76 THE COTTAGE GARDENER. [May 1. 
on the old stand. At the same time the old stock was 
broken up, ami its store of honey, not exceeding 4 lbs., 
I taken from it. 
The swarm obtained in this manner fell very short of the 
size of an ordinary cast in point of numbers, while many of 
them were unusually small, some being scarcely a third of 
the common size. No doubt this was owing to the paucity 
of nurses for the first ’week after the issue of the prime swarm, 
and the consequent imperfect quality, or insufficient quantity 
of the food supplied at the time to the youngest grubs. Most 
of the brood had left the cells, except about 200, some of 
which were dead, probably from the same cause. The 
most interesting result of the experiment, was, that the 
bees had reared their queen artificially. Six royal cells, 
constructed in the centre of the combs, as is usual under 
such circumstances, were found in different parts of the 
hive ; one of which only had as yet issued from her cradle. 
Four of the other cells were restored to the bees in their 
new hive, in order to give them every chance of success, in 
the event of any accident having befallen their young and 
inexperienced queen. The fifth, which was constructed out 
of three drone cells, in the very centre of a large comb, in¬ 
tended for the breeding of drones exclusively, I had the curio¬ 
sity to open. It contained a fine fat white grub, still fur¬ 
nished with the whitish looking matter (food, no doubt), 
which is usually found in royal cells. It had, evidently, but 
recently ceiled itself in, and wanted several days to its per¬ 
fect development. This alone would prove it to he a drone 
grub, and not a worker, for otherwise it would have been in 
a much more forward state, seeing that this was at least the 
21st day since the egg was laid, and queens are often, in 
fact, generally, reared in sixteen days. I regret that I did 
not also examine the condition of one of the other cells, 
still closed, constructed out of worker cells, for these had 
delayed their exit five days beyond their usual time, hut 
I should, doubtless, have found their tenants, if alive, in a 
much more forward state than this favoured drone grub. 
If my conclusion respecting the sex of this quasi- royal 
nymph he incorrect, the bees must have transported a 
worker egg to this place ; hut it is more easy to account for 
the fact by supposing a simple fault of instinct. It is a 
singular occurrence, however, of which I never met with an 
instance before. 
“June 10th. (Extract from my note-hook).—Examined 
the condition of 2ndD,tlie swarm above-mentioned (so called 
because it took the place of the hive fumigated in the early 
spring), and found that the bees had constructed several 
portions of new comb; but they seemed few in numbers, 
though very busy pollen gathering.” 
“June 11th.—Assisted Mr. C. in forming two artificial 
casts out of his three old stocks, which had yielded us two 
fine swarms between them just three weeks ago. The first 
of these old hives (that out of which the first and single 
swarm had been forced on the 21st of March) was strong 
in numbers and comparatively rich ; for on breaking it 
up, after forcing all the bees out of it, we took about 
eight pounds of honey, some of which was very pure. The 
swarm also weighed two pounds and a half, and numbered, 
therefore, about 12,000 bees, of which some 1500 were drones. 
These bees had also reared an artificial queen, as was 
evident from the discovery of several royal cells similarly 
situated as in the other hive; and there had been no eggs 
laid since the departure of the old queen;—this, however, 
is not absolutely conclusive evidence. As in the former 
case, so here some portion of the best looking combs was 
fastened to the roof of the new hive, both as a guide to tire 
bees and a help to their labours.” I am always careful to 
save them as much labour in comb making as possible, 
especially on the occasion of locating a swarm in a new 
hive, I therefore give the bees as much good comb as I 
happen to have by me, that the queen may commence laying 
eggs at once. A good queen will, under such favourable cir¬ 
cumstances, lay some 5000 eggs in the course of the follow¬ 
ing week—that is, where a sufficient quantity of comb is 
ready for her use; and she lays faster than the bees can fill 
the cells with honey. The rule is, that the less abundant 
the honey at the time of the swarm’s first settlement, the 
greater number of eggs the queen will lay (which will tend 
ultimately to the gretaer profit of the bee master), and 
vice versd. 
“ The formation of the next artificial cast gave us no 
little trouble, chiefly because it was our aim to unite all the 
bees of the two remaining old hives together; for they were 
both weak in population, as I had expected. They were 
driven together in the evening, as well as could be managed, 
into a common bell-hive ; as, however, many of them still 
remained among the combs of both hives (of one more 
particularly, whose queen was suspected would not ascend— 
the same queen, in fact, who had refused to ascend three 
weeks before), the hives were set one over the other, and 
located for the night in a sheltered arbour, at the same 
time that the united swarm (which had the young queen, 
also artificially reared, of the most vigorous stock) was 
placed on a stool exactly half-way between the positions 
which the old hives had occupied previously, that the bees 
of both hives might the more readily take to their new 
home.” 
“ June 12th.—This morning early the combs were cut 
out of the old hives one by one, and the bees swept off them 
in front of their more fortunate companions. Much brood 
was found in one of them, as well as the old queen, who had 
twice refused to obey our summons to surrender. She died 
shortly after from injuries received in the process of cutting 
out the combs, leaving the throne of the united swarms to 
her younger rival, who cannot have been hatched above a 
day or two. All the brood—drone and worker—(for both 
were found in this hive) which, together with some large 
pieces of fresh empty comb was arranged in the new hive 
(13 inches by 10), we contrived to save. The hive was then 
made to take the place of the temporary bell-hive. This 
being set over it, and all means of egress closed, save 
through the hive below, was quickly forsaken by the swarm 
which still occupied it, who took possession of their ready 
prepared abode so readily, that the upper hive was removed 
in a day or two. I may add, that not more than two 
pounds of honey were taken from these hives together.”—A 
Country Curate. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
*** We request that no one will write to the departmental writers of 
The Cottage Gardener. It gives them unjustifiable trouble and 
expense. All communications should be addressed “ To the Editor of 
The Cottage Gardener, 2, Amen Corner, Paternoster Row, London .” 
Names op Bulbs (Rhydy Gris). —The two bulbs you sent are some 
kind of Tropoeolum, but until they flower it is impossible to declare 
certainly the species. They require, in cultivation, a light sandy soil ; 
the top of each bulb should be above the surface. They may grow this 
year, but it is rather uncertain; keep them in the greenhouse, in the 
pots, all the winter, and they will most likely grow in the spring. The 
two bulbs were both split with the stamping-iron of the post-office. 
Polyanthus \F. /,.).—Your polyanthus blooms were so dried in 
passing through the post-office that we cannot tell with certainty its 
name, but we have little doubt it is Pearson’s Alexander. The report of 
the proceedings of the National Floricultural Society will be published 
in The Cottage Gardener: the first report is in the 133rd number, 
page 30. 
Climbers in Greenhouse ( Lillian B.). —We are afraid your plan of 
planting climbers in large tubs in a cellar under your greenhouse will 
disappoint you; air is almost as necessary to the roots of plants as to 
their branches and leaves. You may try it; and, if you do, we should be 
glad to know the result. The two climbers suitable for that purpose are 
Wisteria sinensis and Bignonia grandiflora. For the front part, to 
plant in the border outside, procure Mandevilla suaveolens (this loses its 
leaves in winter) and '/Achya inophylla floribunda. 
Ferns for Wardian Case ( Amor Filicium ). — Supposing your 
Wardian Case is placed in a cool temperature, any of the following ierns 
will answer for suspending in it, the roots to be enveloped in a ball of 
moss, or placed in small baskets ; if in moss they should be taken down 
occasionally, and the balls dipped in rain water. Woodwardia radicans, 
Drynaria Billardierii, Asplenium odontites, Lycopodium denticulatum, 
L. caesium, Doodia lunulata, and Adiantum pubescens. Your Platy- 
lomu rotundifolia being a New Zealand fern requires to be kept in a 
drier atmosphere than that in the case. The B/echnums require to be 
kept in an intermediate house, excepting the British one, B. spicant, 
otherwise called LoinariU spicant, and not in a very exposed situation, 
and kept moderately dry. The reason why they do not thrive in a 
Wardian Case is, that it is too moist for them, and there is not sufficient 
air. 
Aquatics (Ibid).-—Greenhouse aquatics : Aponogeton distachyon and 
Nymphoea odorata. Hardy aquatics: Mcnyantlies trifoliatum and Hotto- 
nia palustris. 
Auricula Culture (F. H.). —Increase your auriculas by slipping off 
the young suckers that will spring from the base of the plants. They 
should be set out of doors, as soon as the bloom is over, on a bed of 
ashes, on the east side of a low wall or hedge. Crocuses and Tulips 
must remain in the earth till their leaves turn yellow, then take them up, 
keep them dry, and plant them again in November. Keep your Daphne 
