10S 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 1G, 1858. 
Annie Sailer in Class 4, I can, if I show in Class G, have Annie 
Salter in that class also, and come within the meaning of the 
proviso enclosed above?” — An Ipswicn Chrysanthemum 
Grower. 
[Wo think, under the wording of the headings of the classes, 
as above quoted, an exhibitor could show Annie Salter , both in 
Class 4 and Class 6, and in Class 5 also; but the proviso evi¬ 
dently indicates that it was intended he should not exhibit a 
specimen of the same variety, in two or more of Classes 4, 5, 
and 6. The proviso would be mere surplusage, an idle repetition 
of the headings of the Classes, if it were not so interpreted. To 
remove all doubt, the Committee had better say in future, “ Any 
member exhibiting in Class 4 may, at the same time, exhibit in 
either or both of Classes 5 and 6, but among his flowers then 
exhibited no variety must occur more than once.”] 
EXPOSING MARBLE STATUES TO THE WINTER’S 
WEATHER. 
“My reason for writing to you is simply this,—feeling a great j 
interest in the beauty of our ‘ People’s Park,’—which has been 
laid out by Sir Joseph Paxton, regardless of cost,—in which are 
placed a number of statues, of the preservation of which I am 
about to speak. Seven have been erected, one only being wanted 
to complete the series. These are hewn from the finest Carara j 
marble, have come from a celebrated sculptor in Italy, and have 
cost some hundreds of pounds each. As Halifax is one of the 
highest situated towns in Yorkshire, and two hundred miles 
north of London, with frosts in the winter generally protracted 
and severe, is it your opinion that these valuable works of art 
should be exposed to the bitter blasts of our usually tempestous 
winter? If, like myself, you think such exposure injurious, 
could you suggest some means of preservation by which these 
things-of beauty may remain a source of pleasure to future gene¬ 
rations?”—A Country Subscriber. 
[The Italian marbles, and the Greek marbles from Pentelicon, 
will stand our English frost just as well as the Aberdeen granites; 
and if any one of our feudal castles was encased with marble 
si ibs, and the joints were made of white lead,—as Sir Morton 
Peto lias jointed the joints of the Caen-stone facing to hi 9 
mansion near Lowestoff,—the whole would stand as a rock for 
ages. 
When the Erench bombarded the Eternal City, ten or a 
dozen years back, they destroyed as much of costly marble antique 
statuary in the suburbs of Rome, as would, if sold to English 
amateurs, pay for a second Crystal Palace. We have seen quan¬ 
tities of that broken and bombarded Roman statuary brought to 
England, and patched up and mended, so as to look as well as 
when St. Paul was in Rome, and the whole of it has stood the 
frost of our climate sinee. But some of the more broken figures 
are covered, in winter, with slight wooden cases, to keep them 
dry, on account of the joints in mending,—not to keep them from 
the frost. The “ wet and dry ” joints might give way to frost, 
but if kept dry there is no fear. One of the Roman Emperors, 
in this collection was so badly shattered about the head, as to 
suggest —to the gardeners—the idea of rat-catching ; and so this 
Emperor goes by the name of “ Her Majesty’s rat-catcher” to 
this day. But he, too, stands the frost as well as the marble 
vases of the Crystal Palace.] 
BEES SECRETING WAX—ARTIFICIAL COMBS. 
Since Hunter’s discovery of bees secreting wax in small scales, 
through the segments under the abdomen, it is generally believed 
that they derive it from honey. This is founded on the notion 
that fresh swarms carry olf from the stocks large supplies of 
honey, to enable them to commence making combs. But. it is 
not clearly ascertained whether bees do make wax from honey. I 
may have already mentioned in this journal, that more probably 
they collect wax from plants, and refine it in their stomachs by a | 
process impossible to explain. 
Hunter certainly calls wax an “ external secretion of oilbut 
ho was not aware that bees also eject it from their mouths : and 
what he says does not warrant the supposition that bees convert 
honey into wax, but rather that they obtain it by some sort of 
exudation, which may be the hidden process just noticed. How¬ 
ever, there seems to be too much made of the quantity of honey 
carried off by swarms : in these the insects are often lightly laden, 
and they begin to collect and store up more food as soon as the 
first cells are formed. At that time the bees have no brood to 
attend, or feed ; and in good weather they will sometimes fill a 
hive with combs in eight or ten days, and store up a considerable 
quantity of honey and pollen. 
I may note, that the cells of bees are of various forms, which 
shows that they can vary their mode of working according to 
circumstances. This does not accord with the supposition that 
the foundation of the cells are round, and take the hexagonal 
shape from the singular construction in the front of bees heads, 
which serves as a pattern for the cells. Those of wasps are also 
hexagonal, and the queen, who forms the first ones, can, of 
course, put both her head and abdomen into them. Consequently, 
the same mode of reasoning is applicable to the wasp. But a 
close observer of both insects, when they are at work, must see 
little or no ground for such theory. 
This reminds me of the observations of a “ Devonshire Bee¬ 
keeper” (page 10), somewhat connected with this subject. He 
refers to a paragraph copied by a correspondent from an 
American paper, concerning artificial comb-making, and says,— 
“ I fully agree with what is there stated, respecting the largo 
quantity of honey consumed in the production of wax, and the 
consequent saving in labour to the industrious insects, which 
would result from their being furnished with ready-made combs.” 
After what l have stated concerning the production of wax, bees 
forming combs, and collection of both honey and pollen, it would 
be superfluous to say more upon this, than to point out the great 
utility of fresh swarms being furnished with good second-hand 
combs. However, like the before-mentioned writer, I not only 
consider the expense and difficulty of imitating wax combs, but 
also how they are to be fixed. Besides, without propolis to 
varnish the cells, the combs would be brittle, and crumble down 
by the traffic of the bees. These remarks may also be somewhat 
applicable to the “ thin sheets of wax,” which a “ Devonshire 
Bee-keeper ” recommends, instead of the American plan. He 
speaks of them, however, with some diffidence, as well he may, 
for it is quite contrary to the instinct of bees to hollow out cells. 
These are formed and completed as the workers proceed. Both 
plans are really curious, but the practical bee-keeper knows, that 
to follow either must be only playing at bees’ work without any 
good results. In general, to his loss, he ha3 too many true 
combs empty to think of making expensive imitation ones.— 
J. Wighton. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Scented Verbenas {Little Greenhouse). —Our correspondent will he 
obliged by a list of these. 
Hardy Fruits for Ciiai.k Soil (An Old Subscriber).— On such a soil, 
and with a south aspect, in Hampshire, we have found the following thrive 
and bear well :— Apples. —Stunner Pippin, Nonpareil, Kerry Pippin, 
Cockle Pippin, Ashmead’s Kernel, Court of Wick, Oslin, Joanneting, and 
Downton Pippin. Fears. —Winter Neiis, Glout Moiceau, Passe Colmar, 
Seckel, Napoldon, Forelle, and Croft Castle: but the last is tasteless. 
Easter Beurre among Pears, and the Rod Crofton among Apples, do not 
seem to succeed on such a soil. Our correspondent wishes for “ Cata¬ 
logues of Roses, Bulbs, American Plants (these will not do on a chalky 
soil), &c., to be sent to him, addressed — “Peveril, Dorchester.” 
Moving Young Fruit Trees (If r . J. IF.).—Shorten this year’s shoots 
one-third; pinch the shoots in summer; plant shallow'. As the Rasp¬ 
berries bear well, do not prune the laterals. 
Planting Geometrical Garden (Annie). —The centre figure, No. one, 
to be planted with different variegated plants; the opposite pair of fives 
with Scarlet Geraniums ; and the other pair of fives with yellow Cal¬ 
ceolarias. All the fours with variegated plants, with or without a small 
Jlumea in the centre of each. The threes with Petunias, of sorts, or 
Pcntstemons, or dwarf Fuchsias, or what you have. The twos with dif¬ 
ferent Verbenas. The sixes with standard Roses in the middle, and bush 
Roses round them, and an edging of some light plant, or variegated plant, 
or Hollyhocks, or fancy Dahlias, or tall Salvias, or the tallest of all your 
stock. 
Guano (IF. F. It.). —Save it until next year, and then use it, during the 
spring and summer, to your kitchen garden crops whilst growing. Half 
an ounce to a gallon of water will be enough. For the Cabbageworts, 
Asparagus, Rhubarb, and Spinach, one ounce to a gallon might be used. 
I’itmaston Nonfaef.il ( Clericus X). — The cracking of the fruit 
probably arises from deficiency of moisture at the roots during the 
summer. Try liquid manure, and mulching over a surface of three feet 
all round the tree. The liquid and the mulching to be applied only during 
the summer and autumn. 
Royal Muscadine Graff. (A Novice). —This will succeed in your un¬ 
heated greenhouse, and so will the Chasselas Jlusque, and the Flack 
Champion. 
Bef.iiive (Quern Fee). —Buy “Bee-keeping for the Many,” published at 
our office; and Taylor’s “Bee-keeper’s Manual,” published by Groom- 
