THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY 
The face of the frame is then placed in a strong light, and 
after a little time the exposed parts of the paper will be 
found to darken. When sufficiently intense the back is 
taken out, and the paper (on which is the impression of the 
leaf), soaked well in solution B* After this it must be well 
washed in water. When dry this can be coloured to nature, or, 
by using it in the same way as the leaf, a positive copy (dark 
on a light ground) may be obtained. The veinings should 
appear beautifully distinct. 
In copying an apple or pear the photograph must be 
taken from a section through the middle. 
The use of the hinged back is that we may inspect the 
process of printing by withdrawing one of the wedges, 
taking out a cross piece, and raising the liberated end of the 
back. The other wedge being tight prevents the shifting of 
the leaf or paper. 
In our next we shall speak of coloured processes.— 
Edward A. Copland. 
[The writer will be happy to answer, in the pages of The 
Cottage Gardener, any questions on the subject addressed 
to him,] 
THE DISADVANTAGE OF MAKING 
THE ENTRANCES IN THE SIDES OF HIVES. 
There are two plans usually adopted in making an 
entrance into a bee-hive; one is by cutting away a portion of 
the straw, the second by cutting a sufficient space out of the 
floor board. The former is by far the more frequent prac¬ 
tice, doubtless from the circumstance that it is attended 
with very little trouble to take a knife and cut away sufficient 
straw; but I do not hesitate to state that the plan is very 
inferior to the other mode. 
The floor boards that I have found most advantageous in 
practice are made of deal not less than an inch and a half in 
thickness. The entrance is made by cutting a groove four 
inches wide from the middle of one side to an inch beyond 
the centre of the board. The depth of this groove (which 
is made quite flat and smooth at the bottom) is exactly three- 
eighths of an inch where it is crossed by the edge of the hive 
when the latter is placed on the board, and it gradually slopes 
upwards as it goes further into the hive, being scarcely of 
any depth at the centre, and losing itself in the flat level of 
the floor board a little beyond. When the hive is placed in 
its position the entrance is consequently four inches wide 
and three-eighths of an inch high. 
The advantages of this entrance over the common one are 
these:—Firstly, the hive, if of straw, is stronger and less liable 
to decay from the straws not having been cut. Secondly, it 
is much warmer in winter. The tendency of heated air is to 
ascend, and consequently, when the opening is situated below 
the hive, there is no escape of warmth; but if the opening is 
cut out of the side the lower part of the hive is filled with 
cold air. Thirdly, any moisture which may be produced in 
the hive by the condensation of vapour readily runs down the 
incline, and escapes at the entrance. This cannot bo the 
case with perfectly flat boards, and the hives over them are 
consequently much more damp, and the combs apt to be¬ 
come mouldy. Fourthly, the small height of the opening 
prevents the entrance of snails or mice, which latter often 
commit sad havoc in a hive during the winter. Fifthly, the 
facility with which, by means of wedges of cork, the entrance 
can be narrowed to any desired degree is a great advantage 
during the autumn. After the honey season the entrance 
may be narrowed to half an inch in width, and no wasp can 
gain admission; and in a good season the entrance may be 
thrown open to the full width of four inches, as that space is 
absolutely required when the bees are very busy. 
There are other advantages besides those enumerated, 
such as the greater convenience to the bees in entering, and 
the greater facilities of access to the spaces between the dif¬ 
ferent combs; but I think these are sufficient to establish 
the superiority of the plan, which, from practical experience 
in numerous cases, I can strongly recommend to all bee 
keepers.—W. B. Tegetmeieh. 
GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, March 17, 1857. 415 
IRIS RETICULATA. 
Purchased at the sale of the late Dean of Manchester. 
Of this very curious and beautiful Iris the leaves are 
perfectly erect, a foot long, one or two to each flowering 
plant, glaucous, and four-cornered, with a pale, curved, 
sharp conical point. The flowers are solitary, shorter than 
the leaves, proceeding from green closely-rolled spathes, 
from which the angular tube projects from two to three 
inches; they are of the deepest purple, with a narrow, well- 
defined, pure yellow oblong spot at the end of the sepals, 
accompanied by some purple specks upon a paler ground. 
When brought into a room the flowers remain expanded for 
some days, and emit a faint but delightful smell of violets. 
The plant is found wild in the Crimea. 
A hardy bulb, as easily managed as the Hyacinth, growing 
freely in a compost composed of loam, well-decomposed 
cowdung, and silver sand. It is increased by the bulbs, 
which should be kept quite dry when in a dormant state, 
and afterwards started at different times in September and 
October, for giving a succession of flowers in the spring. 
A most valuable plant for pot culture in the spring, and 
which may rival all other spring bulbs, not only on account 
of its brilliant blue flowers, but because of its blooming so ! 
