THE COTTAGE GARDENER 
343 
August 29.] 
closer and harder; hut for luxury , the bread should have 
i not one unnecessary punch. —Wii.cot. 
Strengthening a Hive or Bees. —After having written 
to you, I arrived at the conclusion that no second swarm 
might be expected from either stocks (which you confine), 
and in one I cut a 3§ inch hole, affixed a hoard 12 inches 
square, and added a small box, the bees have since com¬ 
menced to persecute the drones, and I presume their 
slaughter will soon succeed. The other hive being coated 
with Homan cement, with only a small hole for ventilation. 
I placed ou a box 12 inches long, 12 inches broad, and 5 
1 inches deep, with a two-inch aperture on the top, and from 
its roof the bees soon hung in a large cluster, quite inactive, 
although breeding was evidently going on rapidly. Yesterday 
evening I gently lifted off the hive, turned up the box, 
sprinkled the cluster with sugar-syrup, and placed over it a 
I box containing a east, to which I intended to add the whole 
! stock in autumn, or any other casts that have come forth. 
The union was perfect, and the increased industry of the 
enlarged colony was evident; the old stock of course was re- 
i moved a few miles away, where it also is working. By this 
I prevent, I hope, one from swarming, and give an early 
addition to the weak population of the other. Matters to 
you perfectly simple and easy of explanation, to an amateur 
are often insuperable difficulties, and I mention my pro¬ 
ceedings (fulfilling, in part, by anticipation, the spirit of 
your advice kindly given), thinking it may amuse you to 
witness the resources of a notice in perplexity.—J. B. P. 
Hardy Beautiful Flowers.- -My flower-beds contain 
some plants of very great beauty, which I would recommend 
to the notice of those of your readers who are not already 
acquainted with them. The Mimulus Robinus has been in 
bloom now (July 19th), for nearly three months, and has 
had more than 30 flowers out at a time. I have also the 
(Knnthem grandiflora, which I think unequalled in beauty, 
! with 8 or 10 flowers out every evening. The Calandrinia 
j umbellata, with its beautiful purple crimson flowers, the 
Phlox Drummondii, Chelone barhata, the Heliophila trip da ; 
these, with Penstemons, Campanulas, Geraniums, Ver¬ 
benas, and Fuchsias, make my garden look very gay. I 
have only four beds, and am therefore able to keep them 
in order entirely myself.—E. O., Devon. 
Cottager’s Horticultural Societies. —Most delighted 
are we to see these so widely on the increase, and no efforts 
of ours shall be wanting to promote their prosperity. We 
> have received the reports of many, but none in a form we 
' can quote, except that of the Blitlifield Horticultural Show. 
It has been established chiefly through the exertions of the 
Hon. and Rev. H. C. Bagot, and held its first meeting this 
month in Blithiield Park, the seat of Lord Bagot, near 
1 Eugeby. 
“ A large temporary room, decorated with garlands, ever¬ 
greens, and flowers, was, by the kindness of Lord Bagot, 
erected in the centre of the avenue of spreading lime-trees, 
for the exhibition, through which the visitors passed into the 
: gardens and pleasure-grounds of his lordship, which were 
kindly thrown open for the occasion. Previous to the open¬ 
ing of the show, the school children arrived in procession, 
each with a nosegay of wild flowers, for several of which 
prizes were awarded ; the children seeming to vie with their 
parents and others in the interest they took in the proceed¬ 
ings. The examination of these wild nosegays by Miss 
Bagot, was one of the most pleasing incidents of the day; 
and the detection here and there of a doubtful flower caused 
much amusement. The prizes were distributed by Lord 
Bagot, assisted by the Hon. and llev. H. C. Bagot, to whose 
exertions, we understand, the origin and success of the 
society are chiefly owing. The children afterwards engaged 
in a number of amusements, which greatly enlivened the 
scene. A brass band from Stafford was in attendance. 
“ We cannot but wish that such exhibitions were more 
: frequent than they are. The occasions on which all classes 
meet together on a common ground of enjoyment are now 
so rare, and are daily becoming rarer by the modern habits 
I of social life, that even were the object less useful and 
pleasing than the encouragement of gardening among the 
! poor, we should still hail with pleasure any occasion that 
| brought the tenant and his landlord, the fanner and his 
labourer, the peer and the squire, the squire and the yeoman, 
into an hour's disinterested and unrestrained intercourse. 
It was impossible not to observe the real and unaffected 
enjoyment in which all classes participated at the Blitlifield 
show; there was such an utter absence of all pride, reserve, 
and awkwardness, that one could not but feel that as long as 
scenes of this description recur, so long (and perhaps no 
longer) will there be no fear of the kindly links of mutual 
respect—stronger than all laws—which now bind together 
the rich and the poor, being broken. We heartily wish suc¬ 
cess to this and all similar institutions, and hope that the 
same propitious sun, and the same good feeling, may brighten 
the exhibitions of many succeeding years.” 
Balsam Growing. —I find in reading my treatment of the 
balsam, vol. iii., page 358, there is a little mistake. Six 
weeks should have been eight weeks for the time between 
potting and blooming ; and “ Fedington ” should have been 
“ Toddington.” I have at the present time balsams that 
were potted from the seed pots on May 23rd, that on 
July 18th measured at the base of the stem four inches in 
circumference and three feet two inches round near the top 
of the side branches. Average height one foot ten inches. 
They are in pots eleven inches by eleven inches.—J. Hunt, 
Toddington, near Dunstable, Bedfordshire. 
Ants. —I have read many ways of destroying these pests, 
but the following never. I accidentally placed an empty 
garden pet over an ant’s track, where it remained a fort¬ 
night ; on moving it I found a complete nest full of eggs, 
ants, and earth, which I put into a pail of boiling ivater and 
destroyed the whole. I repeated the process with equal 
success.—J. S., Kingston. 
Pickled Vegetable Marrow. —Cut the marrow in thick 
slices and salt them twelve hours, and then dry them in the 
sun ; then boil three quarts of vinegar, with a pound of the 
flour of mustard, a good handful of black pepper, a few all¬ 
spice and cloves, thirty-six bay leaves, and a stick of horse¬ 
radish cut in slices; boil them altogether until it is the 
thickness of cream, and pour it hot over the marrow and 
cover it close. Add to the above one pound of mustard seed, 
half an ounce of long pepper, quarter of an ounce of mace, 
and nine green capsicums, boiled in a pint of vinegar with a 
teaspoonful of Cayenne. It will be fit for use in six months. 
Currant Jelly. —Add to every pound of currants three- 
quarters of a pound of loaf sugar, and put them altogether 
into the preserving pan, and when the sugar is quite dis¬ 
solved let it boil only six minutes, and then strain it through 
a line sieve into a large bason with a lip to it; then pour it 
quickly into your jars. The pulps may be boiled up again 
for ten or fifteen minutes, with the addition of half a pound 
of sugar to four pounds of pulp, and a pint of fresh currants 
or raspberries ; it makes a nice jam to be used soon, as it 
trill not keep long. All jellies and jams should be covered 
with writing paper cut round and dipped in white of egg. 
Raspberry Jam. —Boil the raspberries with a little currant 
juice for ten minutes, then add three-quarters of a pound of 
sugar to a pound of fruit, and boil it five minutes more after 
the sugar is dissolved and it begins to boil. 
An Excellent Cake that will KEEr Good a Year. — 
Three-quarters of a pound of flour, three-quarters of a pound 
of butter, and the same quantity of currants, raisins, and 
brown sugar; one ounce of almonds blanched and put to 
dry before the fire, five eggs well beaten, one ounce of orange 
peel, and the same of lemon peel; the butter to be beat up 
to a cream, and mixed by degrees with the flour; add a wine 
glass of brandy. This cake should not be cut under three 
months. 
Everlasting Cheesecakes. —To a quarter of a pound of 
butter put a pound of loaf sugar, the yolks of six eggs, the 
rind of two lemons, and the juice of three lemons, and to 
these add a little grated biscuit; put all into a preserving or 
stew-pan, and let it simmer over the fire until the sugar is 
dissolved and it begins to thicken like honey; you must then 
put it into a jar for use. Line small patty pans with puff 
paste and put a little in each. 
