384 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  3,  1900. 
■to  the  frames,  and  if  it  does  not  fit  closely  to  the  sides  and  bottom  of 
the  hive  the  spnce  at  the  back  may  be  fi  led  with  any  old  coverings  so 
as  to  keep  the  bees  as  warm  as  possible. 
A  stock  of  this  description  should  always  be  fed  with  a  slow 
feeder  ;  there  will  then  be  no  escape  of  heat  from  the  hive.  An  extra 
frame  may  be  given  as  required,  and  it  is  surprising  how  rapidly  a 
weak  stock  will  improve  if  worked  on  the  above  lines.  Instead  of  the 
bees  dropping  from  the  cluster  through  weakness,  to  be  afterwards 
found  on  the  floor  board  dead,  they  become  bvely,  and  will  work  freely 
as  the  weather  becomes  warmer. 
Many  bee-keepers  cannot  understand  the  reason  why  some  storks 
are  so  much  better  than  others  at  this  season.  Such,  however,  we 
■find  is  always  the  case.  All  may  have  been  well  supplied  with  syrup 
the  previous  autumn  and  treated  exactly  the  same.  But  the  following 
spring  it  will  be  found  on  examinat  on  that  some  are  much  better 
than  others,  although  spring  dwindling  has  not  taken  place.  This 
will  also  arise  from  a  variety  of  causes.  The  age  of  the  qneen,  and 
the  time  she  stopped  deposit  ng  eggs  the  previous  autumn,  are  the 
chief  causes.  If  the  queen  stopped  laying  early  many  of  the  bees, 
being  old,  would  die  off,  and  there  would  not  be  young  bees  to  take 
their  place.— An  English  Bee-keeper. 
Trade  Catalogues  Received. 
Barr  &  Sons,  King  Street,  Covent  G&vAen.— Daffodils. 
Kelway  &  Son,  Langport.-  Wholesale  Plant  Catalogue. 
W.  Paul  and  Son,  Waltham  Cross. — New  Roses. 
T.  S.  Ware,  Ltd.,  Feltham.— Plants. 
All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should  be 
directed  to  “  The  Editor,”  12,  IVIltre  Court  Chambers 
Fleet  Street,  Iiondon,  E.c,  It  is  requested  that  no  one 
will  write  privately  to  any  of  our  correspondents,  seeking 
information  on  matters  discussed  in  this  Journal,  as  doing  so 
subjects  them  to  unjustifiable  trouble  and  expense,  and  depart¬ 
mental  writers  are  not  expected  to  answer  any  letters  they 
may  receive  on  Gardening  and  Bee  subjects  through  the  post. 
If  information  be  desired  on  any  particular  subject  from  any 
particular  authority  who  may  be  named,  endeavour  will  be  made 
to  obtain  it  by  the  Editor.  Letters  of  inquiry  must  be  accom¬ 
panied  by  the  names  and  addresses  of  the  writers,  but  these  will 
neither  be  published  nor  disclosed  when  initials  or  noms  de  plume 
are  given  for  the  purpose  of  replies. 
•Oorrespondents  should  not  mix  up  on  the  same  sheet  questions  relating 
to  Gardening  and  those  on  Bee  subjects,  and  it  is  convenient  when 
each  question  is  written  on  a  separate  sheet.  All  articles  intended 
for  insertion  should  be  written  on  one  side  of  the  paper  only  ;  and 
the  name  and  address  of  each  writer  must  be  known  by  thr 
Editor,  though  not  necessarily  for  insertion.  We  cannot,  as  a 
rule,  reply  to  questions  through  the  post,  and  we  do  not  under- 
take  to  return  communications  which,  for  any  reason,  cannot 
be  inserted. 
Newly  Planted  Vines  {Inquirer). — The  canes  planted  this  spring 
will  indicate  their  taking  to  the  soil  by  growing  freely,  and  require 
ventilation  early  in  the  day,  as  the  value  of  growth  is  dependent  more 
on  its  sturdiness  and  solidification  than  on  its  length  and  sappiness. 
Encourage  laterals  rather  than  an  elongation  of  the  cane,  but  let  that 
extend  and  retain  all  the  growth  that  can  have  exposure  to  light.  That 
is  desirable  where  the  Vines  are  weakly,  but  if  they  are  vigorous  it  is  a 
better  plan  to  pinch  the  laterals  at  the  first  joint,  and  to  one  leaf  of 
subsequent  growth,  stopping  the  canes  at  9  to  10  feet,  and  allow  the 
uppermost  to  grow  a  few  joints,  and  then  keep  all  closely  pinched.  If 
the  cane  produces  growths  cut  away  the  worst.  Supernumeraries 
intended  for  next  year’s  fruiting  should  have  the  laterals  pinched  at  the 
first  leaf,  afterwards  allowing  them  to  make  a  few  joints  of  growth  if 
weak,  otherwise  pinching  to  one  leaf,  stopping  the  cane  at  8  or  9  feet 
of  growth,  taking  every  possible  care  of  the  leaves  on  the  cane,  not 
allowing  them  to  be  interfered  with  in  any  way  by  the  laterals.  Keep 
the  soil  moist,  but  not  very  wet,  closing  early,  with  plenty  of  atmospheric 
moisture. 
Beet  Near  the  Boots  of  Young  Fruit  Trees  (C.  B.  S.). — We  do  not 
recommend  Beet  to  be  sown  over  the  roots  of  young  fruit  trees,  but 
advise  keeping  the  ground  free  from  weeds,  which  are  often  as  bad  or 
worse  than  a  useful  crop.  Mulch  outwards  from  the  stem  to  the  extent 
of  the  roots,  or  a  little  more,  with  about  an  inch  thickness  of  rather 
short  and  not  quite  fresh  manure.  This  will  encourage  the  roots  to 
spread  near  the  surface,  and  secure  greater  uniformity  of  moisture  in 
the  soil  by  preventing  evaporation,  and  instead  of  taking  from  the 
nutriment  would  add  to  that  of  the  soil.  Beet  over  the  roots  would 
abstract  considerable  nutrition  from  the  soil,  and  the  trees  be  prejudiced 
correspondingly. 
Elaeocarpus  serratus  {Youngster). — This  plant  is  rarely  seen, 
notwithstanding  ifs  beauty.  According  to  the  “  Vegetable  Kingdom  ” 
“the  Elteocarp®  furnish  a  few  plants  to  which  a  slight  degree  of 
interest  is  attached.  Those  round,  carved-looking  and  rugged -furrowed, 
bony-like  articles,  which  are  used  as  necklaces  and  bracelets,  and 
sometimes  mounted  in  gold,  are  the  fruit  of  the  Olive  Nuts  (Elasocarpus) 
deprived  of  their  fieshy  parts.  The  fruits  of  some  of  the  species  are 
used  in  Eastern  curries,  and  also  pickled,  while  some  are  eaten  raw, 
such  as  those  of  E.  serratus,  which  the  inhabitants  of  Ceylon  preserve 
in  brine  before  they  are  ripe,  and  eat  with  a  little  oil  to  give  them  a 
flavour.  Rumphius  says  these  fruits  are  good  to  eat,  but  the  use  of 
them  is  rather  adapted  for  killing  time  than  for  any  nourishment  that 
can  be  obtained  from  them.” 
Zxoras  (B.  T.  P.). — These  plants  succeed  in  a  compost  of  two-thirds 
sandy  fibrous  peat  torn  in  pieces  by  the  hand,  and  one-third  fibrous 
loam  from  decayed  turves,  adding  about  one-sixth  part  of  silver  sand 
and  charcoal  in  pieces  from  the  size  of  a  hazel  nut  down  to  that  of  a 
pea,  the  whole  being  well  mixed.  The  compost  should  be  made  rather 
fine,  but  not  sifted.  Good  drainage  is  essential.  Their  proper  time  of 
rest  is  winter,  during  which  they  should  be  kept  dry,  but  not  so  much 
so  as  to  cause  the  foliage  to  flag.  From  September  to  February  the 
temperature  may  be  60°  at  night,  and  from  65°  to  70°  by  day,  55°  at 
night  in  severe  weather  will  not  be  too  low.  From  February  onwards 
the  temperature  should  be  slightly  increased,  so  as  to  have  it  65°  at 
nights  by  May,  and  from  70°  to  75°  by  day  without  sun,  and  from  80° 
to  90°  with  sun  and  abundance  of  air.  These  temperatures  may  be 
continued  until  September,  when  they  should  be  allowed  to  decline. 
Vine  Leaves  Mottled  (Gar). —  The  leaves  have  the  appearance  of 
being  infested  by  some  fungus,  but  we  cannot  discover  any  mycelial 
hyphos  in  the  tissues,  and,  of  course,  no  outgrowths.  It  is  not  unusual 
for  the  leaves  to  have  a  somewhat  yellowish  and  mottled  appearance 
after  recently  planting,  they  being  relatively  small,  somewhat  thin  in 
tissue,  and  not  firm  in  texture.  This  only  endures  for  a  time,  as  when 
the  roots  work  freely  in  the  border  the  foliage  gradually  improves. 
Sometimes  the  roots,  where  turf  is  used,  are  preyed  upon  by  wireworms 
and  other  pests,  the  foliage  suffering  in  consequence.  We  advise  a 
dressing  to  the  border  of  a  mixture  of  bone  superphosphate  three  parts, 
sulphate  of  potash  two  parts,  and  sulphate  of  magnesia  one  part, 
mixed,  using  4  ozs.  per  square  yard,  and  pointing  in  lightly.  To  aid  the 
development  of  the  chlorophyll  a  dressing  of  soot,  a  good  handful  per 
square  yard,  may  be  used  with  advantage,  or  about  half  an  ounce  per 
square  yard  of  finely  powdered  nitrate  of  soda.  The  soil  should  be  kept 
moist,  but  not  overwatered. 
Bark  of  Beech  Tree  {Somerset).  —  The  matter  on  the  bark  of  the 
Beech  tree  is  not  caused  by  a  fungus,  but  is  the  substance  secreted  by 
the  Beech-bark  scale  insect,  Crytococcus  fagi,  which  fixes  itself  to  the 
bark  and  pushes  its  beak  into  the  living  tissues,  abstracting  the  sap  of 
the  tree,  and  the  tree  suffers  in,  consequence,  many  left  to  their  fate 
succumbing,  even  when  of  very  large  size,  to  the  assaults  of  the  pest. 
The  tree  should  be  dressed  with  a  petroleum  emulsion  made  by 
dissolving  li  lb.  of  softsoap  in  a  gallon  of  water  over  a  gentle  fire,  and 
when  boiling,  the  softsoap  being  dissolved,  remove  from  the  fire  and 
add  half  a  pint  of  paraffia  oil,  stirring  briskly  until  thoroughly 
amalgamated,  and  for  use  dilute  to  6i  gallons  with  hot  water.  Apply 
with  a  brush  to  the  bark  while  at  a  temperature  of  130°  to  140°,  using 
a  rather  stiff,  or  half-worn,  clean  paint  brush,  rubbing  well  into  the 
cracks  and  crevices  and  dressing  every  part  from  the  roots  upwards  to 
the  full  extent  of  the  infestation,  not  leaving  any  part  of  the  roots 
running  on  the  surface  of  the  ground  undressed.  Prom  the  early 
part  of  August  to  the  middle  of  September  look  carefully  over  the  tree, 
and  if  any  white  flocculence  appear  on  the  bark  dress  the  parts  with  the 
solution.  Similar  attention  should  be  given  in  the  following  spring, 
and  then  the  pest  will  be  subdued,  though  it  is  well  to  keep  an  eye  on 
the  tree  and  promptly  apply  the  solution  whenever  the  white  appears. 
Names  of  Plants. — We  only  undertake  to  name  species  of  cultivated 
plants,  not  wild  flowers,  or  varieties  that  have  originated  from  seeds  and 
termed  florists’  flowers.  Flowering  specimens  are  necessary  of  flowering 
plants,  and  Pern  fronds  should  bear  spores.  Specimens  should  arrive 
in  a  fresh  state  in  securely  tied  Arm  boxes.  Thin  paper  boxes  arrive  in 
a  flattened  state.  Slightly  damp  moss,  soft  green  grass,  or  leaves  form 
the  best  packing,  dry  wool  or  paper  the  worst.  Those  arrive  in  the 
best  condition  that  are  so  closely  or  firmly  packed  in  soft  green  fresh 
grass,  as  to  remain  unmoved  by  shaking.  No  specimens  should  be  sent 
to  rest  in  the  post  office  over  Sunday,  on  which  day  there  is  no  delivery 
of  postal  matter  in  London.  Specimens  in  partially  filled  boxes  are 
invariably  injured  or  spoiled  by  being  dashed  to  and  fro  in  transit.  Not 
