TIIE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 9, 185S. 
93 
against any one who dares (o differ from a Tory general opinion, 
especially if backed by the authority of a few great names. That 
this is the case I know full well, as at present I am labouring 
under the imputation of Atheism, Deism, Materialism, and a host 
of other wicked isms, from my having read a paper, at the British 
Association, on the formation of the cells of bees, in which I de¬ 
tailed a number of experiments, tending to show that the bees 
possess no geometrical instinct, but that the shape of the cells is 
produced by the manner in which the comb is formed. 
To return to the subject of bee bread. During the last season 
I have performed several experiments as to the use of pollen, 
which conclusively prove that it is largely employed as food by 
the maturo bees. 
Kirby and Spence, in their delightful introduction to ento¬ 
mology, notice a fact which bus been overlooked by almost all 
writers of bee books,—namely, that when a bee laden with pollen 
rests on the alighting-board, others often eat a portion from her 
thighs. It may be replied, that this is merely preparatory to 
its being disgorged into the colls containing grubs. To put this 
matter to the test of experiment, I drove a stock of bees into an 
empty hive, having in it a few pieces of empty guide-comb. The 
next day tlie bees were busily at work, building comb, and col¬ 
lecting honey and pollen. I caught several of tiro pollen-laden 
bees, and, taking the masses olf their thighs, placed them on the 
alighting-board, and found that they were eaten by the bees,— 
neither eggs nor grubs being in the hive. The effect was repeated 
several days with the like result. 
About a month since, I had the bees from several common 
skeps given to me by my neighbours, provided I would come and 
take them. With these bees I have established several good 
stocks, by putting them info empty hives, and feeding them 
abundantly. In the compartment in which the bees were fed, I 
placed a large piece of old comb full of pollen. The whole of 
this was eaten out by them, t-liero being no grubs to feed. 
To render the proof still more conclusive, I placet; some 
masses of pollen on the alighting-board of the hive ; and noticing 
the bees that devoured it, I captured them, and, on dissection, 
found the proventrieulus and stomach both filled with pollen, 
and this at a time when there was an abundant supply of syrup, 
mixed with honey, in the feeder placed inside the liive. 
All these circumstances seem to me to lead inevitably to the 
conclusion, that pollen is an article of food to the mature insect, 
as well as when in the grub or larva state. It may be replied, that 
hives often perish in the winter from a w'ant of honey,—the bees 
dying of starvation, with abundance of pollen in the cells. So 
woidd a number of men in a ship, with abundance of arrowroot 
on board, if there were no other edible substance. But no one 
would say, therefore, that arrowroot was not useful as food. 
Pollen may be to bees, as starch is to man, a valuable,—nay, a 
necessary, article of food, and yet, taken alone, unable to support 
life.—W. B. Tegetmeier, Muswell Hill. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Greenhouse Gay in- Winter ( A Constant Reader). —Forcing Camellias 
ami Azaleas into bloom by Christmas is rather uphill work, unless they 
are well up to the mark, and arc very forward already. If so, your house 
may he kept 10° to 15° warmer by day in particular, also a little warmer at 
night. There are very many plants that you should have, that would 
assist you to make yoiir greenhouse gay at Christmas, after the Chrysan¬ 
themums arc out of bloom :—Such as Daphne Indira, one or two plants ; 
D. Indira rubra, two or three plants; I). Daupkinii ; also, Jasminum 
nudiftorum (this, though hardy, is worth a place in a greenhouse) ; Cnphea 
platycentra; Correas, of several kinds; Epacris impressa, and several 
others of this family; Heaths, such as Erica IVilUnovrana, E. Linncedidrs, 
E. hyemalis, and many others that flower at this season ; Coronilla 
glauen ; Genista linifolia, and G. Canariensis ; also, Cytisus racemosus ; 
Fuchsia serratifolia, when properly grown, makes a good winter-flowering 
plant; Ageratum ctelestinum, and A. umbcllatum, with several pots 
of Cinerarias, Chinese Primroses, Violets, &c., would make the green¬ 
house quite gay at Christmas. The name of the plant you sent is the 
Chrysanthemum MontpeUcnse. 
Beurre Suff.rfin Pear ( Subscriber at Newport). —Write to Mr. Hirers, 
Nurseries, Sawbridgeworth. 
Mixed Saline Manures (0. H.). — To prepare these requires more 
chemical knowledge than is possessed by most people. Thus, your proposal 
to mix sulphate of ammonia with super-phosphate of lime would cause a 
double decomposition, and sulphate of lime and phosphate of ammonia 
would be the result. We should apply the sulphate of ammonia and salts of 
soda at the time of the last ploughing, ploughing them in, and drilling 
the phosphate in with the seed. Quantities must vary with soils, and other 
considerations. Buy Mr. Cuthbert Johnson’s volume on “Fertilisers.” 
Fropaoating Lobelia erixus compacta (11'. P .). —There are two kinds 
of Lobelia crinus compacta, —a white and a blue. They do not seed, and at 
the end of October they cannot be struck from cuttings without the highest 
skill in propagation, and the necessary appliances of the propagating de¬ 
partment. Therefore, your only chance is to take up some of your plants on 
a dry day, and to pot them. They are not difficult to keep over the »inter, ii 
a window, and should he outside every line day. All, or almost all, dealt ■■ 
who advertise ata very low figure, consider that anything is good enough tin- 
those who run after cheapness. The cheapest plant, seed, bulb, spade, 
rake, nail, or button, always was, and always will he, the .dearest, in Hi ¬ 
king run. The pleasure of running after cheapness is just as sweet and 
lawful as running for the Derby. There is no very good white hrbri 1 
perpetual Rose. 
Berries ( S. C. IF .).—The berries you gathered in Guernsey arc those of 
Rtiscus aculcatus. 
Pa rues’ Patent Digging Forks ( Superintendent of Fork Husbandry). 
—The prongs being steeled are, it broken, very difficult to be mended by 
welding, and, as you say, “ soon break at the piecing place.” To prevent 
this, try having two small rivets put through the parts welded together. 
Worms on Grass Plat ( J . IT .).—The best mode of driving them away 
is to sprinkle a little common salt over the surface, at the rate of tin 
bushels to the acre, as often as their easts show that the previous appli¬ 
cation has become too much washed away by the rains to inconvenience 
them. 
Transplanting JUNirERus recuryus ( Per. S. G. IF.). —You had better 
move it immediately. If a wide trench at three freet from the stem is cut 
first on one side, and then the earth picked away underneath, a sack may, 
by degrees, be got entirely under it, and the whole lifted up with very 
little disturbance of the roots. Have the hole to receive it previous!\ 
dug, and gradually wash in tine earth among the roots. Neither your 
Juniper nor your Cypress are trees difficult to remove. 
Names on Ferns (P. R .).—1. Zastrea dilatata. 2. Cystopteris fragilis. 
Apparently the variety Mr. Moore calls sempercircns, w hich is evergreen, 
grown under glass, and not brittle-stalked, like the common kinds. J. 
Asplenium nmbrosum. A species belonging to the genus A'hnited'w, 
which is regarded by some as a genus distinct from Asplenium. —51. 
Names of Plants (]>. APEwen). —From the crushed specimen received, 
we incline to think it is Solamsm pseudo-capsicum, or False Capsicum, 
sometimes called the Winter Cherry. ( IF. G.). —1. Leptospermum bulla- 
turn. 2. Prostanthera violdcea. 3. Solly a linearis. 4. Oralis rubella. 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
November 29tli and 30th, December 1st and 2nd. Birmincitam. See., 
Mr. J. Morgan, Entries close November 1st. 
November 30th and December 1st. Glasgow. Sec., Mr. R. M‘Cowan. 
Entries close November 17th. 
December 7tli and Stli. North Durham. Secs., R. C. Coulson, J. T. 
Duncan, and T. Wethercll. Entries close November 22nd. 
Dkoembf-r 8th. Wiltshire. See., F. W. Phillips, Devizes. Entries 
close November 30tli. 
December 17th and 18th. Halifax Fancy Pigeon Show. See., Mr. 
II. Iloldsworth, 57, AVoolshops, Halifax. Entries close the 20th of 
November. 
December 29th and 30th. Burnlf.y and East Lancashire. See., Angus 
Sutherland. Entries close December 10th, 
January 3rd, 1859. Kirkcaldy Poultry and Fancy Bird Show. 
January 8th, 10th, lltli, and 12th, 1859. Crystal Palace (Winter 
Shovel Sec., W. Houghton. 
January 20th and 21st, 1859. Liyef.pool. 
Ferruary 3rd and 4th, 1859. Preston ano North Lancashire. 
Secs. R. Teebay, and II. Oakcy. 
February 9th and 10th, 1859. Ulverstone. Sec., Tlios. Robinson. 
February 16th and 17tli, 1859. Poulton-le-Fylpe. Sec., J. Butler. 
N.B .—Secretaries will oblige «s by sending early copies of their lists. 
HINTS TO EXHIBITORS. 
When we have entered on the month in which the Birming¬ 
ham Show is held, we feel it our duty to give some useful hints to 
exhibitors. We are aware that many of our readers know as 
much of these matters as we do, and we, therefore, do not pretend 
to teach them ; but the prize-sheets every year prove that the list 
of competitors is recruited by new names ; and it is also often 
seen, that a pen which should have figured among the prize-takers 
has lost its place by the non-observance of some rule, or by the 
neglect of some precaution. 
As mere weight will not insure success in any class, our first 
admonition is, not to fatten the birds. They cannot be too heavy, 
provided the weight is made up of flesh. If any are in difficulty 
howto manage this, we will endeavour to teach them. It birds 
have food continually before them, they get sick of it, and will 
not feed. Too often they are then tempted with variety and 
delicacies, they are still induced to eat, they have no motive for 
exertion, and squat about with full crops, fat insides, and diseased 
livers. Such will attain great weights, but they are never in con- 
