March  10,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HOETTGULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
227 
frost.  Even  when  there  is  no  frost,  wet  and  wind  alone  are  capable  of 
damaging  the  essential  organs  of  the  fiovvers,  hence  the  necessity  of  keeping 
them  dry  if  possible.  Blinds  of  tiffany,  frigi  domo,  and  other  material 
drawn  down  over  the  trees  and  supported  so  as  not  to  touch  the  flowers 
will  keep  the  latter  drj',  but  as  a  mere  protective  covering  to  ward  off' 
frosts  double  or  treble  lengths  of  fish  nets  act  well.  These  can  be  affixed 
in  front  of  the  trees  and  remain  permanently  until  the  need  for  protective 
coverings  ceases.  In  the  absence  of  a  coping  from  which  the  material 
can  be  suspended  poles  may  be  reared  against  the  walls  and  the  material 
stretched  across  them.  Although  fish  netting  may  be  left  on  permanently 
other  material  must  be  removed  or  drawn  on  one  side,  so  that  there  is  no 
obstruction  of  light  and  air  on  favourable  occasions. 
Strawberries. — Planting. — New  beds  or  qu'rters  of  Strawberries  may 
be  formed  this  month,  although  the  plants  ought  not  to  be  allowed  to 
bear  fruit,  but  instead  encouraged  to  make  vigorous  growth  and  plump 
up  bold  crowns  for  the  succeeding  season.  The  best  plants  for  present 
planting  are  those  which  were  placed  in  nursery  beds  in  the  autumn  for 
the  purpose  of  strengthening.  They  should  lift  with  good  balls  of  roots 
and  soil.  Plant  firmly  in  well  dug  and  manured  ground.  Young 
plants  having  no  soil  attached  to  roots,  such  as  those  recently  procured 
from  the  nurseiy,  must  be  planted  with  a  considerable  amount  of  care. 
The  roots  should  be  kept  moist,  and  when  planting  spread  them  out 
equally  on  mounds  of  soil,  covering  them  carefully  in  the  same  direction 
as  the  roots  lie,  so  as  not  to  turn  up  the  points.  This  will  assist  them 
to  more  readily  take  hold  of  the  soil,  and  become  well  and  quickly 
established. 
Autumn-planted  Strawberries. — Should  any  plants  have  become  loosened 
it  is  desirable  to  make  the  soil  about  them  firm  again,  afterwards 
running  the  hoe  between  the  plants,  cutting  down  weeds  and  moving  the 
whole  surface  to  admit  air  and  promote  growth.  This  is  best  carried 
out  in  dry  weather. 
Established  Beds.— The  remains  of  the  winter  mulching  may  be  raked 
off,  also  weeds  and  withered  foliage  removed.  Dust  the  soil  round  the 
crowns  with  soot,  which  will  have  the  effect  of  destroying  slugs  lurking 
there,  at  the  same  time  benefiting  the  roots.  When  the  surface  has  dried 
and  sweetened  for  a  short  time,  afford  another  mulching  of  manure,  this 
time  employing  rather  fresh  material.  The  soluble  part  of  the  dressing 
will  gradually  be  washed  into  the  soil,  leaving  the  straw'y  portions  as  a 
clean  rest  for  the  ripening  fruit  subsequently. 
FRUIT  FORCING. 
Vines. — Earliest  Forced  Vines  in  Pots. — The  canes  started  last  November 
have  the  Grapes  in  the  last  stages  of  swelling,  and  must  be  adequately 
supplied  with  water,  liquid  manure,  and  rich  surface  dressings,  while  if  the 
roots  extend  beyond  the  pots  feed  them  there  as  well  as  in  the  pots.  The 
very  early  varieties,  such  as  White  Frontignan,  Foster's  Seedling,  Black 
Hamburgh,  and  iMadresfield  Court,  are  well  advanced  towards  rijiening, 
and  will  only  need  clean  tepid  water  after  the  colour  is  well  pronounced. 
A  circulation  of  warm  moderately  dry  air  conduces  to  the  flavour  of  the 
fruit,  but  the  Vines  must  not  lack  the  needful  supplies  of  water  to  keeji 
the  foliage  fresh,  nor  the  atmosphere  be  allowed  to  become  so  parched 
as  to  invite  red  spider,  and  a  moderate  amount  of  atmospheric  moisture 
without  stagnation  is  essential  to  their  remaining  plum])  and  fresh  until 
cut. 
Earlg  House. — Vines  started  early  in  December  and  previously  forced 
will  soon  have  the  Grapes  stoned,  and  should  have  copious  supplies  of 
tepid  liquid  manu-re.  A  light  mulching  of  lumpy  par.ially  decayed  manure 
may  be  placed  on  the  border,  as  the  Grapes  swell  considerably  in  their 
later  stages,  even  after  colouring  commences,  and  allow  a  liberal  extension 
of  tire  laterals,  as  every  leaf  encourages  root  action,  and  that  leaf  duly 
exposed  to  light  and  air  aids  the  Grapes  in  swelling  and  finishing.  The 
Vines  started  later  in  the  3  ear,  and  of  which  the  Grapes  have  been 
thinned,  will  need  liquid  manure  applied  to  inside  borders  ;  but  surface 
dressings  are  more  potent  in  accelerating  and  keeping  surface  roots,  and 
a  good  handful  of  the  advertised  fertilisers  per  square  yard  makes  a 
wonderful  difference  in  the  colour  of  the  foliage,  and  this  means  ultimate 
good  colour  and  finish  in  the  Grapes. 
Vines  Started  at  the  New  Year. — The  Vines  have  made  satisfactory 
progress,  starting  freely  without  showing  a  tendency  to  twist  and  twirl  in 
the  birnches,  which  are  now  in  flower.  Afford  a  rather  dry  atmosphere 
with  a  gentle  circulation  of  air,  and  a  temperature  of  G5°  to  70°  at  night,  and 
70°  to  75°  by  day  artificially,  with  an  advance  to  85°  from  sun  heat,  main¬ 
taining  moderate  moisture  b}-  damping  the  house  two  or  three  times  a  day 
in  bright  weather.  Muscats  should  have  a  temjierature  at  least  5°  higher, 
and  the  flowers  must  be  carefully  fertilised.  Avoid  the  close  stopping 
system  until  nearly  every  part  of  the  trellis  is  well  covered  with  foliage, 
then  allow  no  more  than  there  is  room  for.  Do  not  permit  the  border  to 
lack  moisture,  and  when  the  Grapes  are  set  supply  liquid  manure  or  top- 
dressings  of  fertilisers,  washiug  into  the  soil  moderately. 
Succession  Houses. — Disbud  and  secure  the  growths  as  they  advance, 
stopping  them  two  joints  beyond  the  bunches  where  the  space  is  limited  ; 
but  where  there  is  room  allow  a  greater  extension  of  the  shoots  before 
stopping.  Remove  the  laterals  from  the  joints  below  the  fruit  except 
from  the  two  basal  leaves,  stojiping  those  at  the  first  leaf  and  to  one  after¬ 
wards  as  ]iroduced.  The  laterals  above  the  fruit  may  be  allowed  to  make 
such  growth  as  can  have  exposure  to  light  without  crowding  and  then  be 
stopped,  keeping  them  pinched  afterwards,  as  well  as  tho.se  not  having 
room  for  extension.  Remove  all  superfluous  and  ill-formed  bunches  of 
the  free-setting  varieties  as  soon  as  those  that  are  the  most  promising  for 
the  crop  can  be  selected.  Maintain  the  borders  in  a  proper  state  of 
moisture,  and  secure  a  genial  atmosphere  by  damping  the  house  well  at 
closing  time,  as  well  as  in  the  morning  and  evening.  A  temperature  of 
60°  to  65°  at  night  is  suitable  after  the  Vines  come  into  leaf,  allowing  65° 
to  70°  on  dull  days  and  75°  to  85°  with  sun  and  ventilation,  taking  care  to 
ventilate  early,  to  avoid  draughts  and  to  close  early. 
Vine  Eyes. — These  having  been  inserted  as  advised  are  now  rooted,  and 
should  be  potted  singly,  or  if  placed  in  small  pots  they  must  be  shifted 
into  6-inch  as  soon  as  they  reach  the  sides  of  the  smaller,  standing  them 
on  shelves  over  the  hot-water  pipes.  Syringe  well  amongst  them,  and 
pinch  the  laterals  at  the  first  leaf,  unless  the  Vines  are  intended  to  be 
planted  out  this  season  and  not  fruited  the  next,  when  the  laterals  may 
be  left  entire,  but  in  that  case  planting  must  be  done  before  the  roots 
become  matted. 
Cut-back  Vines. — For  fruiting  in  pots  next  season  these  Vines  will  now 
be  fit  for  shaking  out  and  repotting,  or  if  that  has  already  been  done  and 
the  roots  have  reached  the  sides  of  the  pots,  they  will  need  shifting  into 
the  fruiting — 12-inch  pots.  If  they  have  been  given  bottom  heat  they 
should  be  returned  to  it  for  a  time,  75°  to  80°  being  sufficient,  otherwise 
bottom  heat  is  not  necessary,  yet  the  pots  are  better  stood  on  slates  over 
hot-water  pipes  than  on  a  cool  base.  Keep  the  house  close  and  mode¬ 
rately  moist  until  they  become  established.  Train  the  canes  near  the 
glass,  pinching  the  laterals  to  one  leaf,  and  thus  secure  solid  growth  and 
plump  buds.  Use  clean  pots  and  efficient  drainage.  Turfy  loam  with  a 
fifth  of  old  mortar  rubbish  answers  well  for  potting,  but  a  pint  of  bone 
superphosphate,  a  quart  of  soot  and  two  quarts  of  wood  ashes  to  a 
barrowload  of  compost,  greatly  improves  it  for  the  Vines. 
R 
HE  BEE-KEEPER. 
.j  - 1 .1  ■  i .  1 . 1 . 1  -  r- 1  "r-'i  ■  r-  u  1  -  I'-'i  ■  1  -  T.  1  ■  t .  ( ■  1  -1  -  1'.  1 
The  Weather. 
The  exceptionally  fine  weather  experienced  during  the  first  two 
months  of  the  year  deserves  to  be  chronicled.  In  the  iMidland 
counties  bright  sunny  days  have  been  the  rule,  and  not,  as  is  often 
the  case,  the  exception  at  this  season.  The  rainfall,  too,  is  remark¬ 
able,  as  during  January  0'49  inch  fell  on  five  days,  and  February  OffiJ 
inch  on  eleven  days,  the  total  for  the  two  months  being  1T3  inch, 
which  amount  fell  on  sixteen  days.  In  the  West  and  South  of 
England,  also  in  Scotland,  there  were  heavy  falls  of  snow  in  February. 
This  we  happily  escaped,  although  the  melted  snow  would  add 
considerably  to  the  moisture  in  the  land,  which  will  eventually  be  an 
advantage  to  bee-keepers  in  those  districts. 
But  what  will  be  the  effect  of  a  mild  winter  and  a  ligiit  rainfall  on 
bee-keepers  ?  Much  will  depend  on  the  amount  of  moisture  we  have 
during  the  early  spring  months.  At  the  present  time  the  herbage  in 
the  fields  and  by  the  roadsides  is  as  forward  and  looks  as  green  as  it 
often  does  by  the  first  fortnight  in  IMay.  The  two  important  crops— 
field  Beans  and  white  Clover — are  looking  well,  and,  like  all  other 
vegetation,  are  well  advanced.  If  severe  frosts  come  these  will 
certainly  suffer,  and  the  flowering  season  will  be  retarded.  If  a  heavy 
downfall  of  rain  come  it  would  do  a  great  amount  of  good,  and  then, 
should  the  fine  weather  continue,  an  early  harvest  of  honey  may  be 
expected. 
It  is  often  the  unforeseen  that  occurs,  and  for  want  of  attention  at 
the  right  time  many  stocks  will  doubtless  be  lost,  or  so  impoverished, 
owing  to  a  shortness  of  supplies,  that  the  bees  will  be  unable  to 
take  advantage  of  the  early  flowers  should  the  favourable  weather 
continue.  If  the  bees  are  short  of  stores  they  will  make  little  head¬ 
way  until  the  natural  supplies  are  coming  in  freel}'’,  and  there  is  thus 
a  great  loss  of  time,  which  all  bee-keepers  should  endeavour  to  guard 
against. 
Examining  Stocks. 
The  less  bees  are  handled  or  interfeied  with  at  any  time  the 
better.  During  the  summer  and  early  autumn  it  is  not  necessary  to 
observe  the  same  caution  as  at  this  season.  All  that  is  required  is  to 
find  out  if  sufficient  stores  remain  in  the  hive.  How  is  this  to  bo 
done  without  disturbing  the  bees  ?  In  our_  apiary  we  can  judge 
accurately  by  simply  lifting  the  back  of  the  hive  with  one  hand,  and 
with  a  little  practice  anyone  may  become  an  adept  at  judging  the 
weight  of  the  various  hives.  This  is  much  easier  when  tluy  are 
about  the  same  size,  and  the  wood  of  similar  weight  and  thickness. 
There  need  be  no  difficulty  in  this  respect,  as  Ave  have  hives 
constantly  in  use,  which  have  from  ten  in  the  smaller  oi’  ordinaiy 
hive  to  upwards  of  twenty  frames  in  the  larger  size.  If  the  frames 
are  all  of  the  same  size  throughout  the  various  colonics  it  is  better, 
even  when  one  is  judging  the  weight  ot  stores,  than  Avlun  they  A’ary 
several  inches  in  Avidth  or  length.  Where  numerous  colonies  have  to 
be  examined  this  is  a  great  saving  of  time.  If  any  doubt  exist 
remove  the  outside  covering  from  the  quilt,  and  lift  the  latter  from  the 
sides  until  the  frames  outside  the  cluster  are  bare.  By  loolrng  down 
between  them  the  sealed  stores  (if  any)  Avill  be  Ausible.  If  a  lew 
square  inches  are  to  be  seen  on  a  couple  of  the  fiames  on  one  side  of 
the  cluster  all  Avill  be  Avell  for  a  few  weeks  longer.  If  the  stores  are 
