190 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
August  22, 1896. 
APIARIAN  NOTES. 
The  Heather  Honey  Yield. 
It  is  now  over  three  weeks  since  our  bees  were  taken  to  the 
moors,  and  as  yet  they  have  not  had  more  than  one  fair  day.  We 
have,  however,  escaped  the  torrents  of  rain,  hail,  and  sleet. 
Near  Lockerbie,  where  so  much  destruction  has  been  done  to  crops, 
the  large  pieces  of  ice  which  fell  helped  to  the  destruction.  Rail¬ 
ways  were  flooded,  and  trains  were  detained ;  the  storm,  accom¬ 
panied  with  thunder  and  vivid  lightning,  was  distinctly  seen  and 
heard  from  where  our  bees  stood  storing  honey  undisturbed. 
It  may  seem  strange  to  some  to  hear  with  so  seemingly  untr  - 
ward  weather  that  our  hives  are  in  a  satisfactory  state,  being  in  as 
good  condition  and  as  weighty  as  they  have  been  for  years,  and 
with  a  few  more  fine  days  honey  will  be  as  plentiful  as  it  was  in 
some  of  the  good  honey  seasons  which  occurred  from  1850  to  1859, 
these  years  being  the  most  productive  of  honey  which  have  occurred 
during  my  lifetime. 
It  is  still  raining,  but  the  barometer  at  1000  feet  above  sea 
level  is  firm  at  29 — 60,  the  bees  being  working,  and  good  hives 
are  crowding  out.  The  brevity  of  this  article  is  due  to  my  bees 
requiring  extra  supers,  which  they  must  have. 
Never  in  all  my  life  have  I  experienced  bees  so  vicious.  Whether 
that  is  due  to  my  absence  from  them  on  account  of  the  wet 
weather,  or  the  abundance  of  honey  I  know  not  ;  but  when  near 
them  the  enraged  bees  cover  the  whole  person,  which  makes 
working  amongst  them  disagreeable.  —  A  Lanarkshire  Bee¬ 
keeper. 
SEASONABLE  NOTES. 
A  GENERAL  cleaning  up  of  the  apiary  should  now  take  place, 
and  if  not  already  done  (except  in  the  Heather  districts)  ail  spare 
frames  and  crates  of  sections  shoul  1  be  removed  from  the  hives. 
Those  that  are  not  properly  sealed  or  disfigured  in  any  way 
should  be  placed  in  the  extractor  and  the  honey  taken  from  them, 
so  that  all  may  be  packed  away  clean  and  dry  for  use  another 
season. 
All  propolis  should  be  cleaned  off  the  top  of  frames,  as  this  is 
often  a  breeding  place  for  the  wax  moth,  which  is  sometimes  so 
destructive  to  combs  when  stored  away  for  future  use.  These 
should  always  be  stored  in  a  dry  airy  place,  and  if  wrapped  in  some 
light  material,  which  had  previously  been  sprinkled  with  carbolic 
acid,  and  then  placed  in  boxes  which  are  mouse  proof,  they  will 
come  out  in  good  condition  in  the  spring.  Mice  are  very  fond  of 
the  combs,  and  if  they  once  gain  an  entrance  to  them  will  soon 
play  havoc.  If  the  combs  are  stored  in  a  damp  place  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  keep  the  wax  moth  from  them,  and  if  allowed  to 
keep  possession  for  any  length  of  time  the  wax  will  be  consumed 
and  the  combs  rendered  useless.  A  lump  or  two  of  naphthaline 
placed  in  the  box  containing  spare  combs  will  also  answer  the 
same  purpose. 
At  this  time  of  year  great  care  should  be  exercised  in  removing 
frames  containing  honey,  and  in  handling  the  bees,  as  a  little 
carelessness  will  result  in  the  whole  apiary  being  in  an  uproar, 
making  it  dangerous  for  anyone  to  venture^  near  it.  In 
removing  spare  combs  from  the  hives  it  is  an  advantage  to  have 
a  box  close  to  hand  to  place  them  in  ;  over  this  should  be  placed  a 
cloth  which  had  previously  been  sprinkled  with  carbolic  acid.  This 
will  prevent  the  stray  bees  from  getting  to  the  combs. 
As  outdoor  supplies  are  now  practically  over,  robber  bees  are 
ever  on  the  alert  to  help  themselves  from  their  neighbours’  stores.* 
It  is  surprising  how  quickly  they  will  discover  honey  that  may  be 
exposed  only  for  a  few  minutes,  whereas  when  honey  is  coming  in 
somewhat  freely  from  its  natural  sources,  they  will  take  no  notice 
of  honey  that  may  be  placed  close  to  the  entrance  to  their  hive. 
If  they  once  have  the  robbing  mania,  it  is  sometimes  difficult  to 
prevent  a  great  slaughter  of  bees,  and  if  they  once  obtain  an 
entrance  to  a  weak  stock  will  soon  clear  it  of  all  its  stores, 
resulting  in  the  loss  of  many  bees.  The  first  start  of  robbing  is 
often  caused  through  the  careless  handling  of  combs  when  ex¬ 
amining  stocks  at  this  time  of  year. — An  English  Bee-keeper. 
TRADE  CATALOGUES  RECEIVED. 
J.  Carter  &  Co.,  High  Holborn.— Catalogue. 
Dickson  &  Robinson,  Old  Millgate,  Manchester.— .BwZfe  and  Roses. 
J.  Laing  &  Sons,  Forest  Hill,  Dutch  Bulls  and  Fruit  Trees. 
Sutton  &  Sons,  Reading. — Bull  Catalogue. 
All  correspondence  should  be  directed  either  to  “  The 
Editor  ’’  or  to  “  The  Publisher.”  Letters  addressed  to 
Dr.  Hogg  or  members  of  the  staff  often  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. 
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  reply  to  questions  through  the  post, 
and  we  do  not  undertake  to  return  rejected  communications. 
Clematis  Indlvlsa  lobata  {Amateur'). — The  plant  appears  to  be 
thriving  satisfactorily,  and  it  does  not  require  any  special  treatment  just 
now.  If  you  wish  it  to  fill  as  much  space  as  possible  do  not  shorten  the 
growths,  but  let  them  advance  freely  so  long  as  they  can  be  fully 
exposed  to  the  sun  and  air  to  mature  ;  do  not,  however,  allow  them  to 
become  crowded.  Syringe  occasionally  to  keep  the  plants  clean  and 
free  from  insects,  and  supply  water  liberally  while  growth  is  advancing. 
In  the  winter  keep  the  plant  cool,  as  undue  heat  is  apt  to  weaken  it, 
causing  premature  growth.  The  flowering  period  is  during  April  and 
May. 
Tecoma  radlcans  (Ideml). — It  is  difficult  to  ascertain  when  this 
beautiful  deciduous  climber  was  introduced  to  this  country  from  North 
America, its  native  place  of  growth.  It  was  evidently  cultivated  in  this 
country  by  Parkinson  in  1610,  as  he  has  described  in  minutely,  adding, 
“  This  never  bore  flower  with  mee,  nor  any  other  that  hath  it  in  our 
country  that  I  could  heare  of.”  From  that  we  may  infer  it  could  not 
have  been  long  and  generally  cultivated,  as  the  plant  blooms  freely 
enough  when  a  few  years  old  and  the  wood  is  well  ripened.  It  used  to 
be  called  Bignonia  radicans,  but  was  transferred  to  Tecoma,  the  differ¬ 
ence  in  the  genera  consisting  chiefly  in  the  partition  of  the  fruit. 
Plants  are  raised  from  cuttings  and  layers  in  the  autumn,  and  grow 
luxuriantly  in  rich  soil,  but  firm  growth  in  firm  soil  containing  chalk  is 
promotive  of  flowering.  It  is  popularly  known  as  the  Ash-leaved 
Trumpet  Flower. 
IVZrs.  Pearson  Crape  Falling:  {C.  H.  C.). — The  leaves  now  sent 
show  plainly  that  the  Vines  are  in  a  very  enfeebled  and  unhealthy  state, 
and  the  presence  of  roots  on  the  rods  suggest  that  those  in  the  soil  are 
defective.  It  is  quite  certain  they  are  not  supplying  what  the  Vines 
need.  How  the  evil  has  been  brought  about  we  have  no  means  of 
knowing,  possibly  overcropping  when  the  Vines  were  ybung,  though  you 
say  nothing  about  their  age  nor  the  composition  of  the  border.  Your 
method  of  ventilation  appears  to  be  sound,  and  we  have  no  fault  to  find 
with  the  temperatures.  Unless  a  special  desire  exists  to  grow  this 
variety  we  should  uproot  the  Vines,  for  it  will  be  a  task  of  no  small 
difficulty  to  restore  their  lost  vigour.  If  they  must  be  retained  the  fruit 
should  be  cut  and  the  roots  placed  in  fresh  soil,  cropping  lightly,  if  at 
all,  next  year.  Mrs.  Pearson  Vines  usually  grow  freely,  and  there  is 
something  wrong  with  your  soil  or  management.  If  you  remove  them 
the  space  can  soon  be  filled  with  additional  rods  taken  from  other 
healthy  Vines  near  without  injuring  these  in  the  least  under  good 
cultivation.  Possibly  wben  the  Vines  were  planted  the  canes  were  not 
sufficiently  shortened,  but  cropped  too  soon  along  their  entire  length. 
The  Windsor  Pear  (//.  Johnson).— Pear  you  have  sent,  and 
about  which  you  desire  information,  is  the  Windsor,  and  the  following 
extract  from  Dr.  Hogg’s  “  Fruit  Manual  ”  gives  the  history  of  the 
variety  as  far  as  it  can  be  traced  : — “  Windsor  (Bell  Tongue  ;  Bellissime  ; 
Figue  ;  Figue  Musqude  ;  Green  Windsor  :  Grosse  Jargonelle  ;  Konge  ; 
Madame;  Madame  de  France  ;  Summer  Bell;  Supieme). — Fruit  large 
and  handsome  ;  pyriform,  rounded  at  the  eye.  Skin  smooth,  green  at 
first,  and  changing  to  yellow  mixed  with  green,  and  with  a  faint  tinge 
of  orange  and  obscure  streaks  of  red  on  the  exposed  side.  Eye  open, 
with  stout  erect  segments,  not  at  all  depressed.  Stalk  1 J  inch  long, 
inserted  without  depression,  and  with  several  fleshy  folds  at  the  base. 
Flesh  white,  tender,  buttery,  and  melting,  with  a  fine,  brisk,  vinous 
flavour,  and  nice  perfume.  A  fine  old  Pear  for  orchard  culture  ;  ripe  in 
August.  It  should  be  gathered  before  it  becomes  yellow.  The  tree  is 
one  of  the  strongest  growers  of  any  variety  in  cultivation  ;  particularly 
in  its  early  growth,  the  shoots  are  very  thick  and  succulent,  but  short. 
It  forms  an  upright,  tall,  and  handsome  tree  when  grown  in  an  alluvial 
soil,  or  in  a  deep  sandy  loam,  with  a  cool  subsoil  ;  but  it  the  soil  is  stiff, 
cold,  and  humid,  it  very  soon  cankers.  It  is  a  good  bearer,  and  when 
grown  in  a  soil  favourable  to  it  we  have  seen  it  produce  an  abundance 
of  very  large,  handsome,  and  excellent  fruit.  It  has  the  property  in 
many  seasons  of  producing  sometimes  a  profusion  of  bloom  at  mid¬ 
summer,  and  a  second  crop  of  fruit,  which,  however,  is  never  of  any 
value,  from  which  circumstance  it  has  been  called  Poire  Figue,  Figue 
Musqu^e,  and  Deux  fois  Pan.” 
