70 
JOURNAL  OF  BORTIGULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  20,  1898. 
invariably  do  by  coming  to  the  entrance  to  see  what  is  the  matter, 
when  they  are  immediately  seized  by  the  tit  and  taken  to  the  nearest 
tree  and  dissected.  They  repeat  the  operation  continually.  Very 
interesting  to  the  on-looker,  but  rather  trying  to  the  nerves  of  the  bee¬ 
keeper. 
It  is  necessary  to  preserve  the  lives  of  as  many  of  the  bees  as 
possible,  so  the  tits  are  trapped  with  a  small  mouse  trap  baited  with 
a  piece  of  bread  or  meat,  by  which  means  they  are  readily  taken. 
Tits  are  very  numerous  in  the  district,  owing  to  the  great  expanse  of 
woods  near  my  apiary ;  so  much  is  this  the  case  that  fifty  of  these 
birds  are  sometimes  caught  in  a  fortnight. 
Sparrows  are  sometimes  troublesome,  but  not  to  any  serious 
extent ;  they  usually  catch  the  bees  whilst  on  the  wing.  Mice  are  also 
troublesome,  and  may  be  caught  by  the  same  means.  If  mice  once 
gain  an  entrance  to  a  hive  at  this  season  they  will  soon  destroy  the 
combs  and  honey,  and  the  bees  will  collapse.  It  is,  therefore,  an 
advantage  to  always  have  a  few  traps  baited  and  placed  near  the  hives 
throughout  the  winter  months. — An  English  Bee-keeper. 
A  PROMISE  FULFILLED. 
On  page  21  “  A  Yorkshire  Man  ”  reminds  me  of  a  promise  I  made 
in  this  Journal  some  months  ago,  Ihat^  large  and  small  hives  should  be 
tested  in  this  district  and  the  results  made  known.  I  am  pleased  to 
tell  “A  Yorkshire  Man”  that  a  careful  test,  both  in  my  apiary  and  in 
others,  proves  large  hives  far  in  advance  of  those  containing  ten  standard 
frames.  In  an  apiary,  about  six  miles  fn)m  my  home,  containing  a 
mixture  of  standard  hives  and  hives  containing  twelve  frames  18  by 
8|  inches  deep,  and  those  containing  twelve  frames  20  inches  by  8^  deep 
in  each  case,  the  large  hives  nearly  doubled  those  of  standard  size  in  the 
suriJus  taken. 
“A  Yorkshire  Man”  says  it  would  be  interesting  to  know  if  I  had 
reached  the  350  lbs.  mentioned  in  this  Journal  some  time  ago.  To  be 
candid,  I  have  not;  but  I  am  pleased  to  tell  “  A  Yorkshire  Man  ”  that 
180  lbs.  have  been  reached — that  I  consider  fair  for  the  past  season,  as 
there  is  no  White  Clover  sown  for  sheep  pasture  within  two  miles  of  my 
apiary.  But  Mr.  Ivancelot  Quayle,  Isle  of  Man,  took  334  lbs.  from  one 
hive.  If  the  test  mentioned  above  had  been  in  one  apiary  only,  there 
might  have  been  room  for  doubt ;  but  when  apiaries  from  one  mile  to 
six  miles  apart  in  the  hands  of  different  men  give  the  same  results,  it  is 
clear  the  large  hives^are  in  predominance  in  this  district. 
Lest  the  readers  of  this  Journal  think  I  have  had  no  experience  with 
hives  with  standard  frames,  I  may  tell  them  I  have  over  a  score  of 
such,  and  ten  years  ago  it  was  my  favourite  hive.  My  best  standard 
hive  gave  me  nearly  70  lbs.  of  surplus  last  season,  but  required  feeding, 
while  my  large  hives  required  no  feeding.  This  .Journal  opened  my  eyes 
as  to  the  advisability  of  using  large  hives,  and  having  tried  the  principle 
I  have  no  desire  to  turn  back.  If  “A  Yorkshire  Man”  will  pay  me  a 
visit  in  June  (if  not  far  away),  I  shall  be  pleased  to  see  him  ;  then  he 
can  have  a  peep  into  the  hives,  and  then  they  will  be  able  to  speak  for 
themselves. — George  Howdenshire. 
^5*0  All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should,  until 
further  notice,  be  directed  to  “  The  Editor,”  s.  Rose  Hill  Road, 
Wandsworth,  S.W.,  and  HOT  to  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers, 
Fleet  Street.  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  departmental  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. 
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  tliree  questions  at  once.  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  tlie 
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. 
The  Weather  Plant  ((?.). — Though  this  plant  is  not  commonly  offered 
in  catalogues,  we  do  not  think  you  will  have  much  difficulty  in  procuring 
seeds.  Firms  of  repute  such  as  Veitch’s,  Barr’s,  Sutton’s,  or  Carter’s, 
would  be  almost  certain  to  supply  it. 
Position  for  vine  Border  (A.  B.'). — We  presume  your  object  is'to 
tra'n  the  Vines  up  one  side  of  the  roof  and  down  the  other  of  the  span- 
roof  house  which  stands  oast  and  west.  This  can  very  well  be  done. 
Have  the  outside  border  on  the  ,south  side.  You  do  not  ask  for  infor¬ 
mation  on  making  the  border.  If  you  need  any  read  carefully  the 
sound  article  of  “  Vitis  ”  (who  is  an  accomplished  Grape  grower)  on  page 
617  of  our  issue  of  December  30th,  1897. 
Holhoellia  latifolia  (/.  P.,  Devo7i).—The  fruit  sent  is  that  of 
Ilolboellia  (or  Stauntonia)  latifolia,  a  Berberidaceous  plant,  introduced 
f  om  Nepaulin  1816.  Hardy  against  walls  in  the  South  of  England.  The 
fru'ts,  \,  bich  have  a  general  resemblance  to  those  of  Passiflora  edulis,  are 
eaten  by  ibc  mi  lives  of  Nepaul.  The  pulp  is  sweetish,  yet  more  or  less 
insi])id.  Those  of  Stauntonia  hexaphylla  are  eaten  in  Japan,  and  the 
juice  is  also  applied  in  cases  of  ophthalmia. 
“Mites”  on  'iJine  Roots  (Y.  P.'). — Your  Vines  may  possibly  be 
suffering  from  an  attack  of  Phylloxera.  We  cannot  tell  which  without 
examining  specimens  of  the  Bbrous  roots  to  which  you  refer.  Please 
search  for  and  send  specimens  packed  in  damp  moss  in  a  small  strong 
box  on  Friday  or  Monday  next,  so  that  they  may  not  rest  over 
Sunday  in  the  Post  Office.  Many  fragile  paper  boxes  reach  us  in  a 
smashed  or  flattened  state  ;  we  ask  that  the  one  you  use  may  not  be  of 
that  character. 
Propagating  Variegated  Ancuhas  (A.  G.  G.'). — Healthy,  short-jointed 
branchlets  from  9  inches  to  a  foot  in  length,  more  than  half  divested  of 
leaves,  deeply  and  firmly  inserted  in  sandy  soil,  in  a  cool  frame  in 
September,  kept  close  and  shaded  for  a  time,  emit  roots  freely.  AVe  have 
seen  many  plants  raised  by  inserting  such  cuttings  in  the  open  ground 
on  the  north  side  of  a  wall  in  August,  sprinkling  them  occasionally 
if  the  weather  be  dry.  They  would  root  even  now  outside  if  the 
present  mild  weather  continue,  which,  however,  cannot  be  expected. 
The  cuttings  may  also  be  rooted  at  this  time  of  the  year  in  pots  in 
a  warm  pit  or  propagating  case,  the  pots  being  plunged  in  gentle  bottom 
heat. 
Planting  Box  (<?.  A.  B.). — In  planting  Box  for  edgings  it  is  essential 
that  the  ground  be  made  very  firm  and  quite  level,  then  stretch  the  line, 
keeping  it  firm  with  pegs,  and  take  out  a  trench,  the  side  next  the  line 
being  perpendicular  ;  arrange  the  slips  in  it  close  together  and  level, 
holding  them  in  position  with  one  hand  while  the  soil  is  beaten  firmly 
against  them  with  the  other,  then  fill  in  with  the  rake  or  spade,  and  tread 
the  ground  along  both  sides  the  row,  which,  when  comjdeted,  may  be 
2  inches  above  the  walk.  If  no  rooted  portions  can  be  had  it  will  be  well 
to  take  off  a  number  of  rootless  slips  and  Jay  them  thickly  and  deeply  in 
the  ground  in  a  position  shaded  from  the  sun  in  summer,  and  they  will 
emit  roots  and  be  ready  for  planting  in  the  autumn.  Rooted  portions 
may  be  planted  now  if  the  weather  is  favourable,  or  in  the  spring,  the 
earlier  the  better. 
Stocks  for  Roses  and  Fruit  Trees  (Bew  Bea'kr'). — The  Manetti 
stock  is  an  Italian  Briar  of  very  free  growth,  hardy  in  this  country,  and 
increased  by  cuttings  inserted  in  the  open  ground  in  the  autumn.  English 
Briar  stocks  for  dwarf  Roses  are  raised  in  the  same  wa}’,  also  from  seed. 
Before  the  cuttings  are  inserted  the  buds  are  carefully  removed  except 
two  or  three  at  the  top  of  each  cutting,  these  alone  being  above  ground. 
The  cuttings  are  inserted  slantingly  in  ridges,  and  when  the  stocks  are 
large  enough  for  budding  the  soil  is  levelled  down  and  the  buds  inserted 
close  to  the  ground,  one  in  each  stem,  below  the  branching  grow-ths. 
Quince  stocks  are  raised  from  cuttings  on  the  same  lines  as  described  for 
Briars,  also  by  layers.  Pear  and  Crab  stocks  are  obtained  from  pips  or 
seeds  of  those  fruits  sown  in  the  open  ground.  Many  stocks  for  Apples, 
and  known  as  “free”  stocks,  are  raised  from  Apple  jups  obtained  in  the 
process  of  cider  making.  Paradise  stocks  are  raised  both  by  layers  and 
cuttings  of  dwarf  jirecocious  kinds  of  Apples,  which  are  grown  for  that 
purpose.  They  are  not  employed  for  Pears,  but  only  for  providing  Apjile 
trees  of  compact  growth  and  early  productiveness. 
Making  Grafting  Wax  {Amateur'). — Several  kinds  require  to  be  used 
warm,  one  of  the  simplest  being  equal  parts  of  yellow  wax  and  resin 
melted  together  and  applied  when  cool  enough.  The  following  has  not 
the  inconvenience  of  requiring  to  be  applied  warm,  and  may  be  prepared 
and  used  without  being  heated  : — Yellow  wax  1  lb.,  turpentine  1  lb., 
Burgundy  pitch  8  ozs.,  mutton  suet  4  ozs.  Mix  all  together,  and  mix 
thoroughlj’,  and  leave  them  to  cool.  Form  the  mass  into  small  balls, 
as  it  will  not  stick  to  the  fingers,  and  use  them  when  opportunity’  offers. 
Liquid  grafting  wax  is  a  very  useful  application,  and  is,  perhaps,  the  most 
convenient  for  the  purpose  of  all  the  mastics  used  for  covering  wounds  and 
grafting.  It  is  of  the  consistency  of  varnish,  and  is  applied  very  thinly 
with  a  brush.  Care  must  be  taken  not  to  lay  it  on  thickly,  for  the 
surface  hardens  so  rapidly  the  alcohol  is  prevented  evaporating,  Resin 
1  lb.,  beef  tallow  1  oz.,  spirits  of  turpentine  one  tablespoonful,  alcohol 
(95  per  cent.)  6  ozs.  Melt  the  resin  oven  a  slow  fire,  when  melted  take 
it  off  and  add  the  beef  tallow,  stirring  it  constantly  ;  let  it  cool  somewhat, 
mix  the  spirits  of  turi)entine  little  by  little  with  it,  and  at  last  the 
alcohol  in  the  same  way.  Should  the  alcohol  be  added  while  the  mass 
is  too  hot,  much  will  be  lost  by  rapid  evaporation  ;  if,  on  the  contrary’, 
it  is  too  cool,  it  will  form  a  viscid  lump,  and  must  be  slightly  heated 
again.  Stirring  briskly  is  indispensable  to  mis  the  ingredients 
thoroughly.  In  well-corked  bottles  it  keeps  for  years.  If  in  course  of 
time  it  becomes  too  thick,  the  addition  of  some  alcohol  will  make  it 
liquid  again.  For  this  purpose  it  must  always  be  warmed.  It  is  a 
good  plan  to  put  the  bottle  containing  it  in  boiling  or  hot  water  to 
accomplish  this. 
