THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June 20. 
22 i 
balconies and terraces, when well filled with plants and 
flowers, and when they happen to be empty the contrast is 
remarkable. I have seen some of them, when not all 
covered in with trellis work, having young trees of Lime, 
Maple, and Elm, six or seven feet high, with wide-spreading 
branches over head, which afford as much shade as is 
wanted; and there is, besides, what is called a Ber^eau at one 
end of the terrace neatly trellised over, and in which there 
is a Divan, or one or two seats. Cobea scandens is one of the 
commonest trellis plants here out-of-doors. The Virginian 
Creeper is not so common, I think, as it is in England. 
The White Jasmine and one or two Passifloras are not un¬ 
frequent; Convolvulus, Clematis, Nasturtium, and Scarlet 
Runners, are, as usual, very popular in these Aerial gardens ; 
but Standard and Climbing Roses are the favourites ; and j 
they are just now coming into season. The terrace-gardens ! 
are arranged in a variety of styles; and instead of large, 
bushy plants, and a trellis covered with climbers, moderate¬ 
sized plants are preferred. In such a case, the balcony or j 
terrace is covered in with stout, coloured calico, the front 
having curtains which can be drawn at pleasure when the [ 
sun is hot, or the nights cold. Sometimes you may see an 
elegant aviary at one end, in which a dozen of happy birds, 
of various colours, keep up a continual concert. Sometimes i 
a large cage, with a richly-plumed parrot, may be seen in 
the centre. Here, the good lady of the house, w T ith her , 
children, may be often seen plying her needle during the ' 
afternoon. Many a charming Havanna is consumed here 
after dinner, in the warm evenings, and many a litre of ruby 
wine. 
In order to prevent anything like litter in the interior of 
the house from frequent carrying out and in of plants re¬ 
quiring fresh soil, or other attentions, a quantity of soil, with 
pots, and sticks, and trowels, and scissors, are kept in a 
cupboard-like box at one end. 
With the sloping style of building, and the remarkable 
strength and solidity of the houses here, these terraces are 
divested of everything which might give rise to the slightest 
appi'ehension; and I think it is much to be regretted, that 
even in Paris they are not more general. In the new houses, 
such, for instance, as those in the Hue llivoli, they are not 
adapted, though there is no lack of fine balconies. 
We have had some very warm weather lately ; and vege¬ 
tation is advancing rapidly. There is, however, some fear, 
according to weather-wise people, and lovers of old sayings, 
that we may have more than enough of rain for the next 
three or four weeks. Old inhabitants here say, that if it 
rains on St. Medard’s Day we are certain to have wet wea¬ 
ther for forty days. Now, this day happened to fall on the 
8th inst., and though up to ten o’clock on the night of the 
7th everything looked fair and promising, it was forebod¬ 
ingly observed, by several noticing persons, that their cats 
had just taken a fancy to rubbing themselves about the 
ears. Some also testified that the swallows, contrary to 
usual practice, had been flying very low all the afternoon. 
These stories were listened to with great uneasiness by those 
who had made up their minds to go to the Garden of Plants 
and the Universal Exhibition the following day. But it was 
hopefully resolved not to give them credit: and this decision 
it was believed would, at least, have considerable effect in 
warding off tbe evil so much dreaded by those who have 
not heard much of parched ground and dry streams. But 
almost as soon as the clock had struck twelve the rain 
began to fall; and the whole night and morning it came down 
in such torrents as if all the water of a deluge was being 
poured on the earth at once. Since then we have only had 
one or two dry days. In general, we have more or less rain 
everyday, particularly in the morning; and, what is not 
common here, we have had one or two very fierce hurricanes, 
which lasted only ten or fifteen minutes, and then every¬ 
thing was quiet and calm and sunny again. Within the last 
two days, indeed, the wind has been rather strong and 
gusty. 
Every other day brings into Paris some fruit or vege¬ 
table for the first time this year. I have just seen 
a basket of Apricots and some Bed Currants ; but they 
will not be plentiful for a week or two yet. Green Goose¬ 
berries, which are used so freely for tarts in England 
at the present season, are scarcely seen at all in any of 
the minor markets. The reason is, as I am informed, 
that the Government, in discouraging the sale of unripe 
fruit among the people, extend their ban to the Gooseberries. 
But apart from this, I believe the climate is not favourable 
to the cultivation of this excellent fruit. Gooseberries, 
whatever the reason may be, are by no means in such favour 
here as they are in Lancashire. Currants are extensively 
grown, and, when in season, very abundant and good. These 
two fruits are not always distinguished by translators, 
and even in some Dictionaries they both take one and the 
same name in French—that of Groseille. But the Cur¬ 
rants are commonly known here as Groseilles a Grappes, and 
Gooseberries as Groseilles a Maqueraux. The latter were so 
named at first, from the fact that they generally formed the 
principal ingredient of a sauce used with mackerel, and 
they happen to be in season about the same time. 
The Cattle Show in the Champ de Mars proved a very line 
turn-out; and, as appears from the official list, a great num¬ 
ber of prizes were taken by English gentlemen and farmers. 
The highest prize, in eight different classes, was T40. This 
was given for the best male in the Durham, Hereford, 
Devon, Ayr, and Holland breeds in the Bovine Class. 
These prizes were awarded to the Marquis de Talhouet de 
Lude; Lord Feversham, of Duncombe Park ; Lord Berwick ; 
Lord Talbot; Mr. Turner, of Exeter; the Director of La 
Colonie Agricole de Gaillon; and M. Boulton Leveque.— 
P. F. Keir. 
THE APIARIAN’S CALENDAR.— July. 
By J. II. Payne , Esq., Author of “ The Bee-Keeper's 
Guide," Ac. 
Swarms. —The first swarm that I have heard of this year 
was on the twenty-seventh of May, and the next on the 
twenty-eighth, and these are the only two that I have heard 
of. The one was at Bushey, in Middlesex, and the other at 
Colney, in Norfolk; but there will be few swarms, I fear, from 
the weak state of the stocks generally; and what few there 
happen to be will be lost to their owners, without much 
care is taken in hiving them as soon as they alight; and for 
this reason,—so many stocks having died this spring, and 
some leaving a little honey in their hives, which their 
owners have neglected to remove from the Apiary, is almost 
sure to induce a swarm from a distance to take possession 
of it. This leaving deserted hives in the Apiary, in a 
neighbourhood where Bees are kept, is a most unfair and 
unneighbourly act, for the hives are almost sure to bring 
Bees from a distance to occupy them. Indeed, one of the 
swarms above mentioned came in this manner. I am not 
quite sure, but I think there is an Act of Parliament still in 
force to prevent this practice. 
The Season.—I fear this season also will have to be 
numbered with the many by-gone ones as a bad honey year. 
I am now writing on the thirteenth of June, and this day 
may be called the first honey-gathering day that we have 
had; a dozen more such in succession would fill all our 
supers; but a lowering mercury, and lowering clouds, tell 
that a change is nigh. However, the season being a trifle 
later than usual is in favour of our little pets ; but should 
we bo so fortunate as to have a week or ten days like the ! 
present one, the supers must be carefully watched, for they 
will fill rapidly ; and where swarms are not desired, a second 
super must be supplied before the first is quite filled. 
Drone Bees. —Drones made their first appearance here 
on the twenty-eighth of May; this is about ten days later 
than usual. 
Second Swarms. —Second swarms this season must not 
be allowed to remain by themselves, but either be united to 
first swarms, or returned to their parent hive, or two be put 
together. It frequently happens that two second swarms 
put together will make as good a stock as the prime swarm 
itself. 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S EXHIBITION.— 
Chiswick, June 20tii. 
Mr. Beaton will give his usual report of this Show next 
week, therefore, we shall merely observe that the display was 
excellent, as usual, and that the visitors consisted of many 
