December  8,  1603. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
443 
room  young  wood  may  be  laid-in.  It  is  useful  to  furnish  fruiting  wood 
in  addition  to  spurs,  or  to  occupy  the  place  of  any  old  or  worn-out 
branches. 
FRUIT  FORCING. 
Cucumbers.— The  weather  has  been  wet  and  cold,  and  the  growth 
suffers  more  than  when  there  have  been  bright  intervals.  Light  is  very 
important  in  all  forcing  operations,  especially  in  winter,  therefore  the 
glass  should  be  kept  clean  both  inside  and  out.  Use  warm  sweet  soil, 
and  not  very  wet,  for  earthing  over  the  roots  as  they  show  at  the  sides  of 
the  ridges  or  hillocks.  A  few  sweetened  horse  droppings  spread  on  the 
surface  will  attract  the  roots  and  afford  nutriment  to  them  when  watered, 
also  supply  some  ammonia  to  the  atmosphere.  This  is  preferable  to  liquid 
manure  unless  the  plants  are  growing  in  limited  borders,  boxes,  or  pots, 
then  copious  supplies  will  bo  necessary.  Apply  it  weak  and  tepid,  and 
not  too  often.  Sufficient  moisture  will  be  secured  by  damping  the  floors, 
walls,  and  other  surfaces  other  than  the  plants  in  the  morning  and  in  the 
afternoon  of  fine  days  ;  but  avoid  excessive  moisture,  and  do  not  supply 
water  to  the  roots  till  the  soil  is  becoming  dry,  then  afford  a  soaking. 
Stopping  and  thinning  will  not  be  much  required,  yet  must  not  be 
neglected,  as  crowding  is  ono  of  the  greatest  evils  in  the  growth  of  winter 
Cucumbers.  Overcropping  is  still  a  greater  malpractice,  and  allowing 
the  fruits  to  needlessly  hang  after  they  attain  a  size  fit  for  cutting  serves 
only  to  weaken  the  plants  ami  prevent  other  and  younger  fruit  swelling. 
It  is  sometimes  necessary  to  fertilise  the  pistillate  blossoms  to  make  sure 
of  the  fruit  swelling,  but  the  practice  is  seldom  necessary  for  healthy 
plants. 
Mildew. — This  is  often  troublesome.  It  may  bo  combatted  by  dusting 
the  affected  parts  with  flowers  of  sulphur,  or  a  light  brushing  over  the 
hot  water  pipes  with  a  cream  of  sulphur  and  skim  milk  is  useful  against 
it,  also  red  spider  and  white  fly.  Thrips  are  best  destroyed  by  fumiga¬ 
tion  with  tobacco  or  vaporisation  with  nicotine  essence.  The  latter 
destroys  mealy  bug  as  well  as  aphides  and  thrip.  The  foliage  at  this 
time  of  year  is  tender,  theiefore  fumigation  or  vaporisation  is  better 
practised  moderately  on  two  or  three  consecutive  evenings,  always  taking 
care  not  to  give  an  overdose. 
Pines. —  Young  Stock. — Well  ventilated  pits  or  small  houses  properly 
heated  are  most  suitable  for  young  Pine  plants,  as  they  can  bo  kept  near 
the  glass,  and  they  should  be  given  plenty  of  room  so  as  to  secure  and 
maintain  a  sturdy  habit.  Anight  temperature  of  53°  to  60°,  with  65°  in  the 
daytime,  will  keep  young  stock  gently  growing,  admitting  a  little  air  at 
the  top  of  the  house  at  65°,  leaving  it  on  all  day,  but  do  not  let  the  tem¬ 
perature  fall  below  that  point,  and  when  it  advances  to  75°  frem  sun  heat 
a  free  circulation  of  air  must  be  allowed.  The  bottom  heat  may  be  kept 
steady  at  80°.  Avoid  a  moist  atmosphere,  an  occasional  damping  of  the 
paths  will  suffice.  Give  water  only  when  necessary,  always  when  the 
soil  becomes  dry,  and  then  afford  a  thorough  supply  of  weak  liquid 
manure. 
Plants  to  Ripen  Fruit  in  May  and  June. — This  is  a  very  important 
time — the  London  season — to  have  fresh  ripe  fruit.  Home-grown  Pine 
Apples  far  excel  imported  ones  in  appearance,  and  are  juicier,  richer 
•flavoured,  and  more  pleasing  in  aroma.  They  are  great  ornaments  at 
dessert.  When  a  supp'y  is  required  at  the  time  named,  and  plants  are 
not  showing  fruit,  it  will  be  desirable  to  select  from  those  started  in 
March  last,  which  have  completed  growth,  and  are  now  in  a  state  of 
rest.  A  stout  base  is  the  best  indication  of  starting  into  fruit  when  sub¬ 
jected  to  a  higher  temperature  both  at  the  roots  and  in  the  atmosphere. 
The  plants  are  best  placed  in  a  structure  to  themselves.  Where  this 
esnnot  be  afforded  they  must  have  a  light  position  in  the  house  where  the 
fruiters  are  swelling.  Maintain  a  night  temperature  of  65°  in  the  fruiting 
department,  5°  less  in  the  morning  of  cold  nights,  and  70°  to  75°  by  day, 
but  in  very  severe  weather  a  few  degrees  lower  is  preferable  to  extra  sharp 
flring. 
Peaches  and  Nectarines. — Earliest  Forced  House. — Trees  started  at  an 
-early  date  in  previous  years  swell  their  buds  promptly  without  much 
-excitement  from  artificial  heat,  but  those  forced  for  the  first  time  are 
slower  in  starting  into  flower.  These  trees  must  not  be  hurried,  and 
with  the  buds  swelling  and  advancing  for  flowering  the  atmosphere  must 
•not  be  1  opt  close,  as  it  is  important  that  the  blossom  advance  steadily  and 
have  time  to  develop  a  strong  flower  perfect  in  ail  its  parts.  When  the 
atmosphere  is  kept  close  and  too  moist  the  flowers  are  weakened  if  the 
-temperature  be  high  ;  if  low  little  progress  is  made,  and  the  organs  arc 
stunted  and  effete.  Admit  a  little  air  constantly  at  the  top  of  the  house, 
and  above  50°  it  should  be  increased  correspondingly  with  the  tempera¬ 
ture,  but  not  allowing  a  decline  below  50°  in  the  daytime,  and  with  sun 
heat  an  advance  may  bo  allowed  to  65°,  closing  for  the  day  before  the 
temperature  has  receded  below  55°.  A  temperature  of  40°  to  45°  is  ample 
-at  night,  or  in  mild  weather  50°.  When  the  flowers  are  advanced  so 
that  the  anthers  are  showing,  cease  syringing,  but  afford  a  moderate 
amount  of  air  moisture  by  damping  the  borders,  paths,  and  walls  in  the 
morning  and  early  afternoon.  Examine  the  inside  border,  and  if  necessary 
•afford  a  thorough  supply  of  water  or  liquid  manure.  The  surface  soil  is 
often  deceptive,  being  kept  moist  by  syringing,  therefore  supply  enough  to 
■moisten  the  soil  through  to  the  drainage,  for  surface  moistening  does 
very  little  good. 
Second  Early  Forced  House.—  If  the  trees  arc  very  early  varieties, 
such  as  Alexander  and  Early  Louise  Peaches,  Cardinal  and  Early  Rivers 
'Nectarines,  ripe  fruit  may  be  had  in  late  April  or  early  May  by  starting 
at  the  new  year  :  but  if  the  trees  are  such  as  Hale's  Early,  Stirling  Castle, 
-or  Royal  George  Peaches,  and  Lord  Napier  and  Stanwick  Elrugo  Necta¬ 
rines,  the  fruit  will  not  ripen  until  the  end  of  May  or  early  in  June. 
This  must  be  taken  into  consideration  by  growers.  In  either  case  the 
house  should  be  closed  at  the  middle  of  this  month,  fire  heat  only  being 
used  to  exclude  frost.  The  trees  may  be  sprinkled  occasionally  on  fine 
days  in  the  morning  and  afternoon,  allowing  time  for  them  to  become 
fairly  dry  before  night.  Ho  not  permit  the  temperature  to  exceed  50°  in 
the  daytime  without  full  ventilation.  Supply  water  or  liquid  manure  to 
inside  borders,  and  protect  outside  with  a  little  litter  or  dry  leaves. 
Succession  House. — Movable  roof-lights  are  much  tho  best  for  this 
structure,  as  tho  trees  can  be  exposed  to  the  elements  for  the 
winter.  The  fogs  and  damps  of  winter,  with  the  drenching  rains  and 
snow,  suit  Peaches  in  well  drained  soil,  tho  trees  being  invigorated  and 
the  soil  enriched.  If  the  houses  have  fixed  roof-lights  ventilate  to  the 
fullest  extent  in  all  but  very  severe  weather.  Proceed  with  the  pruning, 
bringing  matters  in  respect  of  cleansing  the  house  and  trees  to  as  speedy 
a  conclusion  as  possible. 
Varieties  ok  Bees. 
With  a  view  to  assisting  a  beginner,  and  others  who  have  recently 
sougl  t  ii.formitkn  regarding  the  varieties  of  bees,  we  will  briefly 
give  our  experience  of  them  from  a  honey-producer’s  point  of  view. 
Obviously  it  is  altogether  a  different  matter  when  bees  are  kept  solely 
for  their  beautiful  markings,  or  when  honey  production  is  only  a 
secondary  consideration. 
The  Native  Black  Bee. 
The  variety  most  frequently  met  with  in  this  country  is  the  native 
black  or  brown  bee,  and  after  a  wide  experience  of  the  imported  races, 
and  also  the  hybrids,  we  are  still  strongly  in  favour  of  the  native.  It 
is  suited  to  our  changeable  climate,  is  hardy  and  prolific,  wintering 
well  in  an  ordinary  hive  if  provided  with  stores  early  in  the  autumn  ; 
is  good  tempered  if  net  carelessly  handled,  and  is  not  pione  to 
incessant  swarming,  which  is  so  troublesome  to  the  bee  keeper  when 
other  varieties  are  kept.  They  are,  moreover,  good  workers  for  cither 
comb  or  extracted  honey.  Of  course  they  will  swarm  if  ample  room 
has  not  been  provided  for  them  in  advance  of  their  needs,  and  if 
queen  cells  have  been  started,  and  the  weather  is  favourable,  the 
bee-keeper  may  make  up  his  mind  that  it  is  useless  attempting  to 
prevent  them.  The  plan  usually  recommended  under  these  circum¬ 
stances  is  to  cut  out  all  the  queen  cells,  with  the  result  that  other 
queen  cells  arc  at  once  started  by  the  bees,  and  the  first  fine  day  they 
swarm. 
Our  experience  is  when  once  they  have  the  swarming  mania  much 
valuable  time  is  saved  by  allowing  them  to  swarm.  If  an  increase  of 
stock  is  not  needed  put  the  swarm  in  a  separate  hive,  placing  it  by  the 
side  of  the  old  stock  for  a  few  days.  Then  cut  out  all  the  queen  cells 
but  one  from  the  parent  stock,  and  if  the  queen  with  the  swarm  is  not 
a  valuable  one,  destroy  her,  and  by  adding  the  bees  to  the  original 
stock  a  strong  colony  will  result,  which  will  in  due  course  be  headed 
by  a  young  fertile  queen.  If  the  weather  is  favourable  honey  pro- 
duction  will  proceed  rapidly,  and  a  much  greater  surplus  will  be 
stored  than  if  the  Ices  were  allowed  to  swarm  according  to  their  own 
sweet  will.  The  native  bee  treated  in  the  above  manner  will  invariably 
do  well ;  and  showing  how  easily  they  may  be  k<  pt  from  swarm  in?, 
we  may  mention  the  fact  that  none  off  our  strong  colonics  worked  for 
honey  swarmed  during  the  past  season. 
Ligurians. 
These,  or  as  they  are  often  called,  Italians,  were  introduced  by  the 
late  Mr.  A.  Neighbour  thirty-nine  years  ago.  They  came  with  a 
great  reputation,  and  were  said  to  have  a  longer  proboscis  than  the 
native  lees,  and  were  thus  enabled  to  extract  the  nectar  from  the  Bed 
Clover.  This  proved  a  fallacy,  as,  1  ke  the  black  bees,  they  were 
unable  to  reach  it.  One  of  their  chief  characteristics  is  the  bright 
yellow  bands  round  their  bodies  which  are  so  much  admired,  and 
cause  them  to  he  easily  distinguished  from  our  native  bee.  It  is, 
however,  difficult  to  keep  them  pure  in  this  country,  and  when 
crossed  with  the  blacks  they  are  v<ry  spiteful. 
Cttrians. 
Cypiians  w  ore  imported  from  the  island  of  Cyprus,  and  are 
similar  in  appearance  to  the  Ligurians,  hut  are  even  more  beautiful 
in  appearance.  They  have  two  very  had  faults,  being  inveterate 
swarmors  and  very  had  tempered.  At  times  they  may  he  1  audlecl 
with  impunity  ;  at  others,  it  is  not  safe  to  venture  near  the  lives. 
Owing  to  their  swarming  mania  they  do  not  store  a  large  surplus 
iu  this  country. 
Carniolans — Punics. 
Carniolans,  anel  with  them  may  he  classed  the  I  unics_  at0  black, 
very  similar  in  appearance  to  the  native  bee,  but  are  persistent 
swarmors.  This  is  their  bane,  as  they  are  easily  handled,  and  by 
the  time  the  swarming  mania  is  over  the  honey  flow  is  past,  and 
only  a  small  suqlus  will  have  been  stored  by  them. 
