THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION.— September 23, J 856. 450 
cherib is represented standing, on a royal cylinder figured 
by Mr. Layard. (Discoveries in the Ruins of Nineveh and 
liahylon, p. ICO.) 
Tht> hardiness of the species is not yet absolutely proved, 
but there is also no reason to doubt it. 
Two other acorns, with erect scales on the cups and 
wanting the inner row of recurved hooks, were also received 
from Mr. Layard, hut having been packed in honey they 
were dead, and it is not known to what species they belong. 
They seem to differ from each other as well as from <i. 
Branlii. 
Acorns from Kurdistan, the species of which is unknown. 
—{Horticultural Society’s Journal.) 
BEES IN SCOTLAND THIS YEAR. — NOT 
TILLING GLASSES.—BARLEY-SUGAR FOR. 
It was with a great degree of interest and delight that 
I read Mr. Tegetmeier's account of his prolific swarm, and 
I must confess, until I turned the leaf and saw his name 
affixed as the contributor of the article, I felt much dis¬ 
posed to think that some apiarian was amusing himself by 
having a hearty fling of the hatchet, for which uncharitable 
thought, on seeing his name appended, I was heartily 
ashamed of myself; for although I have not the honour of 
knowing him personally, yet I know, from his position ns an 
authority in poultry matters, and his standing as one of 
your contributors, he lias said no more of his hive than lie 
was entitled to do. But in this ottr northern clime we 
meet with no such fortune, and never since bees were bees 
have they had to contend against such dismal weather as 
they have lmd to do this season in this locality. 
I feel tempted to give you an account of my experience 
this year, which, if you should think it likely to be of in¬ 
terest to your apiarian readers, perhaps you may find room 
for it in your columns ; and if your readers will but look 
On my picture and on Mr. T.’s, they will not wonder why 
I read his account with delight, especially if they are, like 
Ale, enthusiastic lovers of the honey-bee. 
Number one is a Taylor’s Siugle-bnr Hive, peopled by o 
second swarm last year, and strengthened in the autumn 
by the bees from two hives, one on each sido. These bees 
were chloroformed with complete success. A dozen of bees 
would fill up the list of kilted and wounded. This hive, 
after being so strengthened and made up for the winter, 
weighed 30 lbs. This year, as soon as it was apparent extra 
room was required, I opened the communication between 
tlie top and bottom box : in about three weeks it was full of 
comb and a little honey; they then began to cluster at the 
entrance to the hive, working iittle. This looked pre¬ 
monitory of swarming; yet I could not think it likely either, 
as all the royal cells 1 could see, namely, five, were not only 
not sealed up, but also eggless. Under the impression, 
however, that a little more room might cause them to work 
more briskly, .1 put an empty box between the super and 
the stock. In consequence, they partially, and but par¬ 
tially, deserted the super, and occupied the triplet. When 
inspecting this a month afterwards 1 found it full of comb, 
and almost every cell sealed up containing brood. Here, 
then, was a three-storied hive as full of bees as bees could 
make it, with thousands yet unborn. Surely, ono would 
think, a rich and abundant harvest of honey will he the 
result, and, in order to make sure doubly sure, 1 removed 
them some half a dozen miles into a district where there 
were at least sixty acres of white Clover, with an abundance, 
also, of Lime-trees. The dny I removed them and the one 
after were choice days; then, alas! came thunder and 
lightning, hail storms, and rain in torrents, followed up 
with easterly gales, cold and cutting as charity is now said 
to be, and the flowers in the pasture-land were “ a weel 
awa." I brought them home this week, and from my 
monster hive 1 have obtained, I grieve to say it, one pint 
and a half of honey. 
Seeing, then, my success has been nil, and ns I love to 
hear bees well spoken of, wonder not that Mr. T.’s de¬ 
scription of liis bees’ prolificacy was a cheering balm to my j 
grieved spirit. Now, when the thing is over, I fancy I see 
my error; it lay in giving them too much room. Had I not 
placed the triplet on the stock, I am inclined to think the 
queen would not Lave ieft the stock-hive for laying pur¬ 
poses, although I do believe this is an evil to which the 
storifyiug system will always be more or less subject. 
My hives number two and three are wrought in the col¬ 
lateral system; four to ten inclusive, on the swarming; 
hut perhaps I .had better leave what I have to say of them 
until another early opportunity, if it so pleases you, and 
terminate my present communication by noticing two 
matters mentioned in the August number. First, that of 
the bees not filling the glasses ; and, second, how to make 
barley-sugar so ns not to candy. It is a common prac¬ 
tice, almost universal, putting on the bell-glasses two or 
three weeks after the swarm is established, or ns soon as 
crowding is observed. This practice has succeeded, I know; 
and I also know it has not succeeded. Witness Mr, T. and 
your other correspondents' remarks. Now, the system 
which I adopt I have never known to fail, and it may he 
worth their while to try it. On the day, and os soon ns the 
swarm is hived, I place my glasses, and ere the evening, 
provided the glasses are kept cool and covered, they are full 
of busy bees, working hard at comb-making. If you permit 
me, I will at some future time give you a description of tt 
box and appendages I found the most profitable to Use. 
With regal'd to tlie barley - sugar, to one pound of 
sugar add three-quarters of a tumblerful of water, and three- 
quarters of a wine-glassful of vinegar. Roil for from | 
twenty-tlnee to thirty minutes, dr until such time ns, by 
dropping a little of the syrup into cold water, it immediately 
hardens; pour out gradually on a thin dish previously ; 
buttered. Thus far, at present, about the bee matters in 
the North.—D. G. M‘Lei,i,an, near Glasyow, 
PLANTING BROCOLI. 
In nineteen cases out of twenty Brocoli plants are put ill 
so crowded as seldom to produce heads larger than tea¬ 
cups, and very often much smaller, whereas, were they 
allowed ample space and planted in due time, they would, 
if the land was rich, and though they might be sequestered 
in other respects (as many must be in small gardens), pro¬ 
duce heads as large as a quarter-peck measure, and that 
invariably, too, and some much larger- Where such thick 
crops now exist it would be well to thin immediately, before 
it is too late, to at least one yard apart square. It is true 
that here and there one on the thick principle may attain lo 
a head of tolerable size of a spritt.y character, from the cir¬ 
cumstance of the plant at first laying hold of a qiiece of 
