THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
234 
back, and your employer will turn you adrift for allowing him to spend 
his money on such a scheme. All the beautiful climbers you mention 
are not of the least use to you. There are no winter climbers at all for 
a conservatory, properly speaking, neither are there any trailers known 
that would flower in the dead of winter, at the back of the house, among 
fC ™‘' s (Sarah).— Lime-water is the only safe remedy to get rid of ants 
in vour lawn. You must apply it several times, as it will not kill them, 
but make the place so disagreeable that they will remove to a safer one. 
Boiling-water, where it can be safely applied, is the only sure way of 
^Geranium Leaf ( E . A'.).-The leaf of Tom Thumb was dreadfully 
sucked by the thrips, the very worst enemy to plant growing, and there is 
hardly getting rid of it at this season. Strong tobacco-water, and several 
applications with tobacco smoke, are the only sure remedies. 
Names of Insects (E. P’s, Exeter).-T«o small moths, Nos. 1 and 
2 reared from Chrysalides, in rolled-up leaves of Coe s Golden Drop 
Plum, are Lozotwnia Icevigana. No. 3, from young apple shoots, is 
Lozotwnia carpinianu. No. 4, from the same, is Lozotwnia Germngmna. 
No. 5, found on leaves of the plum, is the caterpillar of some other 
sDecies of Tortricedw, which it fs quite impossible to determine in this 
state - and No. 6, on the leaves of the Jargonelle pear, arc the minute 
white-powdery winged insects, which Linmeus mistook for moths, calling 
them Tinea proletella, but which are now ascertained to belong to the 
order Homoptera, forming the genus Aleyrodes.— J. O. W. 
Honey Dew.— J. B. P. says “ The question of domestic bees 
availing themselves of honey-dew was more than once mooted in your 
columns. A circumstance has just come under my observation which 
seems to throw some negative evidence on the subject. At the end ot my 
garden is a large and very ancient pear-tree. A few evenings since, I 
was alarmed by hearing among its branches what I at first believed to be 
a swarm from my apiary, which is situate nearly under it. A closer 
examination, however, assured me that it proceeded from a large number 
of humble bees busily engaged in abstracting from the upper ^surface: of I 
the leaves that viscid sweet matter which is called honey-dew. On 
examining further through my garden I observed the same occurrence 
in a less degree on wall-fruit trees, and among the wild bees there were 
several wasps, also employed similarly, but I did not anywhere observe a 
single domestic bee, although the meadows being nearly all mown, in 
my locality, has more or less deprived my bees of the extent of the pas¬ 
turage they hitherto enjoyed. From this I was at first inclined to infer 
that the domestic bee does not gather honey-dew, as here was evidently 
a fine opportunity neglected by them, and the dew seemed very 
heavy • but led by the circumstance to be more on the qui vive, I this 
day discovered a few domestic bees at the opposite end of my garden just 
as busy on the under side of the leaves of a small laurel hedge, and as I 
approached within a few inches of them, I clearly observed the tongues 
actively used, as the insects rapidly proceeded over the surface, in collect¬ 
ing some secretion. I am not positive, however, that it was lioney-dew, 
for it was so small in quantity that I am unable to ascertain its similarity 
to that on the pear and plum-trees, which, on the contrary, was not only 
plentiful but unmistakeable.” 
Habrotiiamnus fascicularis (J . -R.)* This, intended for a trellis 
in a greenhouse, should be stopped in order to get a great number ot 
stubby side shoots, on which the bloom will be produced. We almost 
fear that your warm greenhouse will be too good a place lor it. It would 
do rather better on a conservative wall. The H. eleguns would more 
delight you, either on a trellis, or trained wildly up a column. Warm 
greenhouse j—treatment for various plants in summer; see an article 
t0 "llEGONiA Fucuioides (F. W. T.).—This, which you wish to bloom 
late, we presume in winter and spring, you may go on with as you 
propose. Give it another shift next month, keep it in the temperature 
you propose, about 80° by day, and 60° by night; but towards September 
place it in an airy light part of a plant-stove, or in a warmish greenhouse 
for several weeks, which will harden the shoots before placing it in the 
regular stove-house, about the middle of October. Accordingly as it is 
grown and rested will depend the time it will bloom freely. We have 
had it good without resting at all; but we prefer stopping and hardening 
the growth for several weeks. By treating it as a warm greenhouse 
plant we have had it fair in early summer ; but it seems to do best when 
bloomed in winter and spring, and from young plants grown in summer. 
Hybridising Begonias (Ibid).-We do not see why you should not 
be successful in crossing Cinnabarinu and others with parvi/olia, ike. 
If vou could get the compact habit and free blooming ot the last, with 
the colour of cinnaburina, you would achieve something in a pecuniary 
point of view. We would make parvifolia the seed-producing parent; 
but if you have room, you might also try nitida. Little has yet been 
done with this family, and yet the worst of them is beautiful. 
Plants kept without Hothouse or Greenhouse (J!/. Fer¬ 
managh).— We are very much pleased, but must con your letter over 
a°-ain and give it more attention. Meantime, build your pit as you pro¬ 
pose ’and the sooner the better. Put slate, or a layer of tar mortar over 
the foundation ; and you may safely add a coating of tar to the bottom of 
the pit, to be covered with sand; the smell will be all gone before you 
want to use it. , . 
Foon for the Redbreast (S. Tomlinson). In reply to the inquiry, 
“ How am I to feed and treat the Robin ? ” I will first observe that, if 
caught wild, he will sooner become reconciled to captivity if put into a 
cage with other small birds, and being of that class partaking of almost 
anything or everything in the nature of food, he will be glad to avail 
himself of that presented to his notice in the food of those with whom he 
is associated. I have always found him ready to take bread and milk 
mixed together into a stiff paste, alone, or with crushed hempseed added, 
or crushed hempseed by itself, crumbs of bread, groats, or broken wheat, 
or what is commonly known as “off corn,” insects various, but especi¬ 
ally worms, and pieces of raw meat, suet, or cheese cut small. I have 
preferred selecting a young bird, termed by bird fanciers a ‘ branclier, 
that is, a bird which has not yet moulted ; he will sing sooner and louder 
than an older bird. If brought up from the nest, he should be fed on 
bread aud milk and hempseed mixed into a stiff paste, a little raw meat 
I cut small, and worms occasionally. But I usually put them into a cage 
July 8. 
or aviary with other birds, and let them take their chance. I shall write 
a paper at no distant time on the Robin, when I shall be more explicit. 
William Rayner. 
Bees. — B. B. says “ The following shews the increase and decrease 
No. 
Net weight 
April 23 
Net weight 
June 23 
Increase 
Decrease 
lbs. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
lbs. 
2 
44 
124 
Ti 
24 
3 
8 
si 
64 
5 
8 | 
15 $ 
6 
Hi 
3* 
16$ 
10$ 
5 
10 
7 
11 
11 
34 
1 
4 
12 
9i 
10 
13 
54 
44 
1* 
When swarmed. 
June 19 ; H lb 8 * 
Full of drones. 
June 19; 4$ lbs* 
All these stocks were made very full of bees in autumn, and appear 
now strong and active. No. 3 and No. 13 are killing the drones rapidly. 
Had the stocks all swarmed, the increase, if any, would not I think have 
exceeded 1 lb. per stock. I shall be pleased to know how the stocks have 
succeeded in other quarters.” This, we are sorry to observe, corresponds 
with the reports we have received from all quarters. 
Bees ( W. A. E.).— The old queen which accompanied the first swarm 
from No. 1 was, in all probability, unable to fly, and so fell to the ground 
and was lost, which circumstance accounts for the bees returning. The 
swarm of the 13th hive was headed by a young queen. The disposition 
to swarm is very much increased by the continued wet weather ; not any 
honey can be collected, consequently none can be deposited in the glasses. 
The same applies both to Nos. 2, 3, and 4. No fault at all attaches to 
W. A. E ., the weather is the sole cause. 
Early Drone-killing (C. E.). —Yes ; drone-killing has commenced 
in many hives in the third week of June, caused, in all probability, from 
the impossibility of the bees collecting any honey on account of the con¬ 
tinued rains. 
Strawberry Runners ( B . B.). —If your strawberry plants are weak, 
or only moderately vigorous, cutoff the runners as fast as they appear; 
but if the plants are very strong, do not cut them off until the berries 
begin to swell. The plants from runners should not be moved until 
well-rooted. 
Bees (B. B.).— All the very unusual circumstances you mention are 
caused by this unusually wet weather in J une; no honey whatever can be 
collected , therefore the drones are killed. A large number of drones 
proves that the hive has been in a very prosperous state. A s 
ivill sometimes leave the hive in the face of a storm.—J. H. 
A second swarm 
will sometimes leave the hive in the face of a storm.—J. H. P. 
Eggs for Hatching (A. M .).—These should not be older than a 
fortnight, but the more fresh the better. We keep ours covered over 
with bran. 
Edgings.— A. M. says—“Will Mr. Robson excuse my introducing to 
his notice London Pride as an edging for walks. He has not noticed it 
in his paper. I have seen it used extensively, and use it myself in my 
small garden. It grows very fast, and requires cropping into the size 
required twice a year, which Mr. R. will, perhaps, consider an objection ; 
but it forms into such a compact and firm edging,—is so easily re¬ 
paired when injured or killed, and is so hardy, that I have often wheeled 
twenty loads of manure over one spot, and not killed it, I think it a 
very good and useful edging, especially for cottage gardens. It has the 
advantage of looking well all the year round, and is, I consider, very 
pretty when in flower. It will grow' anywhere and in any soil.” 
Practice and Principles of Gardening (B. Ward). — Buy The 
Cottage Gardeners' Dictionary , 8s. 6d., and Johnson’s Principles of 
Gardening , 5s. 
King’s Patent Hive. —J. B. P. wishes for more particulars as to 
the construction and advantages of this hive from some one who has 
used it. 
Worms in Strawberries ( Salisbury ).— The “worms” are snake 
millipedes. See what w T e said about them in our last number, page 220. 
Food for tiie Nightingale and Robin ( N. R. F.). —If you buy 
our No. 86 you will find full particulars about managing the nightingale. 
For the redbreast, see what is said to-day to another correspondent. 
Diseased Potato Leaf (J. H. B ., London ).— The leaf is certainly 
an evidence of the potato murrain having attacked the plant. Leave the 
crop undisturbed. If dry, hot weather continues in July and August, 
the disease will not be severe probably. If wet weather occurs, nothing 
you can do will be of any benefit. 
Lovell Fowls.—T he Rev. J. G. H. will be obliged by a description 
of this variety, stating colour, and general size, as compared with other 
varieties. 
Advertising.— A. D. asks—“ Why do not nurserymen advertise more 
in The Cottage Gardener? I think it would pay them to advertise 
anything that could be sent by post that Mr. Beaton recommends, as 
scores of readers of The Cottage Gardener, no doubt, as well as 
myself, feel almost irresistibly tempted to buy them. Ever since seeing 
the Cantua dependens figured and described in The Cottage Oar. 
den eh, my very fingers itched to possess it, as Mr. Beaton somewhere 
says. What was to be done ? I could not procure a plant of it in this 
part of the country, and to get a plant of it from the south at the high 
price at which I had seen it advertised, together with the expense of carnage, 
rendered it above my means. However, a few weeks since I happened 
to see it advertised at a very low figure—one or two plants sent post-free 
for 6d., above the price to prepay the postage. I soon procured two 
small, healthy, well-rooted plants, which are now about a foot high. 
London: Printed by Harry Wooldridge, Winchester High-street, 
in the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar; and Published by William 
Somerville Orr, at the Office, No. 2, Amen Corner, in the Parish of 
Christ Church, City of London.—July 8tli, 1852. 
