228 
JOURNAL  OF  UORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  10,  1898. 
found  to  be  nearly  or  quite  consumed,  feeding  should  not  be  delayed 
any  longer.  The  operation  must  only  occupy  a  few  moments. 
A  mild  day  for  preference  should  be  chosen  for  this  purpose,  and 
it  is  a  good  plan  to  examine  all  the  stocks  in  the  apiary  at  least  once 
a  fortnight  from  this  time  onwards  until  outdoor  supplies  are  coming 
in  freely.  We  would  advise  all  bee-keepers  who  have  not  already 
tried  the  plan  of  lifting  the  back  of  the  hive  to  try  the  weight  and 
prove,  if  any  or  what  quantity  of  stores  remain  in  the  hive,  to  do  so 
in  the  future,  and  they  will  doubtless  be  surprised  to  see  how  easily 
it  is  done.  It  has  the  advantage,  too,  of  being  independent  of  the 
weather,  as  well  as  a  great  saving  of  time  and  labour. 
Feeding  Bees. 
Although  feeding  bees  is  a  necessity  at  this  season  if  their  natural 
stores  are  consumed,  it  is  not  good  practice  to  unduly  excite  the  bees 
at  this  early  date.  The  best  artificial  food  for  the  next  few  weeks  is 
candy,  made  as  advised  in  previous  notes.  This  should  be  placed 
directly  over  the  brood  nest.  It  may  be  placed  on  the  top  of  the 
frames  under  the  quilt ;  but  as  mischief  is  sometimes  done  by  not 
placing  the  quilt  and  extra  covering  snugly  over  the  whole,  we 
prefer  to  cut  a  hole  through  the  quilt  as  well  as  the  next  cover,  turn 
the  flaps  back,  and  place  the  cake  of  candy  directly  over  the  aperture. 
The  quilt  will  then  remain  firmly  secured  on  the  frames,  and  the  bees 
will  be  warmer  in  consequence. 
The  whole  should  be  covered  with  extra  coverings;  this  will 
prevent  an  escape  of  heat,  so  important  at  all  seasons,  but  doubly  so 
during  the  winter  and  spring  months.  The  advantage  of  leaving  the 
flaps  on  the  quilt  and  covering  will  be  seen  on  removing  the  box  in 
which  the  candy  was  placed,  by  the  readiness  in  which  they  are  placed 
over  the  aperture,  and  so  confine  the  bees  to  their  hive. — An  English 
Bee-keeper. 
TO  CORRESPONDENTS 
All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should,  until 
further  notice,  be  directed  to  “  The  Editor,”  8,  Rose  Hill  Road, 
Wandsworth,'  S.W.,  and  HOT  to  12,  IMitre  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.  Letters  of  inquiry  must  be  accompan’ed  by 
the  names  and  addresses  of  the  writers,  but  these  will  neither  be 
published  nor  disclosed  when  initials  or  nom  de  plumes  are  given 
for  the  purpose  of  replies. 
Correspondents  should  not  mix  up  on  the  same  sheet  questions  relating 
to  Gardening  and  those  on  Bee  subjects,  and  it  is  convenient  when 
each  question  is  written  on  a  separate  sheet.  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  the 
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. 
Tulips  not  Flowering  {E.  D.). — The  bulbs  were,  in  a  sense,  “  blind,” 
the  result  of  imperfect  development  of  flower  buds  in  embryo,  generally 
attributed  to  some  defect  in  treatment  or  the  intervention  of  some 
parasitic  organism.  The  roots  and  leaves  are  healthy,  and  there  is  no 
evidence  of  mismanagement. 
Autumn  Grapes  t^Young  Head). — Vines  intended  to  afford  Grapes  for 
use  in  August  onward  must  now  be  started,  and  Muscats,  with  other 
varieties,  to  produce  Grapes  for  keeping,  should  be  encouraged  to  move, 
as  the  fruit  hangs  much  better  when  ripened  in  August,  or  early  in 
September,  than  when  the  season  is  more  advanced  at  the  ripening  period. 
Vines  which  have  only  been  recently  pruned  should  be  given  a  little 
rest  before  starting  them,  yet  all  thin-skinned  Grapes,  and  those  taking  a 
long  time  to  grow  and  ripen,  should  be  started  not  later  than  early  April, 
for  they  require  all  the  sun  that  can  be  secured  to  them,  and  should  be 
assisted  with  fire  heat  all  along,  as  upon  thorough  ripening  depends  their 
keeping  sound.  Inside  borders  may  be  brought  into  a  thorough  state  of 
moisture  by  the  application  of  water  at  a  temperature  of  80°,  or  not  less 
than  the  mean  of  the  house,  and  if  followed  by  an  application  of  liquid 
manure,  but  not  too  strong,  it  will  make  a  considerable  difference  later  on, 
inciting  root  action  and  nourishing  the  Vines. 
Manure  (C..  Lincoln). — Your  sample  arrived  too  late  for  examination 
for  the  purpose  of  a  reply  such  as  may  be  useful  to  you  in  our  present 
issue. 
Plants  for  Germany  {Commercial). — You  have  been  correctly  informed. 
In  shipping  plants  for  Germany  the  consignor  must  make  an  affidavit 
before  a  Commissioner  deposing  as  to  the  country  and  locality  in  which 
the  plants  are  grown,  and  make  affirmation  that  there  is  no  phylloxera  in 
the  district,  then  send  it  to  the  German  Consulate  at  46,  Finsbury  Square, 
for  verification  before  shipping  the  goods. 
Eucharis  Bulb  (5It.  J.  A.). — Yes.  the  “  Eucharis  bulb  has  mite,”  for 
the  most  part  in  the  egg  state,  but  the  bulb  was  very  dry  when 
received,  so  the  mites  may  have  collapsed  if  any  young  were  on  it. 
They  will  certainly  endanger  the  healthy  plants,  hence  those  affected 
ought  to  be  isolated  and  treated  with  either  Clibran’s  Eucharis  mite 
killer,  following  the  instructions,  or  Little’s  soluble  phenyle  in  the  pro¬ 
portion  of  a  wineglassful  (2  fluid  ounces)  to  3  gallons  of  soft  water. 
Treatment  with  hot  water  also  answers  well,  the  temperature  not  being 
less  than  130°,  or  exceeding  135°;  but  it  has  not  the  after  beneficial  action 
of  the  other  articles  named. 
Early  Vegetation  in  Ireland  (J.  S.  C.). — Your  letter  arrived  one  post 
too  late  for  insertion  last  week,  and  this  week  we  have  exceptional 
pressure  on  our  space,  so  much  so  that  several  excellent  articles  cannot 
be  inserted.  We  observe  “  that  Clematis  montana  has  been  flowering 
splendidly  at  Balbriggan,  co.  Dublin,  for  a  month  ;  that  Gooseberry 
bushes  are  quite  green  ;  also,  that  Peas  sown  on  January  18th  are 
advancing  well  up  the  stakes  in  a  strong  and  healthy  condition.”  We  are 
pleased  to  publish  notes  of  interest  from  Ireland  from  time  to  time,  but 
they  should  reach  us  not  later  than  Monday  for  insertion  in  the  current 
issue.  We  are  obliged  by  your  letter. 
Salt  (Asparagus). — Our  practice  in  applying  salt  to  Asparagus  beds 
has  always  been  to  wait  for  the  appearance  of  small  weeds,  and  then 
apply  sufficient  salt  to  kill  them.  About  3  ozs.  per  square  yard  will  do 
this,  and  a  few  saltings  during  the  season  keep  the  beds  clean.  Salting 
during  the  winter  is  apt  to  make  the  soil  too  wet.  We  have  found  the 
addition  of  2  or  3  ozs.  of  superphosphate  of  lime  a  valuable  addition, 
applied  early  in  March.  A  very  small  amount  of  salt  mixed  in  manure 
would  do  no  harm  in  your  dry  soil,  but  excess  must  he  guarded  against. 
About  7  lbs.  blended  in  a  cartload  would  be  safe.  Trenching  the  land 
and  spreading  a  good  layer  of  decayed  manure,  from  cowsheds,  a  foot 
below  the  surface  would  be  helpful  to  the  Peas,  as  would  a  good  layer 
of  manure  along  the  sides  of  the  rows  on  the  approach  of  dry  weather. 
Situations  (G.  G.). — We  are  pleased  to  hear  that  the  insertion  of 
your  advertisement  in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  was  the  means  of 
obtaining  for  you  a  situation.  We  hope  it  will  prove  a  good  one,  and 
that  both  your  employer  and  yourself  will  be  satisfied  with  the  con¬ 
nection.  This  is  the  second  notification  we  have  received  this  week  of 
gardeners  being  successful  through  the  same  means.  Other  excellent 
men  are  not  equally  fortunate,  and  must  find  it  weary  waiting  for 
appointment  to  vacancies  that  they  could  fill  so  well.  These  are 
not  the  days  for  gardeners  to  lightly  relinquish  situations,  but  of  course 
the  retention  of  them  is  at  times  impossible.  Three  years  ago  we  had 
the  pleasure  of  assisting  a  gardener  to  obtain  a  very  good  charge. 
He  acknowledged  this  for  the  first  time  last  week  by  informing  us  on  . 
a  postcard  that  “he  had  been  very  comfortable,  but  had  given  notice, 
as  he  wanted  a  change,  and  no  doubt  we  should  soon  find  him  what  he 
wanted.”  That  was  all,  and  enough  for  a  card,  but  we  are  hound  to 
inform  him  that  his  turn  does  not  come  next. 
Old  Apple  Trees  (0.  F.). — We  presume  your  trees  are  in  the  open  and 
not  growing  against  walls.  By  all  means  remove  those  branches  that 
appear  so  enfeebled  as  to  be  unable  to  produce  strong  blossom  buds,  also 
all  interior  growths,  cuttingthem  smoothly  away  close  to  the  mainstemsfrom 
which  they  spring.  Only  the  more  healthful  and  promising  branches 
should  remain,  and  these  at  such  a  distance  that  the  leaves  of  one  cannot 
touch  the  leaves  of  another  in  the  summer.  The  removal  of  many  branches 
now  will  probably  be  followed  by  numbers  of  young  shoots  pushing  from 
the  main  branches  in  spring.  Do  not  permit  these  to  grow  to  any  length 
and  then  cut  them  back,  but  when  they  are  an  inch  long  or  so  have  them 
rubbed  out  of  their  sockets.  Perhaps  the  advice  given  on  page  219  on 
thinning,  cleansing,  and  improving  old  fruit  trees  may  be  of  service.  We 
are  pleased  you  find  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  helpful,  and  shall  gladly 
give  such  assistance  as  we  can  in  any  difficulties  that  you  can  make  clear 
to  us.  Healthy  thinly  disposed  young  growths  if  not  shortened  will 
become  studded  with  blossom  buds. 
Double  Flowers  (Journeyman). — We  are  pleased  to  hear  you  have 
been  attending  lectures  on  gardening.  That  is  what  all  young  men 
shoirld  do  who  have  the  opportunity  and  desire  to  become  competent 
gardeners.  It  is  possible  that  you  may  hear  something  with  which  you 
may  not  agree,  and  in  this  case  so  much  the  better,  if  it  set  you  a  think¬ 
ing  and  lead  to  research  or  inquiry.  Lecturers  differ,  of  course,  and  the 
best  of  them  are  the  most  ready  to  admit  4hat  they  have  something  to 
learn.  In  the  present  case,  however,  the  lecturer  was  right  in  stating 
that  a  completely  double  flower  could  not  produce  seed.  The  instances 
you  cite  to  the  contrary  are  delusive.  Neither  a  so-called  double  Carna¬ 
tion,  Primula,  or  Wallflower  that  produces  seed  is  conqpletely  double.  It 
may  appear  so  and  be  far  removed  from  a  single  by  a  multiplication  of 
petals,  but  lurking  among  them  might  have  been  discovered  the  essential 
organs — stamens  and  stigma ;  it  is  not  till  these  are  changed  into 
petals  that  the  flower  is  perfectly  double,  and  when  this  occurs  there  are 
no  organs  for  producing  seed.  A  so-called  double  Chrysanthemum  is  an 
aggregation  of  a  great  number  of  single  flowers  closely  packed  together 
on  a  common  head  or  capitulum. 
