496 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
November  21,  1896. 
Shortly  after  their  successful  introduction  it  was  difidcult  to  get 
pure  Italian  imported  queens.  B^ing  hred  in  Lower  Italy,  where 
the  common  bee  abounds,  many  crosses  were  imported  into  this 
country  as  pure  Italians.  This  lowered  the  enthusiasm  of  many, 
who  abandoned  them  ;  but  the  race  of  bees  in  this  country  were 
greatly  improved,  which  has  had  more  to  do  with  the  large  yields 
of  honey  than  anything  else.  In  six  or  seven  years  later  the  mild 
tempered  Carniolans  were  successfnlly  introduced,  which  in  some 
instances  had  longer  tongues  than  the  Italians,  but,  unlike  the 
latter,  were  more  hardy,  while  they  were  as  good  or  even  better 
flyers,  being  seen  between  three  and  four  miles  from  their  hive. 
Like  the  Italians,  they  had  the  same  quick  movements,  especially 
when  on  the  flowers,  quite  different  from  the  native  black  or  brown 
bee,  while  their  honeycomb  was  always  of  a  pure  white  nature, 
without  the  objectionable  disagreeable  pungent  taste  of  the  honey 
gathered  by  some  varieties,  probably  being  less  inclined  to  store 
pollen  in  the  same  cells  with  honey.  The  form  of  the  Carniolans 
is  not  unlike  the  Italians,  while  the  colours  are  widely  different, 
being  fawn,  a  light  fawn  to  a  silvery  grey  on  the  edge  of  the 
segments,  with  inside  of  a  bluish  colour  altogether  different 
from  the  native  bees,  although  it  has  been  asserted  by  modern 
experts  that  they  resembled  each  other.  The  queens  of  the  Carniolan 
race  are  the  largest  of  any,  and  of  a  beautiful  light  chestnut 
colour.  They  are  the  best  homers  of  any  kind,  will  not  enter  other 
hives,  and  with  difficulty  can  they  be  induced  to  leave  the  old 
site  if  their  hive  be  moved  out  of  its  original  position. 
This  faculty  is  the  only  one  approaching  the  nature  of  the  black 
bee.  The  Cyprian,  Syrian,  and  Holy  Land  bees  were  quite  distinct 
varieties,  the  Syrians  being  the  most  beautiful  of  all  the  yellow 
banded  bees.  All  the  above  varieties  were  good  honey  gatherers 
when  kept  in  large  hives,  but  worthless  when  in  too  small  ones. 
As  a  rule,  they  were  mild  tempered  as  other  yellow  banded  bees  ; 
but  at  times,  when  near  swarming  or  irritated  by  injudicious 
manipulation,  became  very  spiteful  even  at  long  distances  from 
their  hives. 
It  is  somewhat  difficult  to  describe  the  real  nature  of  Punic 
bees,  being  peculiar  and  changeable  ;  but  without  doubt  they  are  the 
best  honey  gatherers  of  all  the  different  kinds  of  bees.  They  never 
loiter  their  time  on  flowers  which  have  no  honey,  but  are  ever  in 
search  of  it,  and  this  in  a  country  where  none  can  be  gathered  till 
far  in  the  season  militates  against  them,  preventing  increase  greatly 
at  the  time  it  should  be  taking  place.  Unlike  the  Carniolans  they 
enter  other  hives  at  a  considerable  distance  from  their  own,  which 
makes  it  imperative  to  have  stocks  set  wider  apart  than  other 
varieties.— A  Lanakkshire  Bee-keeper. 
MARKETING  HONEY. 
4 
Reports  are  to  hand  from  bee-keepers  in  various  parts  of  the 
country  complaining  of  the  difficulty  they  have  in  finding  a  market 
for  their  honey.  But  do  we  as  bee-keepers  individually  bring 
those  business  qualities  to  bear  on  the  subject  that  is  so  essential 
in  the  successful  management  of  any  enterprise,  however  small  ? 
I  fear  not.  One  has  only  to  go  into  some  of  our  provincial  markets, 
and  note  the  rough  and  ready  way  in  which  honey  is  offered  to  the 
public,  to  realise  the  fact  that  there  is  room  for  much  improve¬ 
ment  both  in  the  samples  offered  and  the  way  it  is  presented  for 
sale.  Of  late  years  a  slight  improvement  has  been  noticed,  and 
much  good  has  been  done  in  this  direction  by  agricultural  societies 
and  others  offering  prizes  for  honey  in  various  forms  ;  also  by 
practical  bee-keepers  helping  and  advising  their  less  fortunate 
neighbours.  One  of  the  chief  causes  of  not  finding  a  ready  market 
for  our  produce,  is  owing  to  the  large  quantities  of  the  foreign 
article  that  is  sold  in  this  country  under  the  name  of  honey,  and 
readily  bought  by  the  public  on  account  of  its  cheapness. 
On  the  7th  inst.  a  deputation  of  lady  bee-keepers  presented 
the  Lady  Mayoress  with  a  representative  collection  of  British  honey, 
contributed  by  womefi  bee-keepers,  or  the  wives  and  daughters  of 
bee  men  in  various  parts  of  Great  Britain.  Monsieur  Langee, 
President  of  the  Swiss  Bee-keepers’  Association,  who  happened  to 
be  .in  London,  was  also  present,  and  stated  “  that  the  adulteration 
of  honey,  or  what  the  Swiss  call  artificial  manufacture  of  hotel 
honey,  was  carried  on  to  an  enormous  extent,  and  he  very  much 
regretted  the  fact.”  Coming  from  such  an  authority  it  should  have 
due  weight,  and  until  something  is  done  to  stop  the  sale  of  such  a 
product  as  English  honey  British  bee-keepers  should  be  on  the 
alert  and  endeavour  to  place  their  honey  on  the  market  in  an 
attractive  form.  All  honey  should  be  graded,  whether  required  for 
the  wholesale  or  retail  tradei;  for  the  former  the  patent  self-opening 
tins  to  hold  28  lbs.  are  of  useful  size,  and  for  the  latter  the  1  lb.  screw 
capped  glass  jars  are  preferred  to  the  tie-over  jars,  and  as  those 
of  English  manufacture  can  now  be  obtained  at  a  cheap  rate,  they 
are  within  the  reach  of  ail.  These  are  much  sought  after  by  the 
Italian  warehousemen  in  our  large  towns,  and  if  neatly  labelled 
will  add  to  their  appearance,  and  be  a  mark  of  genuineness.  Comb 
honey  should  be  in  1  lb.  sections,  and  have  a  neat  appearance  if 
glazed,  but  this  will  add  to  their  cost.  Some  dealers  prefer  them 
in  this  form,  and  will  pay  extra  for  them. — An  English  Bee¬ 
keeper. 
TRADE  CATALOGUE  RECEIVED. 
T.  S.  Ware,  Tottenham. — Miscellaneous  Plants. 
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. 
Dressing-  Ivy  Deaves  (i?.). — A  preparation  known  generally  as 
frost  powder  is  sold  by  most  nurserymen  and  horticultural  sundriesmen 
for  the  purpose  you  mention.  Directions  usually  accompany  the 
packages. 
Carnations  and  Tomatoes  (Ao  Name'), — We  have  received 
diseased  specimens  of  these  plants  from  an  unknown  correspondent.  If 
he  will  send  his  name  and  address,  in  accordance  with  our  rules,  the 
matter  shall  have  prompt  attention. 
Winter  Queening  j!I.pple  (_F.  J).). — The  correct  name  of  this 
Apple  is  Winter  Quoining,  It  is  known  also  as  the  Winter  Pearmain 
and  Sussex  Scarlet  Pearmain.  Fruits  are  eligible  for  competition  in 
either  classes  for  kitchen  or  dessert  Apples.  We  can  quite  understand 
a  collection  of  dessert  Apples,  including  the  variety  named,  being 
placed  outside  the  charmed  circle  of  prizewinners  because  of  the 
superiority  of  competing  collections,  but  we  cannot  understand  why 
judges  should  go  out  of  their  way  to  brand  with  “  disqualification  ”  such 
an  exhibit  as  you  mention. 
Dendroblum  Wardlanum  (TU.  S.), — The  leaves  of  Dendrobium 
Wardianum  sent  do  not  indicate  anything  wrong,  as  this  is  a  deciduous 
species,  that  is  to  say  it  loses  its  leaves  at  the  end  of  the  season’s  growth. 
D.  nobile,  on  the  other  hand,  though  not  strictly  evergreen,  usually 
retains  the  foliage  for  at  least  one  year  after  it  is  produced,  often 
flowering  while  the  leaves  are  quite  green  and  fresh.  If  your  plants  of  the 
former  have  made  good  growths  it  is  now  quite  time  for  the  foliage  to  be 
falling.  Allow  this  to  come  off  naturally  and  make  no  attempt  to 
forcibly  remove  it.  When  all  has  fallen  keep  the  plant  quite  dry  at 
the  root  in  a  fairly  dry  and  cool  house,  but  where  the  night  temperature 
does  not  fall  below  45°,  until  the  flower  buds  begin  to  burst  the  sheaths 
early  in  the  new  year  ;  then  place  again  in  the  warm  house,  but  do 
not  give  much  water  until  the  form  of  the  buds  can  be  distinctly  seen, 
after  which  there  is  no  danger. 
Transplanting  Rose  Trees  In  House  (X). — The  most  likely 
cause  of  the  Niphetos  Roses  failing  on  removal  was  injury  from  frost, 
last  winter  being  unusually  severe,  and  the  plants  tender  from  being 
grown  previously  under  glass.  Another  likely  reason  is  that  this  Rose  is 
much  more  vigorous  when  planted  out  than  grown  in  pots  ;  consequently 
the  check  would  be  considerable,  and  unless  carefully  removed  and  the 
tops  cut  back  so  as  to  counterbalance  the  loss  of  roots  there  would  be 
danger  of  drying  from  evaporation,  and  weak  or  no  growth.  We  have, 
however,  moved  this  and  other  Roses  grown  for  cutting  purposes  when 
much  longer  planted  than  yours.  The  only  precautions  taken  were  to 
lift  them  carefully,  and  lay  them  in  in  the  usual  way  in  a  cool  house 
until  the  borders  were  re-made,  and  then  plant  them  without  delay  in 
their  new  quarters.  The  soil  being  moist  there  is  no  need  to  water  after 
replanting ;  but  if  dry  give  a  little  to  settle  the  soil  about  the  roots, 
yet  not  making  it  sodden,  for  nothing  is  so  injurious  to  replanted 
Tea  Roses  or  Noisettes  as  an  excess  of  water,  as  it  prevents  the  cuts 
healing,  and  the  water  absorbed  by  these  causes  their  decay.  With 
the  work  done  expeditiously,  and  the  plants  carefully  lifted  and 
replanted,  they  ought  to  take  to  the  new  soil  kindly  in  the  spring,  being 
judiciously  but  not  excessively  pruned  about  the  new  year.  Avoid 
heavy  syringings  at  starting,  and  above  all  a  wet  condition  of  the  soil. 
A  house  of  Tea  Roses  lifted  in  that  way  gave  us  excellent  results  j 
indeed,  the  plants  proved  very  much  more  profitable  within  the  year 
than  a  similar  house  in  which  the  trees  were  not  lifted  in  consequence 
of  the  late  flowering  in  winter. 
