86 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
April 29. 
realized. But while the principles I have alluded to are 
those, which the professional landscape gardener would 
recognize, and practically apply, it must not he forgotten, 
that very many plantations, whether intended solely for 
ornament, or otherwise, are not only not made under the 
direction of a professional man, but are designed and planted 
without reference to any principles whatever. A certain 
object has to be hidden, or a group of trees planted in some 
open space, and he accomplishment of either is effected by 
mingling togethe numerous discordant kinds of trees, and 
allowing them to grow up in a mass, damaging each other 
individually, and forming together a lumpish deformity 
which the growth of each successive year only augments. 
Wherever ornament in plantations is the object sought, 
indiscriminate planting, i.e, mixing together numerous kinds 
of trees without reference to their individual character, 
should never be adopted. Sometimes it is found desirable 
to plant large tracts of laud for the purpose of creating rich 
masses of wood in view from a residence, or from some 
prominent part of the grounds ; but such can never be sa'.is- 
faetorily accomplished by planting together indiscriminately 
deciduous and evergreen trees, and such as are otherwise 
discordant in the styles of growth. However well such may 
succeed iu a cultural point of view, the result, as regards 
scenic effect, can never be wholly satisfactory. The truth 
of this will be evident on a little observation. The noblest 
and most imposing masses in natural woods are individually 
composed of but one land of tree, or of such different kinds 
of trees as assimilate in character, and which, of course, 
combine well together in the mass. And if in art a little 
effect is desired, similar means must be adopted for its 
accomplishment.—G. Lovell, Landscape Gardener , Bagslwt. 
(To be continued.) 
SEASONABLE NOTES ON BEES. 
NO. I. 
Feeding. —When gooseberries and currants are in bloom, 
bees are considered safe, and require no feeding; but weak 
stocks must be kept warm and dry, by some sort of extra 
covering, to increase the warmth in the hives, and to enable 
the bees to rear their brood, and so fill up the places of 
the old one3 which die off. Bees are short-lived, and there 
are few, or none, bred iu weak hives during the winter. 
Weak stocks often gradually perish after being fed with 
great care. The want of fresh pollen is one cause of this, 
and it canuot be supplied by feeding. The weak state of 
bees causes them to crowd together in cold weather, leaving 
the greater part of the combs unoccupied, by which the 
pollen, or bee-bread, turns mouldy, and unfit for the lame 
to feed upon. This leads to an unjust charge often made 
against the bees, of storing up an unnecessary quantity of 
pollen. Weak hives may be known by weight, or inspecting 
the combs; but it is a good sign when bees leave them 
quickly, and return with pollen on their thighs. The 
yellow Crocus and Tree Box are the first to afford them a 
supply. No extra room should bo given them at this season, 
till the bees have covered the greater part of their combs, 
iu order to promote the growth of the young bees, on which 
the future strength of the colony must depend, on whatever 
plan they are kept. This important point will be noticed in 
our next.—J. Wighton, Cossey Hall Gardens. 
QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 
GARDENING. 
COLLECTION OF PELARGONIUMS. 
“ I have the following, but am in want of a dozen more 
good ones ( not 31s. Gd. apiece); would you be good enough 
to give a list?—Phaeton, Wonderful, Optimum, Cloth of 
Cold, Carlos, Bariliots, Achilles, Governor General, Lucy, 
Magnet, Mochanum, Rowena, Sanspariel, Topsy, Virginia, 
Zaria.— L. Fixings.” 
[Your Pelargoniums are all good, and as you do not wish 
to go to the expense of new ones, you may add the 
following. It seems you do not care for the fancy varieties, 
yet we think them very beautiful, and worth growing. 
1. Conqueror (Beck’s).—Crimson - scarlet; rich maroon 
spot on upper petals ; margined with crimson; fine form. 
2. Colonel of the Buffs —Bright orange. 
8. Eva. —Light rose; white centre. 
4. Frances (Hoyle).—Dark top petals; lilac-rose bottom; 
white centre; good. 
5. Firebrand (Hoyle).—.Very bright orange-scarlet; fine 
form. 
G. Lord Raglan. —Fiery-scarlet; large trusses; very good. 
7. Lady Bird (Foster).—Black top petals; white and 
mulberry-stained lower petals ; very striking. 
8. Una (Hocken).—White, with a carmine spot; large 
truss, and free bloomer. 
9. Vesper (Cant).—A clear white ground, with fine spots, 
like Sanspariel, but better. 
10. Wonderful (Hoyle). — Large, well-formed, white 
centre ; very dark spot; a very good variety. 
11. Terda (Hoyle).—Very large; lower petals lilac-rose; 
dark maroon top, edged with rose. 
12. Zoe (Hoyle).—White centre; delicate, clear, orange- 
pink; maroon spot, edged with orange ; very distinct. 
You will see a longer list in another portion of our pages 
to-day.] 
FERNS.—WARDIAN CASES. 
“ I have a Cheilanlhes lendigera in a Wardian Case, but as 
soon as the fronds grow three or four inches high they drop 
over, as if they were nipped about an inch from the ground. 
Would you say what is the cause of this? Also, would you 
give a list of British and foreign Ferns thus ?— Asplcnium 
marinum, moist; A. fontanum, dry; A. lanceolatum, damp. 
If you would be so kind as to give a list this way, it would 
be a great assistance to very many of your subscribers who 
are fond of these plants, but cannot succeed in growing 
them in a fresh and healthy state, not knowing, from the 
ordinary description, how to grow them well. You have 
never yet given your subscribers a good account and 
directions how to manage Wardian Cases, and there are 
very many of your old subscribers who have those handsome 
minature greenhouses, but cannot grow plants in them as 
they would wish, for want of directions and experience; and 
many of these subscribers have not, and cannot afford, a 
noble greenhouse, and, therefore, think you might, without 
setting yourself against these Cases, tell your subscribers 
how to make the best of, to you, a bad case, but to them a 
good and very amusing one, and, without this, they would have 
to live from one week’s end to another without seeing a bit 
of green, or a living plant. I have many times wished I 
could show you my Wardian Case, when, I am sure, I could 
show you plants grown iu them equal to those grown in 
your favourite greenhouses.—J. Fern.” 
[Clieilanthes lendigera is a native of the West Indies ; 
consequently, too tender for a Wardian Case, even if that is 
placed in a warm room. Your young fronds perish for want 
of heat; and, besides that, the leaves are so delicate, and 
covered with a minute downiness, that the close, damp 
atmosphere of your Case causes a mouldiness to grow on 
them, which is fatal to such fronds. The best kinds of 
Ferns for Wardian Cases are such as have smooth, glossy 
leaves. 
With respect to an arrangement of Ferns according to the 
moisture or dryness they require, if you had read all Mr. 
Appleby’s papers, and all that have since appeared on the 
subject, you would have perceived that the description of 
their native habitat gives that information you require more 
fully than by your plan. Then you think we neglect 
Wardian Cases. This we cannot confess to, for we have 
frequently commended them, only warning our readers 
against expecting too much from them, for we have proved, 
repeatedly, that there are very few plants, excepting Ferns, 
that will live more than a few weeks in such a confined 
space. We should be glad, and really much obliged to you, 
if you would send us your management of your Case, 
mentioning the plants you say you grow so well, the soil 
they grow in, the water you give them, and the air you 
allow them, and any other point of culture you have 
