203 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, December 29, 1857. 
of this animal almost always spins its cocoon in the broken 
wax collected in the angles between the hive and the board, 
it is prevented from so doing by this plan, as it is obvious 
that all broken wax will fall out. Judging by the various 
transatlantic works on bees that I have read, the. Wax 
Moth is infinitely more destructive to the prosperity ol 
hives in America than in this country. 
1 have had no experience in the working of this plan, 
and, therefore, practically can say nothing lor or against it; 
but it appears to me that robbing would be greatly faci¬ 
litated by the arrangement: and where wasps are numerous, 
as in the New Forest, I think the hives would be soon 
destroyed, as it appears to me impossible that the bees 
could defend tbe entrance all round. 
In the suspended hives, the floor is attached at the same 
distance by small hooks and eyes ; and the bottom, instea.il of 
being horizontal, is sloping, the boxes being made an inch 
deeper in front than behind. 
In all cases, the floor-board is brought close to the hive 
during winter, and again separated from it at the commence¬ 
ment of the warm weather the following season. 
I wish it to be distinctly understood that 1 am neither ad¬ 
vocating nor denouncing the plan, but merely describing it 
for the information of those who may be interested in such 
matters. 
My account of this subject has been chiefly extracted from 
Miner’s “American Bee-Keeper’s Manual,” 12mo., 350 
pages, 1849—a work which, along with a great amount of 
offensive assumption of superior knowledge, contains a very 
considerable share of valuable information concerning the 
construction of hives and bee-houses on American plans. 
The engraving of a house was extracted from this work in 
our seventh volume, page 294. Into any further description 
of the plans, &c., laid down I do not now propose to enter, 
inasmuch as I am preparing a descriptive chronological cata¬ 
logue of all the books that have been written on bees for 
The Cottage Gardener. I may mention, that several of 
the London booksellers have orders to obtain for me any 
books on bees; consequently I sometimes get duplicate copies. 
I have two of Miner; and should they be of interest to any 
of my readers, I should be willing to forward one on receipt 
of forty-eight postage stamps. 
Should any of the readers of The Cottage Gardener 
have on hand old works on bees, I should esteem it a favour 
if they would allow me the perusal or the purchase; as there 
are some which are not in my bee library, although it is 
tolerably extensive, and to which I cannot readily gain 
access.—W. B. Tegetmeier, Tottenham. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
White Geranium with Variegated Leaf. —“ I beg to give you a 
short account of a variegated Geranium I have, which I think is quite 
distinct, as I have never met with it any where—viz., a variegated Gera¬ 
nium with white flowers. As the variegated Geraniums are largely 
grown for bedding purposes, and most deservedly so ; but most of them 
being valued for their foliage only, as in many sorts the flowers are 
constantly required to be cut off; I have one that does not require that 
constant attention. It is a variegated-leafed one, with white flowers; 
the leaves nearly as much variegated, if not quite, as the Manglesii 
Geranium; the flowers as white as those of Geranium Header sonii, the 
habit of which it very much approaches. I have not at present used it 
for bedding, for a very good reason—I have not got stock of it; but 
hope to be able next season to give it a trial. Then I will give you an 
account of the appearance it makes in the flower garden.”— Edward It. 
Carpenter, The Gardens, Barr Hall, near Birmingham. 
Seeds for Abroad (A Constant Reader ).—We make it a rule never 
to recommend seedsmen. Select from among those who advertise in 
our columns. Any of them will supply you well. 
Planting Potatoes in November ( H. Fox). —Every reader must 
exercise his judgment upon our recommendations. When we recom¬ 
mend planting Potatoes in November, it is for ordinary seasons, and 
main, and keep the shoots shortened which will be produced next year* 
Filberts allowed to grow twelve feet high, are never productive. Buy 
our “ Fruit Gardening for the Many you will there find directions 
for future years’ proceedings. . . 
Chrysanthemums Bare-stemmed { J . S. V .) —They are gross feeders, 
and can scarcely be kept too moist. The leaves fell and turned brown 
from lacking moisture. Liquid manure, and water in abundance, would 
have prevented the evil. 
Heating by Hot Water {Melon Pit).—We quite agree with you, 
that your plan is a very simple one. We can also well imagine how, when 
a greenhouse is heated by a flue, a small pit in its neighbourhood 
might be so heated by your iron pipes placed in the furnace. And 
several instances have occurred, where, if our memory serve us, such 
a mode of heating has been resorted to. In Perkin’s system, what 
might be termed the boiler was a coil of small pipes, but altogether 
presenting a large surface to the fire. In "VN eeks’ system, the pipes 
stand in and above the fire; but there, likewise, a great surface is exposed 
to the action of the fire. We have actually come to believe,. that the 
best, the least expensive boilers, are those which, in proportion to the 
water they contain, present the largest surlace to the action ot the lire. 
Your inch-pipes, for their size, give a good surface ; but then you have 
only two of them joined together in your furnace, furnishing altogether 
some eight or ten feet of one-inch pipe as your heating medium. That 
you heat your water, and make it reach near the boiling point, we can 
well believe; but that it costs little for fuel we can scarcely see; as 
we would be inclined to think, that there being nothing said of a flue, 
more heat by various modes would help to heat the external atmo¬ 
sphere, than what could be absorbed by your two small pipes. W ith our 
present lights—except merely as an accessory—we can see no improie- 
rnent in any respect in your system. As an accessory, it would often be 
useful. ... . 
Pruning Ipomiea Learii { T . S .).— The Ipomsea Learn is one of the 
best conservatory climbers ; but it will be apt to suffer, it the average 
temperature at night in winter be long below 45° ; and especially if the 
main stem be near the glass of the roof, where it would be most quickly 
cooled by radiation in a frosty night. If the plant consist of one main 
strong stem of the length of which you speak, with flowering shoots 
coming from that main stem all the way, then each of these shoots maj 
be pruned back now to within three or four joints or buds from the 
main stem. In spring, after winter is past, you may prune back to one 
or two buds ; as it is from the shoots produced in summer from these 
buds that the flowering takes place. If the plant be not furnished with 
a stout main stem, it would be advisable merely to partly prune now 
and again in spring. Prune in such a manner as to leave a sufficient 
amount of buds to produce shoots regularly all over the plant; say, to 
procure a stout shoot, every fifteen or eighteen inches: and these will 
look best if allowed to grow downwards as danglers from the main 
stem and rafters. If your house be kept cool in winter, it would be 
advisable to suspend the main stem two or three feet from the glass. 
Transplanting Araucarias — Conifer Cuttings {A Friend) — 
From the 1st to the middle of September is the best time to transplant 
young and old Araucarias and Deodars; but, like all evergreens, thej 
may be removed with balls any day in the year when the ground is not 
much frozen. The middle of September is the best time to put in 
cuttings of all Conifers and other evergreens, including Camellias, 
which take a long time to root: but Deodars and Araucarias are now so 
plentiful and cheap, that one could hardly earn his salt in rearing them 
from cuttings, although the process is cheap and safe enough. They 
root best in pure sand ; and the moment roots come, they should find 
very sandy loam to take hold of. Therefore, put an inch of sand over 
a sandy loam in the pots; and plant the cuttings, not quite one mch 
the average of counties of England. For Devonshire, where you live, 
and on the south coast, December in any year would be early enough 
for planting Potatoes ; and in such a mild season as this is, quite the 
end of the month should be preferred. We planted this year, in 
December, in Hampshire. Your Potatoes appearing above ground had 
better be earthed over. 
Fruit Trees on Clay Subsoil ( J. H. C.). —Make stations, or mounds, 
upon the surface of your garden, as frequently recommended by Mr. 
Errington. Plant the trees upon them, cutting away any descending 
roots; and training out the lateral 1 oots regularly all round, and near 
the surface. Keep that surface mulched and undug. By this means 
the roots will be induced to remain near the surface. If you destroy 
the surface-roots by digging, others will be formed deeper in the soil; 
and these getting into the clay, will induce canker. 
Filberts Unfruitful ( L. S. G.). —Remove every second tree : even 
eight feet apart is tfco close. Cut the branches off from those which re¬ 
deep. 
THE POULTRY 
iOWCLl 
Rockery Water Basin—Moving Ferns {Kate).—The best, and 
cheapest way of having a water-tight basin in a rockery, is to build it 
with bricks in cement, and to plaster the inside of it with best Roman 
cement. Then to build the rock-work round it, to form the lowest side 
into a valley, and to get the waste water to run there, or to stand in 
pools, or lakes, or lochs; and to plant marsh plants, and water reeds to 
shelter and shade smaller kinds along the banks. Nothing is more easj, 
than to remove the most of our Ferns in mild weather, from September 
to the middle or end of March ; take good balls with them, and observe 
how r they grow: but naturally some are on dry banks, some in deep 
sandy loam, some in very dry exposed places, and some the contrary. 
No guide is better than Nature in Fern culture. 
Names of Plants. — Kate’s plants are as follows :—1. Asplemum 
Adiantiun-nigrum. 2. Scolopendrium vulgare. 3. Polystichum acu- 
leatum. 4. Lastrea we think an imperfect bit taken from a plant of 
dilatata. 5. Polypodium vulgare. 6. Asplenium Trichomanes. 7. 
The Geranium is the old prickly-stalked Geranium, or the Pelargonium 
echinatum. (Troublesome). —Your plant is the Aloe verrucosa, or, as it 
is commonly called, the Warted Aloe. 
Hardy Herbaceous Plants {Rustic Robin). —We will endeavour to 
meet your wishes. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
and 31st. Burnley and East Lancashire. Entries 
Mr. Angus Sutherland and Mr. Ralph 
December 30th 
close December 1st. Secs. 
Landless. 
January 1st, 1858. Paisley. Poultry, Pigeons, and Fancy Birds. 
Sec., Mr. W. Houston, 14, Barr Street, Paisley. 
January 4th, 1858. Kirkcaldy. Poultry and Fancy Bird Show. 
Sec., Mr. Bonthron, jun., Thistle Street. 
January 9th, 11th, 12th and 13th, 1858. Crystal Palace. 
W. Houghton. Entries close December 12th. 
January 13th and 14th, 1858. Dublin. Secs., T. M. Hutton and R. P. 
Williams, Esqrs., Council Rooms, 212, Great Brunswick Street. 
Entries close November 21st. 
January 20th, 21st and 22nd, 1858. Nottingham Central. Sec., Mr. 
Etherington, jun., Notintone Place, Sneinton, near Nottingham. 
Sec., Mr. 
