280 
activity of our newly-formed stock the next day (but no signs 
of war were visible) till about 2^ o’clock p.m., when I shook 
them all out upon a skeot on the ground in front of the box 
which had been destined for their reception, into which they 
immediately crept after their queen. As soon as they had 
nearly all left the cloth the conquered queen was discovered 
in front of the hox, dead, but still surrounded by an escort of 
bees who paid her the last tribute of respect and loyalty. 
The hox containing the now united swarm was transferred 
tlio same evening to my own apiary, where it still remains to 
this day. I would observe, that on shaking out the bees 
from the temporary hive two combs were found already began, 
one of them being 2 inches in length. 
So much for my plan of uniting hoes in autumn by means 
of driving alone, which I have tiled with uniform success on 
several occasions since then. And, now, a few words as to 
the treatment of these bees. Never did they lack a supply 
of food (for which, see third vol., page 203,—where, instead 
of 4lb of honey, read lflb) in the feeder (described at page 
297 of third volume) for five weeks ; and if the food was not 
quite to their liking I made it suit. It is, I believe, essential 
to the success of this experiment, that the stock be formed 
not later than the 10th of August, —the earlier the better ; 
some friends of mine tried it on the 17th, and failed: though, 
I believe, chiefly owing to negligence, in feeding with un¬ 
wholesome food. It is well, also, so to arrange the feeder, that 
there be no current of air through the hive. 1 am going to 
form two stocks on the same principle this year,—one of 
them to he composed of three united swarms. 
A Country Curate. 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S SHOW. 
CHISWICK, July 13tii. 
The last exhibition of the Society for the present year 
took place in their gardens at Chiswick on Saturday, the 13tli 
of .Tilly; and so for this year the hopes and the fears of the 
exhibitors have been put an end to. Upon the whole, we 
may venture to say, that the shows, at both the Park and 
Chiswick, have been better than in any previous year. The 
collections of plants of every number, whether large or small, 
have been more equal, that is, there were fewer bad or mid¬ 
dling grown plants than before. The Fruit part of the ex¬ 
hibitions has been a decided improvement, and the Florists’ 
flowers have been more unique and more numerous. This 
encourages us to hope still better for the time to come. 
From what wo know personally of the various exhibitors we 
anticipate they will leave no means untried, no nerves un¬ 
strung, to ensure success in them future efforts to produce 
still better specimens of every kind of horticultural produce. 
We heartily wish them every success. 
The exhibition was above the average of thoso that take 
place at this season annually. The Orchids as usual, in our 
opinion, talcing the lead. Every part, however, was respect¬ 
able. The Fruit tent especially was well garnished with 
luscious sweets. With these few preliminary remarks we 
shall now briefly describe in our usual way such objects as 
were exhibited for the first time, or as may he useful to our 
readers. We judge that the mere giving the names of plants 
that win the awards of the judges is useful, because it 
proves not only that the plants were well grown and so 
worthy of such distinction, but also our reports prove that 
such plants are capable, by good culture, of being made to 
merit such distinction. 
COLLECTIONS OF TWENTY EXOTIC ORCHIDS. 
1st Prize to Mr. Mylam, gardener to S. Rucker, Esq.; 
making the sixth first prize Mr. M. has won this year. On 
this occasion we noted especially the following:— 
Aerides quinquevulnera , with three long spikes fully in flower. A, 
maculosum , beautifully bloomed. Ccelogyne speciosa, with several 
flowers. The beautiful and fragrant Cat tic pa citrina , with three of its 
golden flowers. Cypripedium barbatum. with 11 flowers. The curious 
and handsome Coryanthes maculata. The rarr* Aganisia pulchelia , with 
numerous flowers. The large flowered Cycnoches chloroehilum. The 
beautiful Epidendrum verrucosum. The rare Paphinia crista ta. Sac- 
colabium Blumii , with three fine well bloomed spikes. The new and 
beautiful Odontoglossum hastilabium and the truly noble Vanda Bute- 
maniana in finer perfection than even when shown at the Park. 
2nd Prize to Mr. Williams, gardener to C. Warner, Esq. 
This collection was very nearly equal to Mr. Mylam’s. 
[August 1. 
Aerides affine was the best plant in it ; it had three spikes 2 ft. long, 
with several branches on each; and two spikes nearly as long without 
any side shoots. A. rosea t with three spikes. A. maculoaum y very neat. 
Barkeria spectabilis , in fine order. A large Miltonia spectabilis , with 
several fine flowers. A large plant of Epidendrum radiatum, and a good 
Vanda tricolor . 
COLLECTIONS OF FIFTEEN EXOTIC ORCHIDS. 
1st Prize to Messrs. Rollison, Tooting. In this collec¬ 
tion there were several very fine specimens, especially 
Cattleya crispa ; a large plant with upwards of eight spikes of its fine 
flowers upon it. Miltonia spectabilis; a large mass, 2 ft. across, with 
numerous flowers. Stanhopea tigrina , with nine flowers. S. Wardii , 
with 15 flowers. <8. Devoniana , with six of its beautiful flowers fully 
expanded. A good Cattleya mossier.. The sweet Odontoglossum citros- 
mum ; and the rare Sobralia HHastrum. 
2nd Prize to Mr. Dobson, gardener to E. Beck, Esq., 
Isleworth. The gem of this collection was a dwarf plant of 
Epidendrum crassifoiium, and a prettier little thing we do not remem¬ 
ber to have seen for some time. The plant was not more than 15 inches 
high, and 10 inches through, yet it had not less than 14 (!) spikes of its 
iretty pink blossoms. This plant usually attains the height of 4 ft. 
icfore it flowers. He also had in good condition the seldom-seen Pro- 
meniEU Stapelioidcs; the rare Z ygopelalum rostra turn : a fine plant of 
Epidendrum calorhilum: and tlie well known Butterfly plant in fine 
flower. The rest were plants that we have described on former occasions. 
There is a circumstance or property in these interesting plants that does 
not occur in any other, namely, the long time they remain in bloom. One 
of Mr. Dobson’s plants has remained so long in perfect bloom, that it has 
enabled him to exhibit it at three successive exhibitions—we allude to the 
Oncidium ampliatum major , by far the finest plant of the kind exhibited 
this year; and it is not the only orchid that possesses this desirable 
quality. If we had leisure we could mention numbers that are equally 
long-lived in beauty. 
COLLECTIONS OF TEN EXOTIC ORCHIDS. 
1st Prize to Mr. Blake, gardener to II. Schroder, Esq. 
We can only notice the best 
Aerides odoratlim, with numerous spikes of its fragrant beautiful 
flowers. Culanthe masuca, with three spikes of its purple flowers. 
Dendrobium chrysanthum, with numerous spikes. Angracnm env- 
datum , beautifully bloomed. The noble Vanila insignia. The rarely- 
seen Galeundm Bauerii: and a good Phalasnopsis grandiflnra. 
2nd Prize to Mr. Carson, gardener to E. G. Fanner, Esq. 
We noted especially, as being in good order, 
Odnntoglossum grande, with five of its large handsome flowers fully 
expanded. A fine specimen of Cyennehes Loddigesii. The rare Z ygo- 
petalum rostra turn. CtrAogyne specinsh, with 10 flowers. A neat Aerides 
rosea. The dark variety of Sobralia macrantha: Aerides quinqucvul- 
nera : and the handsome Dendrobium chrysanthum. 
COLLECTIONS OE SIX EXOTIC ORCHIDS. 
1st Prize to Mr. Gorrie, gardener to Sir John Cathcart, 
Bart. In this collection was a good plant of the lovely 
Odontoglossum citrosnmm, with four spikes of its fragrant flowers 
highly coloured. A good Brassia eauddla, with nine spikes of flowers ; 
and a good plant of the rare Dendrobium hduncum. 
2nd Prize to Mr. Woolley, gardener to H. B. Ker, Esq., 
Cheshunt. He had in fine order the beautiful 
Oncidium leucophyllum. A large plant, with numerous drooping 
spikes, of the old Cymbidium nlcefoHum : Oncidium pulvinnlum : and a 
finely flowered Cattleya For4rail. 
SINGLE SPECIMENS OF ORCHIDS. 
1st Prize to Mr. Kinghorn, gardener to Earl Kihnorey, 
Twickenham, for a fine specimen of Phalcenopsis gran tli flora. 
COLLECTIONS OF TWENTY STOVE AND GREENHOUSE n.ANTS. 
1st Prize to Mr. Cole, gardener to II. Collyer, Esq., 
Dartford. Mr. Cole exhibited his plants ngain in fine order, 
and was again successful in beating his formidable antago¬ 
nist Mr. May. We shall notice the fresh plants lie brought 
into the field. 
Kalosanthes coceinea major: a well bloomed specimen, 4 ft. by 4 ft. 
Sphenotumo grucile: a ft. by 2 ft. Erica erimia : 2£ ft. by 2) ft. E. 
ampullacea : 2J ft. by 3 ft. E. infundibuliformis: 3 ft. by 3 ft.; a truly 
splendid specimen. 
2nd Prize to Mr. May, gardener to Mrs. Lawrence. Noble 
plants, well grown, but several past their best. Mrs. Law 
rence ought, however, to he well satisfied ; her gardener has 
well sustained his fame, having this year wou, in this class, 
four out of the six grand prizes offered by the two Societies. 
H is fresh plants were 
Tnstania neriifolia : covered with its pretty yellow flowers; 5 ft. by 
5 ft. Belhuniu squurrosu : an old plant seldom seen; 2.) ft. by 2.) It. 
Erica oblata : 21 ft. by 2J ft. E. Juliana ; 3 ft. by 2.) ft. E. tricolor 
Wilsnnii: 3 ft. by 3 ft. E. tricolor major : 2.) ft. by 3 It. 
COLLECTIONS OF FIFTEEN STOVE AN1) GREENHOUSE PI.ANTS. 
1st Prize to Mr. Green, gardener to Sir E. Antrobus, 
Balt., for some first-rate plants, especially 
Pleroma elegans: 4 ft. by 4ft.; a circular plant covered with its rich 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
