THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
295 
February 28 .] 
the bees; but cleanliness and timely supplies of food 
are the best remedies, and which I have always 
found to prevent it. 
Spring feeding, however, must be done sparingly ; 
for if the bees have had a sufficient winter’s supply, 
feeding will only be required upon a small scale—it 
being chiefly intended as a stimulant to promote 
early breeding. 
The importance of feeding is very great; for lan- 
gour and death, says Dr. Bevan, is less frequently to 
be ascribed to disease than to the want oi timely 
food. 
My bees were liberated from a three weeks’ con¬ 
finement on the 25tli of January, on which day the 
snow disappeared, and the thermometer rose from 52° 
to 47°. They were all in health and vigour, and ap¬ 
peared to enjoy the change exceedingly ; but on the 
1st of February it became still milder, for the tlier- j 
mometer, in the absence of sun, stood at 54° through 
the day, which brought them out even in greater 
numbers. 
Water. —On the 4th and 5tli of February, they 
were searching tor water wherever they could find it 
(for I had not then filled their troughs), and carrying 
it into their hives most industriously—a certain proof 
this, that breeding had commenced. Upon seeing 
them so busily seeking it, I threw down a large wet 
sponge, which was immediately covered with them, 
and remained so till quite late in the day; and it has 
continued to be a favourite resort for them every fine 
day since. Dr. Bevan recommends salt and water 
being set for them during the early part ot the breed¬ 
ing season (a teaspoonful of salt to a pint of water), 
in shallow pans, half filled with pebbles. I have 
always given them water only, which they carry 
home in large quantities; but I have now given 
them both, and, perhaps, some apiarian friend will 
do the same, and give me the result as to which they 
give the preference. Keys, and some other apiarians, 
thought that bees were not fond of salt. 
Buying Stocks. —March is a good time for pur¬ 
chasing stocks for those who are desirous to become 
bee-keepers ; and sufficient encouragement I think 
was held out in my last calendar, to induce many 
persons to engage in it ; for their cultivation, it pro¬ 
perly managed, is attended with very considerable j 
advantage, much more, indeed, than what is gene- j 
rally supposed; and would not he, by any means, a , 
Contemptible consideration with even those who may | 
fill a superior rank in the rural population oi our \ 
country. 
OUR VILLAGE WALKS. 
(No. 21.) 
One of the most delicious moments ot the early 
spring, is that in which we lirst open the glass-door 
to enjoy the sudden warmth that is imparted by a 
south or west wind, after the nipping gusts of winter. 
This year it was peculiarly delightful, because the 
long continuance of snow, and cold, and cloudiness 
had kept us from the garden for an unusually long 
period, and the transition was quite unlookcd for. 
The sun shone out so brightly that we felt his beams 
quite warm, as he stood on the step; the old cedar 
was sparkling with drops that hung from every twig, 
and, although the air was perfectly still, they kept 
falling to the ground at intervals, like diamonds. 
There was a joyousness in the few notes that came 
from the boughs—sounds that had long been stran¬ 
gers greeted our ears; and we saw some gnats flit¬ 
ting about in the sunshine, as if summer itself was 
come. In spite of the wet that soaked the earth, and 
the certainty of frosts still to come, it was impossible 
to resist beginning to garden, with all these sights 
and sounds around us, and to hunt for the early 
bulbs. There they were; raising their sharp green 
heads, and speaking of Him whose unwearied hand 
is again arousing the refreshed earth, and bidding it 
put on all its “ tracerie” to gladden and sustain 
mankind. The snowdrop, with its drooping bell, is 
already in full flower; and the bold crocus, with its 
erect, undaunted attitude, and glittering cup, will 
soon be at its side. 
The fields and lanes are now becoming full of 
interest. Every hedge and bank thicken daily with 
springing herbs and plants; all possessing some 
beauty or some goodness, and drawing us away from 
our books and work to see a more glorious work, and 
read a more wonderful book than the hand or mind 
of man has ever made! The winter through which 
we have just passed seems nothing to us; it was 
very cold—it uas very dark and comfortless cer¬ 
tainly—but it is gone—past and gone : we are among 
fields, and flowers, and cheering sunshine now ; and 
all that is gone by is forgotten. How soon can the 
same Almighty Hand work changes equally striking 
in the life of man ! How soon can the dark days of 
adversity, and the bitter trials that cloud and sadden 
our own hearts, be succeeded by joy and gladness, 
while all that has gone before, in wisdom and much 
mercy, seems but as a dream when one awaketh! 
When the greatest change of all comes—when the 
“ dead in Christ ” have put on incorruption—the 
brightest earthly course will then be but a dim 
shadow—dim, and remembered no more ! 
The crimson stalks and shoots of the Herb Robert, 
or Robert-leaved Cranesbill, are now beginning to 
decorate the hedges, and attract the eye. What a 
wonderful instance of Divine love is displayed in 
this simple, but valuable wild plant, and in some 
others whose virtues are the same, but especially in 
this and the Tutsan—sometimes called Park leaves. 
These plants have remarkable efficacy in stopping 
the effusion of blood. The tender young leaves of 
the Tutsan, bruised and bound upon a wound, stop 
the hemorrhage, and perform a speedy cure. It is the 
most valuable plant known for this purpose, and 
should be cherished in every garden; but it does 
not grow so commonly in the woods and hedges as 
the herb Robert, which is next in value, both for 
inward and outward hemorrhages. The plant is to 
be taken and dried for use (roots and all); and may 
either he taken as a powder or in decoction. It 
is a most excellent astringent. These two remark¬ 
able plants possess the property of becoming blood- 
red in autumn, and have a crimson tinge at all 
times ; thus marking their own peculiar virtue, and 
glowing conspicuously among the quiet green ot 
Nature’s usual dress. It is said that all plants with 
crimson leaves or stems are valuable in similar 
cases, but these two particular herbs possess un¬ 
wonted efficacy. When we mark them among the 
various and beautiful flowers of the hedgerow, let us 
remember the care and providence of Him who has 
enriched their hues to catch the eye, and lead the 
sufferer to their healing leaves ! 
The blossoms of spring will not yet open ; hut it 
is delightful to watch the daily progress ot advancing 
vegetation, and to feel that in a few short weeks all 
will he bright and gay. How refreshing it must be 
to the little birds, after the scarcity of the past win¬ 
ter, to feast on the cool moist groundsel—that weed 
so obnoxious to the neat gardener, but so beautiful 
in the sight of birds. It is now green and tender, 
