September  28,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  G AUDEN ER. 
281 
having  any  fibreltss  portions  shortened  with  a  knife,  must  be  spread  out 
ovenly  over  the  bed,  placing  them  in  layers,  and  all  within  the  top  foot 
depth  of  tho  border,  the  topmost  roots  not  being  covered  deeper  than 
3  inches.  The  border  need  not  be  more  than  24  inches  deep,  and  in  no 
case  wider  than  the  width  or  height  of  the  trellis.  A  good  watering  will 
be  needed  to  settle  the  soil  about  the  roots.  The  shading  must  remain 
on  if  the  weather  be  bright,  and  afford  ventilation  by  the  top  lights  only, 
syringing  the  foliage  lightly  in  the  morning  and  afternoon  until  it  is  setn 
that  the  roots  are  working  in  the  fresh  soil,  when  tho  shading  may  be 
removed  and  the  house  opened.  Trees  so  treated  rarely  cast  their  buds, 
the  flowers  set  well  ;  indeed,  the  operation  ot  lifting  is  the  only  method 
of  successfully  treating  trees  in  an  unsatisfactory  condition  from  root 
causes. 
HE 
-  1  -  FTT 
Rendering  Wax. 
One  of  the  last,  and  at  the  same  time  the  most  unpleasant, 
operations  in  connection  with  bee-keeping  is  rendering  wax.  When 
the  majority  of  bees  were  kept  in  straw  skeps  this  was  a  formidab'e 
business  in  a  large  apiary.  The  modern  frame  hive  has  to  a  certain 
extent  changed  this,  owing  to  the  fact  that  many  of  the  combs  are 
used  for  several  years  without  renewing  them.  How  long  a  comb 
may  be  used  without  injury  to  the  stock  we  are  unable  to  sav,  as  so 
much  will  depend  upon  circumstances.  If  a  comb  is  utilised  for 
storing  honey  and  extracting  purposes  it  may  be  used  much  longer 
than  if  placed  in  the  brood  rest,  and  young  bees  are  being  constantly 
raised  in  them.  When  tough  old  combs  are  retained  in  an  apiary,  it 
is  necessary  they  should  be  clean  and  in  good  condition.  We  are 
convinced  much  harm  is  done  by  keeping  worthless  combs  that  have 
done  duty  in  the  brood  chamber  for  many  generations  of  young  bees. 
During  the  past  season  we  have  experimented  with  combs  cf 
various  ages,  to  see  if  the  wax  deteriorated  with  age.  It  will  probably 
come  as  a  surprise  to  many  who  have  not  tested  the  matter  to  be  told 
that  combs  which  have  been  in  use  for  several  years  had  little  wax 
left  in  them,  what  there  was  being  dark  in  colour,  and  as  it  only 
averaged  about  2  ozs.  per  standard  frame  it  was  not  worth  the  trouble 
cf  extracting.  There  is  such  a  vast  difference  between  wax  obtained 
from  newly  made  combs,  that  it  is  an  advantage  to  keep  it  separate. 
If  during  the  season  all  cappings  and  pieces  of  comb  of  good  colour 
are  kept  separate  from  combs,  which  from  various  causes  may  have 
become  discoloured,  a  superior  sample  of  wax  will  be  obtained. 
Although  the  rendering  of  wax  has  hitherto  been  considered  the  most 
unsatisfactory  part  of  bee  management,  we  may  now  extract  it  without 
any  mess  and  a  minimum  of  trouble. 
How  It  Should  be  Done. 
Whatever  form  of  extracting  wax  is  decided  on  heat  is  a  necessity. 
Many  years  ago  we  thought  we  had  an  ideal  system  of  rendering  wax 
when  we  placed  all  the  combs  in  a  bag  which  was  sunk  to  the  bottom 
cf  a  large  copper,  and  then  boiled  until  ail  the  wax  was  extracted  and 
floated  on  the  surface  of  the  water.  The  fire  was  thtn  drawn,  and 
after  the  water  had  become  cold  the  wax  could  he  taken  off  the 
surface  in  a  sheet.  This  was  melted  down  and  afterwards  run 
into  moulds.  The  disadvantage  of  this  plan  is  that  dirt  from  the 
combs  also  floats  to  the  surface  during  the  boiling  process  which  spoils 
the  sample  of  wax. 
A  solar  extractor  is  preferred  to  any  other,  the  one  thing  necessary 
is  bright  sunshine.  It  has  the  advantage,  too,  of  being  inexpensive;  a 
large  bell-glass  answers  the  purpose  admirably.  Failing  that  we  obtain 
four  panes  of  glass  and  form  a  square  box  of  them.  A  bowl  is  placed 
inside,  several  pieces  of  wire  being  previously  strained  over  the  top, 
ever  which  a  piece  of  tiffany  is  stretched.  On  the  top  of  this  and  over 
the  whole  surface  the  capping  or  combs  are  placed.  A  sheet  of 
glass  is  then  put  on  the  top,  and  should  fit  as  closely  as  possible  so 
that  the  heat  cannot  escape.  This  is  stood  in  the  direct  rays  of  the 
sun,  and  in  a  few  hours  the  combs  will  have  melted,  and  the  wax  will 
be  found  at  the  bottom  of  the  bowl  in  good  condition,  the  refuse  and 
-dirt  remaining  on  the  tiffany.  This  operation  may  be  repeated  daily, 
the  wax  being  afterwards  melted  and  run  into  moulds. 
From  a  solar  extractor  of  this  description  we  have  this  season 
-obtained  a  superior  sample  of  wax.  We  consider  wax  obtained  on 
the  above  lines  is  of  a  better  colour  than  can  be  obtained  by  any  other 
means.  It  has  the  advantage,  too,  of  keeping  all  scraps  of  combs 
and  cappiDgs  up  during  the  busy  season  when  the  sun  is  at  its 
greatest  power.  As  the  sun  is  now  losing  its  power  daily,  the  same 
result  may  be  obtained  by  placing  the  bowl  in  a  warm  oven,  provided 
precisely  the  same  care  is  exercised. 
In  making  a  comparison  between  the  solar  extractor  and  the  latter 
plan,  we  may  say  that  the  wax  obtained  from  the  former  system  is 
brighter  and  better  than  when  the  oven  is  employed.  Dark  wax  may 
always  be  used  for  making  comb  foundation. — An  English  Bee-keeper. 
BEE-KEEPER. 
,  i  ,  r .  i .  i  .  t  - 1 . ;  ■  i  - 1 -T-- 
£ 
TRADE  CATALOGUES  RECEIVED. 
J.  Cheal  &  Son9,  Crawle}-. —  Testimonials  of  Landscape  Gardening 
Department. 
W.  Paul  &  Son,  Waltham  Cross. — Doses. 
A.  F.  Upstone,  Rotherham. — Bulbs. 
E.  Webb  &  Son,  Wordsley. — Seed  Corn. 
All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should,  until 
further  notice,  be  directed  to  “  The  Editor,”  8,  Rose  Hill  Road, 
Wandsworth,  S.W.,  and  NOT  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  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. 
Manuring  Vegetable  Ground  (Scotland).  —  Land  that  has  been  manured 
and  trenched  in  the  previous  autumn  should  be  again  manured,  as  vege¬ 
table  crops  require  high  cultivation,  hence  manuring  every  year  is 
desirable  to  have  full  crops  of  first-class  produce.  Stable  or  farmyard 
manure  at  least  half-decayed  is  most  suitable.  As  your  land  still  shows 
manure  it  must  have  been  put  on  raw,  and  in  that  case  it  may  not  be 
advisable  to  apply  another  dressing  this  autumn.  The  grass  mowings 
and  other  refuse,  when  reduced  to  mould,  form  a  good  dressing  for  such 
land,  especially  heavy,  on  account  of  the  ashes,  but  have  not  much  value 
for  light  soil — in  fact,  do  harm. 
Forcing  Seakale  for  Market  (S.  J.  W.). — To  have  the  heads  early 
forcing  should  commence  as  soon  as  the  leaves  have  matured  and  fallen. 
For  very  early  work  this  is  not  always  waited  for,  but  the  leaves  are 
broken  off.  This  procedure,  however,  did  not  pay  us  in  a  trial,  and  it 
was  found  better  to  wait  until  the  crowns  were  properly  matured,  starting 
tho  first  batch  at  the  beginning  of  November.  The  demand  for  produce 
is  good  in  December  onwards.  About  a  month  or  six  weeks  are  required 
for  the  growth  of  heads  for  cutting.  It  is  important  to  have  the  “  Kale  ” 
very  stout,  6  to  8  inches  in  length,  pure  white,  or  with  not  more  than 
pinkish  tips  to  the  stalks,  so  that  half  a  dozen  heads  wrapped  in  blue 
paper  show  the  tips  in  contrast,  placing  in  a  punnet,  and  securing  with 
matting.  Half  the  battle,  or  getting  a  good  price  for  a  suitable  article,  is 
in  the  making  up,  but  of  course  only  good  Seakale  is  worth  it.  The 
crowns,  extra  strong,  run  about  12s.  per  100,  less,  of  course,  for  a  large 
quantity,  and  the  produce  will  be  sixteen  dozen  punnets  or  baskets, 
bringing  in  our  case  from  6s.  to  9s.  per  dozen,  less  expense  of  transit 
and  salesman’s  commission.  Some  allowance  must  also  be  made  for 
casualties  in  the  crowns,  for  all  do  riot  grow  equally  well.  The  crowns 
are  sometimes  advertised  in  our  columns,  or  an  advertisement  therein 
for  sample  and  price  would,  perhaps,  be  better,  otherwise  write  to  the 
principal  nursery  or  seedsmen  asking  for  quotations.  Lily  White  is  the 
best  for  blanching,  but  trie  plant  is  rather  tenderer,  and  also  dearer  than 
the  common  variety.  The  beds  in  the  Mushroom  house  will  answer  for 
planting  the  crowns.  It  suffices  that  the  soil  be  moderately  rich,  of 
medium  texture,  and  moist.  Place  the  stems  about  6  inches  apart  with 
the  soil,  sinking  them  just  level  with  the  base  of  the  crown,  and  making 
moderately  firm  about  the  rootstock.  The  forcing  should  be  gradual,  a 
temperature  of  45°  to  50°  being  high  enough  to  commence  with,  and  the 
forwarding  heat  should  not  be  over  55°  to  have  stout  heads.  Crowns 
require  to  be  inserted  fortnightly  to  keep  up  a  constant  supply.  The 
structure  must  be  kept  dark  in  order  to  secure  thorough  blanching. 
Seakale  pays  for  forcing,  especially  when  the  crowns  are  home  grown 
and  are  of  the  first  order  for  strength,  these  alone  giving  superior  pro¬ 
duce.  Raising  Seakale  crowns  from  root  cuttings  is  clearly  illustrated 
in  Wright's  “Primer  on  Horticulture”  (Macmillan),  which  you  can 
obtain  through  a  bookseller  for  a  shilling. 
