176 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
September  1,  1898. 
Caging  Queens. 
The  plan  adopted  in  the  movable  frame  hive  is  to  cage  the  young 
queen  in  one  of  the  many  cages  recommended  for  that  purpose.  They 
are  all  good  if  space  is  allowed  for  the  queen  being  fed.  It  is,  however, 
quite  unnecessary  to  go  to  any  expense  in  purchasing  a  queen  cage,  as 
all  that  is  necessary  is  a  piece  of  perforated  zinc  about  6  inches  square. 
It  should  have  the  edges  turned  down  about  half  an  inch.  This  will 
form  a  box  without  a  lid,  which  is  put  over  the  queen  and  pressed 
firmly  into  the  comb.  Place  the  frame  in  the  middle  of  the  hive  and 
replace  the  quilt,  and  cover  warmly,  but  do  not  liberate  the  queen  for 
at  least  forty-eight  hours.  When  the  proper  time  has  elapsed  remove 
the  quilt  from  the  hive,  and  with  a  little  smoke  drive  the  bees  down 
between  the  frames.  Draw  the  frames  well  back,  so  that  those  on 
which  the  queen  is  caged  can  be  readily  lifted  out  of  the  hive. 
Eemove  the  cage  and  allow  the  queen  to  run  at  will  over  the  comb. 
If  the  bees  do  not  molest  her  replace  the  frames  and  coverings  and  all 
will  be  well.  If,  however,  the  bees  attack  her  cage  her  again  for 
another  twenty-four  hours,  when  she  may  be  liberated. — An  English 
Bee-keeper. 
»'*•  -All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should,  until 
further  notice,  be  directed  to“  The  Editor,”  a.  Rose  Hill  Road 
Wandsworth,  S.W.,  and  not  to  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers’ 
lcct  Street.  It  is  requested  tli3.t  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  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. 
Exhibiting  Plants  (J.  I.  K.). — As  your  Vallotas  have  been  passed  on 
two  previous  occasions  we  see  no  objection  to  their  inclusion  again.  In 
the  absence  of  any  specific  wording  in  the  schedule  such  points  as  these 
are  entirely  in  the  hands  of  the  judges,  who  may,  or  may  not,  consider 
disqualification  necessary. 
Gros  Colman  Grapes  Splitting  (L.  J.  P.).— The  chief  cause  of  the 
berries  splitting  is  a  deficiency  in  the  soil  and  atmospheric  moisture  in 
the  stages  of  swelling,  and  then  too  much  nutrition  at  the  roots.  This 
gorges  the  berries,  and  they  crack  at  the  weaker  part.  Afford  free 
ventilation,  a  little  constantly,  so  as  to  induce  evaporation  and  prevent 
the  deposition  of  moisture  on  the  berries  during  the  night.  Water  or 
liquid  nutriment  should  only  be  given  at  the  roots  of  the  Vines  to 
prevent  the  foliage  becoming  limp.  The  chief  things,  however,  are— give 
abundance  of  air,  and  maintain  a  circulation  constantly.  The  Grapes 
so  far  as  we  can  determine  by  two  rubbed  berries  of  each  variety,  are 
White  r  rontignan,  the  white  round  berries,  or  rather  yellowish  with  amber 
spots  ;  and  Ingram’s  Prolific  Muscat,  the  black  oval  berries 
Orchids  for  a  Small  Greenhouse  (//.  U.  //.).-The  following  are  six 
of  the  most  easily  grown  Orchids  in  cultivation,  and  each  one  is  a  good 
useful  species  worthy  to  be  included  in  the  best  collections.  CceWyne 
«ristata,  a  beautiful  species  producing  white  flowers  in  graceful  racemes. 
ot  in  peat  and  sphagnum,  and  water  freely  all  the  year  round.  Odonto- 
g  ossum  grande,  a  splendid  Orchid  of  easy  culture  in  peat  and  moss.  It 
produces  large  yellow  and  brown  flowers  of  great  beauty.  Cymbidium 
jowianum  is  a  handsome  Orchid  with  yellowish-brown  flowers  and  bright 
maroon  lips.  It  lasts  a  very  long  time  in  good  condition,  and  thrives  in 
JJ .  parts  of  peat  fibre,  loam,  and  chopped  sphagnum.  Lycaste 
bkinnen  likes  a  similar  compost,  and  is  a  beautiful  species,  variable 
n  colour,  but  usually  a  soft  rose  with  deep  crimson  lip.  Odontoglossum 
maculatum  is  the  easiest  grown  of  all  in  the  genus  ;  the  flowers  vary  in 
•colour,  yellowish  and  brown  usually.  It  thrives  with  0.  grande.  Cvpri- 
pedium  insigne  is  only  one  of  a  most  useful  genus,  easily  grown  for 
flowering,  and  lasting  well  in  good  condition.  We  have  grown  all  these 
species  and  many  more  for  years  in  a  cool  fernery,  carefully  shaded,  and 
kept  as  moist  as  possible  during  the  winter.  Cultural  notes  on  these  have 
often  appeared  in  the  pages  of  the  Journal  of  Horticulture. 
Nutritive  Components  of  Peas  and  Beans  (A  Subscriber). — The  com¬ 
position  of  Peas  is  given  by  Prof.  Church  in  “Food  ”  as  follows 
In  100  In  1  lb. 
parts.  oz.  gr. 
143  .  2  126 
22-4  .  3  255 
513  .  8  92 
2-5  .  0  175 
65  .  1  17 
30  .  0  210 
Water  ... 
Albuminoids,  & 
Starch,  &e. 
Pat 
Cellulose 
Mineral  matter 
The  nutrient  ratio,  1 
2J  ;  the  nutrient  value,  79.  Those  of  Beans  are  not 
given,  they  not  being  used  as  food  of  man  ;  but  of  Haricot,  which  is  the 
variety  usually  eaten  as  food,  as  follows  :  — 
In  100  In  1  lb. 
parts.  oz.  gr. 
Water . 14  A  .  2  105 
Albuminoids,  &c . 23’0  3  297 
Starch,  &c .  52‘3  8  161 
Pat  .  2-3  0  161 
Cellulose  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  5’5  .  0  385 
Mineral  matter .  2'9  0  203 
The  nutrient  ratio  is  here  1  :  2J  ;  the  nutrient  value  is  80.  The  Broad  or 
Windsor  Bean  is,  when  young,  an  agreeable  and  wholesome  food  ;  so  also 
are  the  pods  of  the  Scarlet  Runner  Bean,  and  of  the  Dwarf  or  French 
Bean,  which,  when  gathered  in  the  best  condition  for  use,  contain  “  91*8 
per  cent,  of  water,  0-64  per  cent,  of  mineral  matter,  and  2  05  of 
albuminoids,  calculated  from  the  total  nitrogen  ;  in  reality  this  pro¬ 
portion  should  be  halved  if  the  percentage  of  true  albuminoids  is 
desired.” 
Cucumber  Growths  Blind  and  Fruit  Curling  (W.  S.  4*  Co.). — The 
sample  of  soil  and  worms  indicate  a  sodden  and  sour  condition  at  the 
roots,  sufficient  to  account  for  the  state  of  the  plants  and  fruit.  It 
appears  little  better  than  soapy  manure,  almost  destitute  of  grit,  and 
still  more  of  calcareous  matter,  partly  due,  in  closeness,  to  the  action  of 
the  red  worms  (Lubricus  foetidus),  which  convert  it  into  a  semi-fluid 
mass. .  The  sour  state  may  be,  to  some  extent,  rectified  by  the  use  of 
sulphate  of  lime  or  gypsum,  but  it  will  be  necessary  to  first  get  rid  of 
the  worms.  This  may  be  effected  by  the  use  of  lime  water,  a  peck  of 
freshly  burned  lime  being  placed  in  a  tub,  slaked  and  mixed  with 
30  gallons  of  water.  Then,  let  stand  not  less  than  twenty-four  hours, 
the  clear  water  may  be  used  for  killing  or  expelling  the  worms,  but  it  is 
better  when  left  four  days  or  a  week.  You  can  afterwards  use  the 
gypsum  4  ozs.  to  a  gallon  of  water.  As  time  is  all-important  you  may 
apply  corrosive  sublimate,  1  oz.  finely  pulverised,  dissolved  in  hot  water, 
using  about  a  gallon  in  a  wooden  vessel,  and  after  allowing  to  stand 
overnight,  dilute  to  30  gallons,  agitating  well.  This  will  kill,  when  applied 
to  the  soil,  or  bring  the  worms  to  the  surface,  and  these  must  not  be  given  to 
fowls  or  placed  where  they  can  reach  them,  or  they  will  be  poisoned. 
Indeed  corrosive  sublimate  is  a  terrible  poison,  and  must  be  used  with  the 
greatest  care.  The  Cucumber  plants,  however,  we  fear  are  too  far  gone 
to  make  much  out  at  this  advanced  period  of  the  season.  The  soil  in 
future  should  contain  more  opening  material,  such  as  old  mortar  rubbish 
and  gritty  matter,  with  less  manure. 
Examples  in  Fruit  Growing  (Somerset).  —  Your  desire  to  obtain 
instruction  for  your  “local  people”  in  the  cultivation  of  fruit  is  highly 
commendable,  and  your  suggestion  to  bring  them  in  contact  with  object 
lessons,  such  as  are  to  be  found  in  well-appointed  private  gardens  and 
commercial  establishments,  is  not  the  less  good  by  not  being  novel. 
Such  teaching  is  given  under  the  auspices  of  some  County  Councils,  and 
has  already  proved  of  considerable  value.  It  must  be  remembered,  how¬ 
ever,  that  if  the  pupils  you  have  in  view  are  wholly  inexperienced,  they 
first  require  easy  and  simple  lessons,  in  order  that  they  may  be  the  better 
able  to  comprehend  the  significance  of  what  they  will  see  in  establish¬ 
ments  in  which  the  cultivation  of  the  different  kinds  of  fruits  is 
“  thoroughly  and  systematically  carried  out.”  Most  inexperienced  people 
would  be  as  much  bewildered  as  instructed  by  a  visit  to  such  establish¬ 
ments,  and  therefore  we  are  convinced  by  experience  that  it  is  better  to 
start  in  a  more  modest  way.  There  is  scarcely  a  garden,  however 
small,  that  contains  a  fair  representation  of  fruits,  from  which  highly 
useful  information  cannot  be  obtained  on  right  and  wrong  methods  of 
procedure.  It  should  be  particularly  remembered  that  such  visits  as  you 
have  in  view  can  be  of  no  real  benefit  in  the  absence  of  a  guide  and 
teacher  who  thoroughly  understands  the  subject  of  fruit  culture  in  its 
various  details,  and  who  can  explain  with  clearness  what  his  pupils  are 
desired  to  understand.  If  you  can  provide  such  teacher,  the  benefits 
accruing  will  be  tenfold  over  what  may  result  from  a  mere  march  past, 
as  so  much  that  could  not  otherwise  be  understood  would  be  demonstrated. 
What  you  propose  is  really  educational  work,  that  can  only,  as  a  rule,  be 
properly  carried  out  in  a  series  of  lessons,  under  the  auspices  of  public 
authorities,  such  as  County  Councils.  Most  of  these  important  bodies 
teach  something  appropriate  to  the  districts,  and  it  would  be  difficult  to 
imagine  any  subject  more  useful  than  that  of  the  profitable  cultivation  of 
the  soil  by  fruit  and  other  forms  of  cultivation.  A  visit  to  a.  fruit  tree 
nursery  under  expert  guidance  forms  a  good  foundation  for  such  teaching 
as  you  have  in  view,  but  you  seem  rather  inclined  to  begin  at  the  top 
instead  of  the  bottom.  The  visit  you  have  in  view  might,  perhaps  have 
a  stimulating  effect  on  some  minds,  and  there,  we  suspect,  its  advantages 
would  end.  A  youth  or  man  cannot  become  an  engineer  by  looking  at 
and  admiring  an  example  of  perfected  machinery. 
