310 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
have been removed to a distance and carefully watched, and removed . 
from place to place till the bees had left it. A cap or glass of honey 
when taken of should never be left for an instant till the bees have all left 
it (see full directions, page 105, vol. ii. of Tiie Cottage Gardener) ; 
for it is not only the loss of the honey that is to be regretted, but the 
death of thousands of bees throughout the whole apiary. Ventilation 
is now unnecessary ; swarming is over, and honey gathering also. We 
will give a drawing of the bee trap. 
A grateful Subscriber from the Vale of Clwyd —after describing a patent 
hive—says : “ May 23. The bees in it showed signs of swarming which 
we encouraged, wanting to increase our stocks, but finding they were 
absolutely doing nothing. May 28, we put on a glass, which was imme¬ 
diately taken possession of. May 29, another, with the same success, 
and still the appearance of swarming; and the immense dense popula¬ 
tion of the lower hive continuing, we put on two more, May 30, and 
they promised fair to be filled in a few days, when they all at once deserted 
them, and began pillaging; and, June 16 , suddenly swarmed, knit, and, 
in a few minutes, as suddenly dispersed and returned; piping then com¬ 
menced. June 19, the same attempt and result. June 20, threw off a 
swarm weighing four pounds ; but the piping, and havoc with the honey, 
and idleness continuing, we took off the three centre glasses to reserve 
some of the honey which had been nearly filled ; also three of the bell- 
glasses quite emptied. June 25, they cast again ; there was no more 
piping and continued idleness ; but in a week they resumed, though slug¬ 
gishly, carrying farina and honey, which they began to do as early as 
February. They still continued very idle, and all the combs through the 
windows look empty and very scanty of bees ; they have, a little, resumed 
in one of the glasses, but the contrast between their idleness and the 
ceaseless activity of the other hives is most striking. From this hive and 
the old straw one we have now three other flourishing colonies. The 
first swarm from the straw hive was on May 21—an immense one ; we 
think the bee rather smaller than in the patent hive, which are Cheshire 
bees, while the small ones are natives; it was hived in a cottage hive 
adapted for a glass, and with Taylor’s collateral floor boards, and was 
hard at work in a few hours ; it had filled the hive in a fortnight, when a 
collateral one was given, which was immediately taken possession of, and 
now weighs at least 50 pounds ; and they have also filled a flower-pot and 
a bell-glass pound each, and are now filling two more. The hive from 
which these swarmed we prevented swarming a second time, by imme¬ 
diately giving a collateral hive, which they directly took possession of, and 
have filled also a small glass on it, and a flower-pot on the stock-hive. 
The cast from the patent hive, which was small, has nearly filled its hive. 
I should observe, we are in the middle of woods, wild flowers, and a rich 
agricultural district, and at the foot of the Clwydian range. I would now 
ask, whether it be desirable or admissible to deprive the full stock-hives 
of some honey ?” If your hive is a patent one, the name of the patentee 
should be affixed to it; we are not at all able to say whose it is, and not 
knowing the hive, can give you no directions as to its management; but as 
it has answered no good purpose either to yourself or the person who gave 
it you, it would be better not to use it. We would recommend your not 
depriving your stock-hives of any of their honey. Yours must be a most 
excellent district for bees; and we recommend your increasing the number 
of your stocks, but not of patent hives. 
Bees Unsealing Cells (G. G.).—If your bees are opening the cells 
of honey that have been sealed, and carrying it down into the stock-hive, 
it proves that their store is very low, and insufficient for winter’s con¬ 
sumption ; however, if you can be quite sure that the hive contains 
twenty pounds of honey, remove the glass immediately. 
Substitute for the Puff Ball (Ibid). — An excellent one is Raco- 
dium cellare , or Mouse-skin Byssus. It grows in immense bunches from 
the roofs of large wine or beer vaults ; in the London Docks’ wine 
vaults it grows in immense quantities. It requires no drying, and ignites 
readily, and is more efficacious even than the puff ball. 
Joining Hives of Bees (Z.).—It would not be good policy to join 
two such largely populated stocks as an old stock that has not swarmed 
and a first swarm of the present year. We will give a receipt for making 
mead, and one also for making excellent vinegar from refuse honey, 
washings of combs, &c., in our next calendar. 
Preventing Swarming (An Unfortunate Beekeeper ).—You will 
find that bees always prefer working in a box or glass placed over the 
stock than in one placed by its side. It is not merely by placing a box 
or glass upon the top of a stock that prevents swarming, but to induce 
the bees, by means of guide-combs, to establish themselves in it, and 
then to give free ventilation. If your bees have swarmed, which they 
appear to have done on the 28th, you must not expect any honey in such 
a season as this. 
Stilton Cheese (A Grateful Subscriber ).—The chief of this is now 
manufactured at Melton Mowbray, in Leicestershire ; and we are in¬ 
formed it is thus made (of course the quantities must be proportioned to 
the amount of milk and cream):—Make a strong brine of salt and cold 
water; put into it thyme, hyssop, sweet-brier, and marjoram, a small 
tied bunch of each, and a few peppercorns; in three days rack off the 
| brine, and soak the rennet in it for four days; it is then ready for use. 
The morning’s new milk, with the cream of the previous night’s milking, 
are mixed in a narrow deep pan, made purposely of the size and shape of 
the intended cheese; heat it to 90 ° and put in the renneted brine, keeping 
the pan in a warm airy room ; pour off the whey; do not break the curd, 
but turn it without breaking into a sieve of size and shape that will 
[August 15. 
readily admit it, and apply pressure very gently until the curd is firm and 
dry, then transfer it to a wooden hoop, or case, fitting it exactly. When | 
sufficiently firm take the cheese out of the hoop, bind it with a clean 
cloth, which is to be changed every day, and at each change bound more 
tight, as it becomes closer and firmer. Wipe the top and bottom daily, . 
and often change the end on which it stands ; when it can support itself 
without danger of breaking remove the cloth, and brush the cheese twice 
a day for two months, and then store. The only salt used is that in the ! 
rennet-brine. 
Book on Greenhouse Plants (W. Richardson ).-—We know of no . 
better book at present than the one you mention by Mr. Macintosh; but j 
you will find The Cottage Gardeners' Dictionary , which will appear the 
first Thursday in October, much more useful. 
Thrips on Cucumbers (X. Y. Z.).—See this subject fully treated at 
page 260 of our second volume. Try covering each young plant with a 
small glass, and putting under at the same time some laurel leaves cut in 
pieces and well bruised. 
Budding (T. Ellis).— The delay arose from our seeking for you the 
best information. You will have seen the subject fully discussed in our 
last number. You will find it similarly treated at page 206 of our second 
volume, and at page 226 of our first volume are some drawings fully 
illustrating the process. 
Crickets (A. L. O .).—Is it absolutely necessary to destroy “the 
cricket of your hearth ?” We like their merry chirp, which seems like a 
grateful return for all the hospitality they require—the warmth of the 
fireside, and its crumbs. Bottles containing a little sugared liquid, 
placed on their sides near the crickets’ haunts, trap them. It is said that 
a little bundle of pea-straw is an excellent trap, as they are very fond of it; 
and if it is plunged into boiling water every morning after being near 
their holes at night dozens may be thus destroyed. 
Cutting off Strawberry Leaves (Ibid). —We know many in¬ 
stances in which, like you, the proprietors who love tidiness cut off the 
leaves of their British Queens at the end of summer, and yet had 
good crops next year. But the question is, would not the crop have been 
better if they had been left on? We can say (except, perhaps, in the 
case of over-luxuriant plants which require weakening) we know it would. 
Cut off the runners and the dead and decaying leaves, but allow the green 
ones to remain, and then even tidiness, that most desirable presiding 
genius, will be satisfied also. 
Tree Pieony (Dromore House).— This maybe propagated by dividing 
the roots in October ; by layering some of the previous year’s shoots in 
February; by cutting, in October, a stem into as many lengths as it has 
eyes ; each may be buried in the soil, and is really a cutting. 
Goat with Kid (G. A. Clark).— Put an advertisement into our paper 
and state what you require ; we cannot undertake such correspondence. 
Book on Poultry (Amateur y Rothcrhithe). — “ The best and 
cheapest ” is Richardson’s Domestic Fowl. You can obtain the Cochin 
China fowl of the dealers in London. Give your hens not laying a little 
more stimulating food, such as scraps of animal food, and pea-meal. 
New Eschsciioltzia(J. Evans). —Your’s is certainly anew and distinct 
variety, cream)' white, and as you say it has proved true to colour for two 
years, it is deserving a place in our flower-borders. Where can seed be 
had, and is your soil rich or poor ? 
Intruders in Hive (W. O. W .).—They are only two of the solitary 
bees which had intruded, and have been killed by the legal tenants. 
Gas-stove in Greenhouse (W. B. P.). —This may be employed 
effectually to keep out frost in a greenhouse, 16 feet by 10 feet. Any 
form will do ; but a pipe communicating with the outer air to supply the 
flames with the means of combustion, and another pipe above to carry off 
the deleterious gases, are indispensable. A circular pipe one foot in 
diameter, perforated above with holes two inches apart, will give you heat 
enough. The flower you have sent is entirely withered, but we find it is 
Pardanthus chinensis. 
Depriving Bees (C. C.). —We refer you to page 279 of our present 
volume, where you will find the information required ; and we recommend 
your loosing no time, but to set about depriving your hives as there 
directed immediately. The method is very simple, and very effectual; 
fumigation of any kind you will see is unnecessary. 
Glass Hive (A. D.). —It is always advisable to fasten a piece of clean 
empty comb in a glass before putting it on, to induce the bees to com¬ 
mence working in it; a very small piece is sufficient. 
Uniting and Feeding Bees (Z.).—You would find Mr. Payne’s* 
plan of uniting stocks very easy, but if you have not courage to follow 
it, adopt the method recommended at page 2/9 of our present volume, 
which is still more simple. You will also find in the same communication 
directions how to unite them ; you may certainly put some of them to 
Neighbour’s No. 5. You will not be able to buy barley sugar for less than 
10 d. per pound, but you can make it for 6d. ; a receipt has been given at 
page 55 of the present volume. Payne’s Bee-keepers Guide has passed 
three editions ; the last is dated 1846. If you prefer liquid to solid food 
for your bees, let it be one pound of loaf sugar, a quarter of a pint of 
water, and a quarter of a pound of honey, boiled two minutes; but no 
salt. 
London : Printed by Harry Wooldridge, Winchester High-street, 
in the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar; and Published by William I 
Somerville Orr, at the Office, No. 2, Amen Corner, in the Parish of > 
Christ Church, City of London.—August 15th, 1850* 
