4^4 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  ANT)  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  19.  1898. 
where  space  permits.  Do  not  crowd  the  foliage,  and  never  allow  the 
laterals  to  interfere  with  the  principal  leaves.  Supply  water  or  liquid 
manure  to  the  borders  liberally  when  needed,  and  encourage  surface  roots 
with  suitable  top-dressings.  The  night  temperature  should  be  kept  at 
00°  to  65°,  70°  to  75°  by  day,  and  80°  to  90°  from  sun  heat. 
Late  Vines. — These  are  advanced  for  flowering,  and  many  are  in  bloom. 
When  out  allow  a  night  temperature  of  70°,  and  80°  by  day,  advancing 
to  85°  or  90°  from  sun  heat,  with  a  free  circulation  of  air,  a  genial  atmo¬ 
sphere  being  maintained  by  damping  the  paths  and  borders.  Brush  the 
shy-setting  varieties  over  with  a  camel’s  hair  brush,  and  fertilise  the 
bunches  carefully  where  there  is  a  deficiency  of  pollen.  Up  to  and  after 
flowering  the  night  temperature  should  be  kept  at  65°,  70°  to  75°  by  day 
artificially,  keeping  at  80°  to  85°,  or  90°  through  the  day  with  moderate 
ventilation  in  bright  weather,  and  abundant  air  when  mild. 
^  0) 
■IE  BEE-KBEPER.^ 
Foul  Bkood. 
It  is  a  serious  matter  to  a  bee-keeper  when,  through  no  fault  of 
his  own,  he  suddenly  finds  a  strong  colony  of  bees  in  his  apiary 
attacked  with  this  dread  disease.  A  case  to  point  has  come  under 
our  notice  during  the  past  few  days.  Owing  to  causes  which  need 
not  be  here  explained,  a  bee-keeper  last  autumn  found  two  of  his 
stocks  queenless.  Seeing  an  advertisement  from  an  apiarian  in  a 
neighbouring  county  offering  queens,  guaranteed  healthy  and  free 
from  disease,  he  obtained  two,  the  seller  assuring  him  foul  brood  was 
unknown  in  that  district.  They  were  safely  introduced,  and  all  was 
supposed  to  be  going  on  well,  until,  on  examining  them  for  the  first 
time  this  spring,  the  purchaser  found  one  of  them  a  mass  of  foul  brood. 
We  advised  suiiimary  measures.  The  bees  were  suffocated  the 
same  night,  and  with  the  stores  and  frames  were  committed  to  the 
flames  the  following,  morning.  The  hive  and  floor  board  were  placed 
in  a  large  copper  and  boiled,  and,  after  being  painted,  will  be  used 
again.  Numerous  other  stocks  were  within  a  few  yards  of  the  affected 
hive,  and  the  chances  are  that  other  colonies  will  become  affected. 
What  can  be  said  of  the  bee-keeper  who  will  thus  send  diseased  bees 
throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land  ?  As  the  law  now 
stands  we  think  the  purchaser  would  have  a  difficulty  in  obtaining 
compensation.  There  is  no  doubt  about  the  disease  coming  in  this 
manner,  as  there  had  never  been  known  a  case  of  foul  brood  within 
many  milts  of  the  apiary  in  which  the  queens  were  introduced. 
Hives  fob  General  Use. 
It  is  a  debateable  question  as  to  which  is  the  best  hive  for  general 
purposes,  and  also  whether  the  frames  should  be  long  or  short,  deep  or 
shallow.  Bee-keepers,  as  a  rule,  favour  th'  .si?,  and  we  think  rightly  so, 
with  which  they  have  had  experience  and  obtained  the  greatesramount 
of  success.  But  as  so  much  depends  on  the  management  of  the  bees 
kept  under  various  conditions,  combined  with  the  capabilities  of  persons 
in  chaige,  that  it  is  not  safe  to  aver  that  a  hive  of  certain  dimensions 
is  the  only  one  to  insure  success.  The  fallacy  of  doing  so  is  apparent 
to  all  who  stttdy  the  subject  from  a  practical  point  of  view.  But  if 
we  can  have  a  recognised  size,  both  for  the  hive  and  the  frame,  such 
as  may  be  useful  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  and  from  which  a 
good  surplus  may  be  obtained  in  ordinary  seasons,  it  will  in  the  end 
be  of  great  assistance  to  bee-keepers.  By  having  all  frames  in  the 
apiary  (whether  large  or  small)  made  of  the  same  dimensions,  they  are 
interchangealile  one  with  the  other.  The  convenience  of  this  is  well 
known  to  those  having  several  stocks  under  their  charge.  One  is  then 
able  to  assist  weak  colonies  with  a  frame  of  brood  if  required,  and  it  is 
also  desirable  in  the  matter  of  stores.  However  carefully  ’  the  bees 
may  be  fed  in  the  autumn,  there  is  always  a  great  difference  in  the 
spring,  when  some  stocks  will  be  found  on  the  verge  of  starvation 
whereas  others  will  have  enough  and  to  spare,  and  a  frame  of  stores 
removed  in  this  Avay  from  the  latter  and  given  to  the  former  will  be 
found  to  answer  much  better  in  practice  than  giving  artificial  food. 
As  regards  the  size  of  the  hives,  it  is  immaterial  so  long  as  there  is 
sufficient  space  at  disposal  to  expand  the  brood  nest  as  required. 
This  should  not  be  too  large,  or  if  large  may  be  reduced  by  removing 
several  frames,  when  a  surplus  is  coming  in  freely,  so  that  it  may  be 
stored  in  supers.  But  as  the  size  of  hives  has  been  discussed  in  recent 
notes  it  is  not  necessary  to  again  give  the  dimensions  of  those  most 
favoured  by  us. — An  English  Bee-keefeu. 
TRADE  CATALOGUES  RECEIVED. 
W.  J.  Godfrey,  Exmouth. — Carnations. 
\yood bridge.— Z)aA/*cis,  Begonias,  and  other 
o'*.  All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should,  until 
further  notice,  be  directed  to  “  The  Editor,”  8.  Aose  Hill  Hoad, 
Wandsworth,  S.W.,  and  srOT  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.  Letters  of  inquiry  must  be  accompanied  by 
the  names  and  addresses  of  the  writers,  but  these  will  neither  be 
published  nor  disclosed  when  initials  or  nom  dh  'plumes  are  given 
for  the  purpose  of  replies.  1 
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. 
Warts  on  Vine  Leaves  (^M.  B.  B.). — The  excrescences  are  as  likely  to 
occur  on  the  Gros  Colman  leaves  with  the  atmosphere  too  dry,  as  when 
kept  in  a  genial  state.  As  you  see  on  page  386  Mr.  Bnchanan  found  that 
by  preventing  currents  of  air  through  the  front  sashes  he  preserved 
the  foliage  of  Gros  Colman  in  a  healthy  condition.  We  have  observed 
similar  results  coupled  with  shading  a  Vine  when  the  leaves  were  prone 
to  depart  from  a  normal  state.  The  cultivator  mentioned  did  not  find 
shading  of  service  in  the  north.  The  early  ripening  is  the  result  of  the 
prematurely  hardened  condition  of  the  leaves.  , 
Chamaepeuce  diacantha  (A  F.'). — The  position  is  not  at  all  suitable  for 
the  seed  pan  ;  had  you  placed  the  pot  in  gentle  heat,  a  frame  on  a  mild 
hotbed  answering  well,  the  seed  would  most  probably  have  germinated  in 
about  three  weeks.  If  you  are  iu  a  position  to  do  so  shift  the  pot  at  once 
to  heat,  continue  to  shade,  and  keep  the  soil  uniformly  moist  as  before,  and 
according  as  the  seedlings  (they  sometimes  come  up  very  irregularly)  are 
large  enough  transplant  singly  to  small  pots,  moving  them  with  a  label,  > 
so  as  not  to  greatly  disturb  the  rest  of  the  soiL  If  kept  growing  in  gentle 
heat  c  few  plants  may  possibly  be  sufficiently  well  rooted  to  plant  out 
early  in  June.  Once  they  commence  growing  progress  is  rapid.  These 
Fish-bone  Thistles  can  be  raised  from  seed  in  the  autumn,  but  the  plants 
are  difficult  to  keep  during  the  winter.  , 
Liquid  Manure  for  Strawberries  {New  Beader'). — There  is  no  better 
liquid  manure  for  Strawberries  than  the  drainage  from  manure  heaps  or 
sewage,  but  when  these  are  not  obtainable  guano  water  may  be  used,  and 
has  often  been  applied  with  great  benefit.  Half  an  ounce  dissolved  in  a 
gallon  of  water  is  sufficient  for  plants  in  pots,  but  twice  that  quantity 
may  be  applied  safely  to  established  plants  that  need  extra  support  in 
the  open  air.  It  should  not  be  poured  on  the  fruit  or  leaves,  only  on 
the  soil,  copiously,  and  if  this  can  be  mulched  afterwards  for  the 
retention  of  the  moisture  it  will  be  an  advantage.  It  is  an  excellent 
plan  to  give  liquid  manure  as  soon  as  the  fruit  is  set,  then  cover  the 
ground  with  straw  or  other  suitable  material  for  keeping  the  fruit  clean 
and  preventing  the  evaporation  of  moisture  from  the  earth.  The  use 
of  liquid  manure  should  be  discontinued  when  the  fruits  commence 
colouring. 
Silver  Leaf  in  Peach  Tree  (Gardener). — The  affection  is  common  with 
Plums,  the  upper  cuticle  usually  separating  from  the  substance  beneath, 
and  hence  giving  an  appearance  of  transparency.  In  some  that  we  had 
microscopically  examined  no  fungus  was  discovered,  and  no  cause  for  the 
state  of  the  leaves  could  be  ascribed  or  remedy  suggested.  In  the 
Peach  leaves  sent  a  fungus  has  been  found  by  Mr.  Abbey,  of  which  an 
illustration  will  be  given  in  a  future  issue.  There  is  not  time  for  its 
preparation  this  week.  We  do  not  think  the  aflection  would  arise  from 
the  trees  having  a  large  quantity  of  wood  cut  out  of  them,  but  the  fungus 
would  be  favoured  by  faulty  ventilation.  The  casting  of  the  fruit 
indicates  imperfect  maturity  of  the  wood,  and  we  should  endeavour  to 
have  it  well  ripened  this  season,  so  as  to  secure  a  better  result  another 
year.  The  trees  would  be  improved  by  a  top-dressing  of  the  following 
mixture ; — Dissolved  bones,  dry  and  crumbling,  five  parts  ;  double 
sulphate  of  potash  and  magnesia,  three  parts  ;  and  one  part  sulphate  of 
iron,  mixed,  using  4  ozs.  per  square  yard,  and  pointing-in  very  lightly. 
If  the  trees  produce  long-jointed  sappy  wood  it  would  be  advisable  to  lift 
them,  partially  or  entirely,  in  the  autumn,  or  at  least  root-prune,  to 
secure  a  mgss  of  flbroqs  roots  in  the  surfftpe  lajer  of  a  firm  yet  porom 
border 
