148 
JOURNAL  OR  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  18,  189?. 
interfered  with,  but  if  the  operation  is  properly  carried  out  there 
cannot  possibly  be  any  leakage.  The  glazing  of  sections,  however, 
adds  to  the  expense,  and  unless  an  extra  price  can  be  made  of  them 
in  that  form  I  do  not  recommend  it  for  general  use.  In  some 
districts  it  is  rarely  done,  but  in  the  South  of  England  it  is 
much  more  frequent. 
Mr.  W.  Woodley,  Beedon,  who  has  one  of  the  largest  apiaries 
in  this  country,  obtains  the  bulk  of  his  surplus  in  sections,  and  is  a 
warm  advocate  of  glazing  them.  He  says,  by  going  to  a  glass 
merchant  and  ordering  a  few  gross  of  glass  cut  4&  by  4ia6-  (if  cut 
to  this  size  there  will  be  no  trouble  with  sharp  corners  sticking 
through  the  paper),  the  price  will  be  about  2s.  6d.  per  gross.  To 
this  must  be  added  lace  paper,  which  is  specially  made  for  that 
purpose,  and  may  be  obtained  of  dealers  at  a  cheap  rate  (about  4s. 
per  1000  strips). 
In  the  operation  of  fixing  rest  the  section  of  honey  flat  or 
slanting  to  suit  the  convenience  in  handling,  lay  on  glass,  and  then 
gum  the  paper  strip  (cut  to  17  inches),  fold  it  round,  and  then  turn 
it  down.  With  a  little  practice  perfection  will  soon  be  arrived  at. 
Some  use  thin  glue,  others  strong  paste  ;  possibly  stickfast  may 
do  well  for  the  job. 
The  above  query,  emanating  as  it  does  from  a  good  gardener,  is 
encouraging,  showing  the  growing  interest  that  is  being  taken  by 
gardeners  in  bee-keeping. 
Packing  Sections  of  Honey. 
This  requires  more  attention  than  is  usually  given  to  it.  The 
mistake  so  many  people  make  is  in  not  packing  firmly  enough.  If 
sections  and  glass  jars  of  honey  are  packed  in  the  same  box  (which 
is  not  a  good  plan)  there  should  always  be  a  strip  of  thin  wood  or 
stout  cardboard  placed  between  them,  which  will  prevent  the  comb 
being  damaged.  That  a  warning  is  necessary  I  am  convinced,  as  quite 
recently  I  received  a  package  containing  a  glazed  section  and  a  jar 
of  honey  which,  owing  to  bad  packing,  the  section  of  honey  was 
smashed,  whereas  had  there  been  a  thin  strip  of  wood  between  the 
jar  and  the  face  of  the  section  the  latter  would  doubtless  have 
arrived  in  as  good  condition  as  when  first  packed. 
In  sending  honey  by  rail  it  is  not  necessary  to  send  it  by 
passenger  train,  or  to  label  it,  “  Glass,  with  care,”  as  is  often  done, 
or  double  rate  will  be  charged.  If  well  packed  it  will  travel  equally 
well  by  goods  train.  Of  this  I  have  proof.  A  few  years  ago  I  had 
several  dozen  sections  that  I  was  anxious  to  exhibit  at  a  provincial 
show  at  which  royalty  was  expected.  They  had  only  been  taken 
off  the  hives  a  few  hours  before  being  sent  off,  and  were  uDglazed. 
These  were  firmly  packed  in  boxes  in  the  same  position  as  they 
occupied  in  the  hive.  Across  the  ends  were  placed  a  double 
thickness  of  stout  cardboard,  and  between  this  and  the  end  of  the 
box,  also  between  the  ends  of  sections  and  the  sides  of  box,  rolls 
of  newspaper  were  well  wedgtd  in,  a  double  thickness  of  paper  was 
placed  over  the  top  of  sections,  and  then  another  layer  of  sections 
as  before.  Each  box  contained  about  five  dozen  sections,  and  was 
nailed  and  corded  in  the  usual  manner.  These  were  addressed  to 
the  Bee  Department  of  the  show,  and  labelled,  “  Honey,  with  care.” 
After  being  jolted  for  several  miles  over  a  rough  country  road  they 
were  eventually  dispatched  by  goods  train.  A  few  days  afterwards, 
on  my  arrival  at  the  show,  I  found  my  honey  packages  awaiting 
me,  not  a  section  of  which  was  damaged.  These  were  all  disposed 
of  at  what  we  should  now  term  fancy  prices. 
Since  then,  when  sending  sections  to  tradesmen  I  have  adopted 
a  different  plan,  which  is  to  be  preferred  (o  the  above, for  unless  care  is 
taken  in  unpacking  they  may  be  easily  damaged.  First  of  all  take 
a  piece  of  stout  paper,  or  a  double  thickness  of  newspaper.  On 
this  place  six  sections  ;  at  the  ends  put  a  piece  of  cardboard  about 
6  inches  square,  this  will  allow  the  edges  to  be  turned  over  the 
ends  of  the  sections,  and  prevent  their  moving.  Wrap  the  paper 
tightly  round  them  and  tie  with  string.  Place  a  mark  on  the 
outside  of  package  to  show  which  is  the  top  of  sections.  Con 
tinue  to  make  as  many  packages  as  are  required,  then  take  a  box — 
a  Tate’s  cube  sugar  box  will  answer  the  purpose  admirably — place 
a  layer  of  soft  hay  over  the  bottom  of  the  box,  on  this  lay  the 
packages  of  sections,  then  another  layer  of  hay  and  sections  till 
the  box  is  full.  Over  the  top  layer  of  sections  place  more  hay 
until  the  lid  fits  closely  to  it.  All  the  spaces  round  the  sides  of 
box  should  be  packed  with  the  same  material.  The  lid  shouldt  be 
securely  fastened  down,  and  the  box  corded.  There  is  no  necessity 
for  the  latter  if  before  the  box  is  packed  a  couple  of  holes  are 
bored  at  each  end  of  the  case,  so  that  a  stout  rope  can  be  inserted 
for  handles. 
If  carefully  packed  on  the  above  lines,  and  marked  “  Honey, 
with  care,”  sections  may  be  safely  dispatched  by  goods  train  with¬ 
out  any  serious  risk  of  damage.  Care  must  be  taken  to  place  the 
sections  in  the  same  position  they  occupied  in  the  hive.  It  is  a 
good  plan  to  put  a  mark  on  the  top  of  the  section*  when  removing 
them  from  the  hive.  It  will  save  a  great  amount  of  unnecesiary 
trouble  afterwards. — An  English  Bee-keefer 
TRADE  CATALOGUES  RECEIYED. 
W.  Attlee,  Burpee  &  Co.,  Philadelphia. — Siceet  Peas. 
J.  Cocker  &  Sons,  Aberdeen. — Roses ,  Seeds. 
Dobie  &  Dicks,  Deansgate,  Manchester. — Seeds. 
P.  Farquhar  &  Co.,  Boston. — Seeds. 
W.  H.  Gabb,  St.  Bernard’s  Road,  Olton,  Warwick.  —  Violas  and 
Pansies . 
F.  A.  Haage,  jnn.,  Erfurt. — Seeds. 
T  Lambert  &  Sohne,  Trier,  Rheinprovinz.— Seeds. 
W.  C.  G.  Ludford,  Four  Oaks,  Sutton  Coldfield.  —  Cacti  and 
Succulent  Plants. 
Smith  &  Simons,  16,  Buchanan  Street,  Glasgow. — Seeds. 
N.  Smith  &  Son,  167,  West  Maumee  Street,  Adrian,  Michigan,  U.S. A. 
— Chrysanthemums. 
Sutton  &  Sons,  Reading. — Farm  Seeds. 
A.  F.  Upstone,  Market  Place,  Rotherham. — Seeds. 
Yilmorin,  Audrieux  et  Cie.,  Quai  de  la  Megisserie,  Paris. — Dahlias 
and  C'annas. 
R.  Wallace  &  Co.,  Colchester. — Bulbs  for  Spring  Planting. 
All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should  be 
directed  to  u  The  Editor.”  Letters  addressed  personally  to 
Dr.  Hogg  or  members  of  the  staff  ofter  remain  unopened 
unavoidably.  We  request  that  no  one  will  write  privately 
to  any  of  our  correspondents,  as  doing  so  subjects  them  to 
unjustifiable  trouble  and  expense,  and  departmental  writers 
are  not  expected  to  answer  any  letters  they  may  receive  on 
Gardening  and  Bee  subjects,  through  the  post. 
Correspondents  should  not  mix  up  on  the  same  sheet  questions 
relating  to  Gardening  and  those  on  Bee  subjects,  and  should 
.  never  send  more  than  two  or  three  questions  at  once.  All 
articles  intended  for  insertion  should  be  written  on  one  side  of 
the  paper  only.  We  cannot,  as  a  rule,  reply  to  questions 
through  the  post,  and  we  do  not  undertake  to  return  rejected 
communications. 
Addresses  (C.  S.  W.).— A  post-card  has  been  sent  to  you  giving 
the  desired  information.  If  it  fail  to  reach  you  please  send  a  more 
complete  addr  ss. 
Pruning  Maiden  Apple,  Pear,  and  Plum  Trees  (IF.  IF.).— 
For  pyramids  cut  them  down  to  within  15  inches  of  the  ground  or  1  foot 
from  the  junction  of  stock  and  scion  to  a  good  bud,  so  as  to  secure  a 
strong  leading  growth.  If  the  Plums  have  any  side  growths  shorten 
them  to  two  or  thrfee  buds,  leaving  most  at  the  lower  part  and  fewest  at 
top — pyramid  shape.  Single  oblique  cordons  will  not  need  any  pruning, 
and  must  be  cut  off  (except  the  terminal  bud  is  a  fruit  bud),  as  at  an 
angle  of  45°  they  will  push  growths  down  to  the  base.  If  they  have 
any  laterals  shorten  them  to  one  bud.  For  double  oblique  cordons 
shorten  the  trees  to  12  inches,  the  uppermost  bud  left  being  on  the  low 
side  and  next  below  on  the  upper  side  of  the  growth  when  the  trees 
are  planted  in  their  oblique  position.  On  these  two  buds  depend  for 
shoots  to  form  the  cordons.  Of  the  Apples,  Lord  Grosvenor,  Warner’s 
King,  and  Bramley’s  Seedling  are  the  strongest  growers,  next  them 
King  of  the  Pippins  and  Cox’s  Orange  Pippin,  Ecklinville  and  Lane’s 
Prince  Albert  in  degree  downwards.  The  last  named  is  only  suitable 
for  very  low  cordons. 
“  Flights  ”  (or  Refuse  from  Carpet  Works)  as  Manure 
( H.B .). — As  a  fertiliser  it  has  a  low  nitrogenous  value,  but  the  sub¬ 
stance  has  special  importance  where  a  slow  decomposing  manure  is  desired. 
“  Woo)  waste  ”  has  long  been  used  by  market  gardeners  and  Hop  growers, 
and  we  used  it  nearly  fifty  years  ago.  The  market  gardeners  and  Hop 
growers  like  it  because  it  is  light,  therefore  easily  portable,  readily 
applied,  can  be  dug  in  during  winter  operations,  decomposes  slowly, 
and  therefore  lasts  a  long  time.  It  is,  however,  of  very  variable 
quality,  sometimes  not  containing  more  than  1  per  cent,  nitrogen,  many 
samples  of  so-called  “  wool  manure”  not  being  wool  at  all,  but  cotton, 
and  practically  worthless.  “  Flights,”  when  of  good  quality,  contain 
not  less  than  8  per  cent  of  ammonia,  and  the  value  per  unit  5s.  to  7s.  6d. 
Your  sample  appears  to  be  good,  and  will  act  beneficially  during  the 
next  three  years,  as  its  ammonia  is  yielded  slowly.  You  say  nothing 
as  to  the  quantity  used,  which  is  a  matter  of  importance.  One  to  two 
tons  per  acre  is  the  usual  amount  applied.  As  for  its  value  as  an  insec¬ 
ticide  that  depends  on  the  dye,  which  in  your  sample  is  aniline,  prepared 
from  benzole  or  benzene,  one  of  the  numerous  products  of  coal  tar,  and 
consisting  of  hydrogen  and  carbon  (CeHg).  Benzole,  acted  on  by  nitric 
acid,  produces  nitro-benzole  (C6H5NO2),  and  this,  again  treated  with 
nascent  hydrogen,  generally  produced  by  the  action  of  acetic  acid  upon 
iron  filings  or  scraps,  produces  aniline  (C6H7N).  It  will,  therefore,  have 
considerable  insecticidal  value.  Mixed  in  the  soil  at  the  rate  of 
quarter  hundredweight  per  rod  in  the  autumn  it  has,  we  are  told, 
