaps, to the infe¬ 
rior quality of the fertilizer. 
It is chiefly to protect the agricultural com¬ 
munity against adulterations in such fertilizers 
that Experiment Stations have been estab¬ 
lished by the Legislatures of this aud other 
States, and the experience gained in these 
amply demonstrates the necessity for some 
means of the kind for protecting our farmers 
against fraud in the sale of such commodities. 
There Is no doubt that when the New York 
Experiment Station is in working order there 
will be a weeding out of some of the brands of 
fertilizers now ou the market in this State, 
and a considerable improvement in others, as 
the constant liability to detection and expo¬ 
sure of any adulteration or other fraud In their 
composition must force the makers to fair 
dealing. 
There are some fertilizer manufacturers, 
however, whose goods have always been so 
honestly put up that the establishment of the 
Station will have no effect in causing them to 
change their mode of action, while it must 
greatly benefit them by spreading abroad the 
knowledge of the excellence of their wares, 
and by driving from the field unworthy and 
dishonest competitors. 
Among these L. L. Crocker, manufacturer 
of the Buffalo Honest Fertilizers, stands in 
the front rank. We have used these fertilizers 
on the Rural Farm, where they proved quite 
satisfactory. We also know of many who 
have used them more extensively than our¬ 
selves, and for a number of years, who speak 
very highly of them, and some of whom now 
use no other commercial fertilizers. 
The Ammoniated Bone Sperphosphate has 
for its basis bone, blood, meat and potaBh, and 
therefore is a complete fertilizer, being rich in 
nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash. It is 
well adapted for grain, roots, grass and garden 
crops, and at Mr. Crocker’s office in Buffalo 
we have seen agoodly number of testimonials as 
to its efficacy from farmers in different parts of 
this and the neighboring States, speaking in 
the warmest terms of its excellent effects on 
corn, wheat, oats, barley, rye, buckwheat, 
grass, tobacco, hops, fruit trees, etc. 
From the nature of the ingredients the 
effects of these fertilizers on the soil are more 
lasting than those of ordinary bone or mineral 
superphosphates, and their value is otherwise 
enhanced by the care bestowed ou their manu¬ 
facture and the pure quality of the sulphuric 
acid UBed in making the superphosphate. One 
of the Rural staff has carefully examined the 
process of manufacture, the crude materials, 
and the manufactured goods, and speaks 
strongly of the skill aud honesty that distin¬ 
guish every thing connected with the business. 
We would advise all our readers who can 
conveniently get their fertilizers from Buffalo 
to investigate the merits of the Buffalo Honest 
Fertilizers before investing their money iu 
such goods indiscriminately. Full information 
will be promptly furnished by Mr. Crocker, to¬ 
gether with the names and addresses of a large 
number of farmers who can speak highly of 
the excellent effects produced on various crops 
and soils by the application of different quan¬ 
tities of these fertilizers. Au interior article 
loses in reputatiou by investigation and trial; 
a good one gains thereby, hence the high 
esteem in which these fertilizers are held by 
those acquainted with their merits. 
-♦ ♦ - 
To Keep Eggs Fresh. 
Take them daily from the nest and pack, 
small end down , in any clean and sweet non¬ 
conducting material, like fine sand, sifted coal 
or wood ashes, and set away in any cool and 
dry place where the temperature will uot rise 
above 75", or, better, 65° or 60°. Where these 
conditions are to be attained, preservation in 
lime-water or salt is wholly unnecessary, be¬ 
cause of the extra trouble and expense, and 
because limed eggs are at best flashy, if not 
worthless things, and finally, because the air 
beiDg excluded in the low temperature main¬ 
tained, eggs will keep sweet and sound for 
months. b. f. j. 
-- 
FACTS AND OPINIONS. 
I keep my dried berries, etc., in strong paper 
bags, tied firmly, and stored in a dry, dark 
place. I stand the bags on the end that is tied. 
Unless great care is exercised the insects will 
find an entrance. 
A Rochester grape grower brings to market 
the earliest Concords and the largest clusters, 
and secures about doable price. His secret is 
girdling the vines. Last season, I visited a vine¬ 
yard near Lake. Ontario, that had been girdled 
for years, yet the vines were extremely vigor¬ 
ous and healthy; they were bearing a heavy 
burden of fruit, and the clusters and berries 
were marvelous in size aud of excellent qual¬ 
ity. 
Wild strawberries invariably possess vigor 
and hardiness, elBe they could uot exist in old 
meadows and stumpy clearings, ft is in¬ 
teresting to plant them in the garden and 
watch the results. Those I planted last 
Fall have sent out a mass of runners. 
The plants resemble the Crescent 8eedling 
closely. I have found wild strawberries as 
glossy aud beautiful as costly gems, and of 
exquisite quality. Among them we need not 
look for monsters in size. We are, in fact, 
getting over the craze for big strawberries. 
Artists often seat the milk-maid on the left 
side of the cow, make the wood choppers left- 
handed, and construct impossible rail fences 
in their illustrations. These slips we can 
overlook, but when they attempt to make a team 
draw a load of hay without any wagon tongue, as 
was done recently iu a popular journal, we 
must indulge In a mild protest. 
One hundred pounds of old woolen rags, 
properly prepared, will fertilize au acre of 
land, but I shall continue to litter the pig-pens 
with care, and save the last remnant from the 
barn-yardB. G. A. Green. 
CATALOGUES, ETC., RECEIVED. 
Baird & Tuttle, Bloomington, Ill. Cata¬ 
logue of 100 pages of fruit and ornamental 
trees, shrubs, roses, bulbs, herbaceous and 
garden plants. There is a good deal of origi¬ 
nality about this catalogue, and some of the 
