February  27,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
195 
indifferent  ones  in  succession,  the  balance  I  have  found  to  be  on 
the  right  side.  If,  however,  anyone  imagines  he  is  going  to  make  a 
fortune  at  the  business  he  will  be  disappointed,  and  after  a  short 
experience  probably  throw  the  work  up  in  disgust.  But  as  a  fiuit- 
grower,  even  if  no  honey  were  secured,  I  should  consider  myself 
well  repaid  by  the  extra  crops  of  fruit  obtained,  a  fact  which  is 
patent  to  all  observers  when  the  fruit  trees  are  in  bloom. 
The  moveable  frame  hive  is  recommended,  and  if  the  Standard 
frame  is  used  there  is,  of  course,  no  limit  to  the  size  of  the  hive, 
as  it  may  be  made  as  large  as  fancy  dictates.  But  whatever  size 
of  frame  or  hive  is  used  it  is  advisable  to  have  all  of  the  same 
pattern,  as  they  will  then  be  interchangeable,  and  be  found  useful 
for  doubling  and  other  purposes.  I  prefer  those  holding  ten  frames, 
although  I  have  some  in  use  holding  upwards  of  twenty,  but  for  all 
practical  purposes  and  profit  I  prefer  the  former. 
Much  will  depend  on  the  source  from  which  the  honey  is  likely 
to  be  obtained  and  the  stocks  managed,  so  as  to  have  them  strong 
during  the  honey  flow,  always  bearing  in  mind  that  a  couple  of 
strong  colonies  are  worth  half  a  dozen  weak  ones.  If  the  chief 
supply  is  obtained  from  the  fruit  trees,  April  and  May  will  be  the 
time  they  should  be  at  their  best  ;  if  field  Beans  and  White  Clover 
are  the  sources,  June  and  July  ;  and  if  Heather,  August  and 
September.  By  having  all  hives  overflowing  with  bees  during 
the  honey  flow,  and  with  favourable  weather,  success  will  follow. — 
An  English  Bee-kebper. 
TRADE  CATALOGUES  RECEIYED. 
K.  H.  L.  Bell,  Nether  Witton,  Morpeth. — Pansies  and  Violas. 
W.  Clibran  &  Son,  Oldfield  Nurseries,  Altrincham. —  Seeds  and  Agri¬ 
cultural  Seeds. 
E.  P.  Dixon  &  Sons,  Hull. — Agricultural  Seeds. 
Hogg  &  Wood,  Coldstream,  N.B. —  Grasses  and  Clovers. 
Kohlmannslehner  &  Schwenke,  Schoneberg,  Berlin. — Seeds. 
J.  R.  Pearson  &  Sons,  Chilwell,  Notts. — Zonal  Pelargoniums  and 
other  Plants. 
W.  E.  Tidy,  Brockhampton  Nurseries,  Havant. — Hardy  Plants. 
Louis  Van  HoHtte,  p&re,  Ghent,  Belgium. — Plants  and  Flower  Seeds. 
T.  S.  Ware,  Hale  Farm  Nurseries,  Tottenham. — Hardy  Florists' 
Flowers  and  Choice  Hardy  Perennials. 
All  correspondence  should  he  directed  either  to  “  The 
Editor  ”  or  to  “  The  Publisher.’'  Letters  addressed  to 
Dr.  Hogg  or  members  of  the  staff  often  remain  unopened 
unavoidably.  We  request  that  no  one  will  write  privately 
to  any  of  our  correspondents,  as  doing  so  subjects  them  to 
unjustifiable  trouble  and  expense. 
Correspondents  should  not  mix  up  on  the  same  sheet  questions 
relating  to  Gardening  and  those  on  Bee  subjects,  and  should 
never  send  more  than  two  or  three  questions  at  once.  All 
articles  intended  for  insertion  should  be  written  on  one  side  of 
the  paper  only.  We  cannot  reply  to  questions  through  the  post, 
and  we  do  not  undertake  to  return  rejected  communications. 
Grape  Growing-  (Alpha'). — We  do  not  see  in  what  way  we  can 
assist  you  in  the  matter  ;  in  fact,  you  do  not  appear  to  ask  us  for  any 
advice,  but  simply  enclose  a  letter.  It  would  not  be  very  far  for  you  to 
travel  and  obtain  information  on  the  spot.  We  know  of  many  splendid 
cultivators  of  different  things  who  are  the  reverse  of  expert  in  composition 
and  spelling. 
muriate  of  Potash  ( G .  H.  C.'). — This  most  soluble  of  all  the 
potash  salts,  is  composed  of,  when  the  total  potash  is  5201  percent.; 
moisture,  7  52  ;  muriate  of  potash  (KCI),  82  44  ;  chloride  of  sodium, 
(NaCl),  5  26;  insoluble  matter  and  other  constituents,  2  28  ;  chloride 
of  magnesium,  2  50  =  100  ;  analyst  Macadam.  It  has  no  other  name 
than  muriate  of  potash,  and  is  sulphate  of  potash  treated  with  acid, 
which  makes  it  quicker  in  action.  The  price  is  rather  high,  but  relatively 
with  Bulphate  of  potash  is  the  cheaper  in  use.  There  is  a  muriate  of 
potash  prepared  from  Beetroot,  containing  total  potash  (K2O),  58  43  per 
cent.,  but  20  16  is  Bulphate  of  potash,  and  the  muriate  only  73  30  per 
cent.;  while  there  are  small  amounts  of  carbonate  of  soda  (1  02),  and 
carbonate  of  potassium  (0-195).  Superphosphate  and  superphosphate  of 
lime  are  the  same  thing,  but  there  are  several  makes,  such  as  bone, 
bone  ash,  or  minerals  (phosphatic)  treated  with  sulphuric  acid.  Any  of 
the  manure  dealers  advertising  in  our  columns  can  supply  muriate 
of  potash. 
Grafting  Apple  on  Plum  or  Damson  (A.  B.). — Only  in  one 
instance  have  we  seen  a  successful  union  of  the  Apple  with  the  Plum, 
and  that  was  an  Apple  on  a  Wyedale  Plum.  We  know  of  no  recorded 
case  of  the  Apple  succeeding  on  the  Damson,  and  all  experiments  known 
to  us  have  proved  futile.  It  is  not,  therefore,  likely  that  you  will  have 
any  success  in  grafting  Apple  scions  on  Plum  or  Damson  stocks,  nor  is 
grafting  very  successful  on  Plum  stocks,  even  with  Plum  scions  ;  they 
are  much  better  budded  on  young  growths.  It  would  be  a  waste  of 
time  and  labour  to  operate  on  Plum  or  Damson  stocks  with  Apple 
scions. 
Seakale  on  Heavy  Clay  (Tooting'). — This  wholesome  and  very 
desirable  vegetable  does  not  succeed  well  on  heavy  clay,  though  when 
the  soil  is  made  free-working  by  ashes  and  gritty  matter,  also  the 
addition  tof  manure,  with  perfect  drainage,  it  succeeds,  and  the  heads 
produced  are  stouter  and  better  than  those  produced  by  plants  on 
very  light  soil.  Sand  is  essential  for  all  plants — not  as  a  manure,  but 
as  a  component  of  soil.  Make  the  soil  open,  work  and  enrich  it  well, 
and  it  will  grow  fine  Seakale.  Salt  is  not  necessary  on  heavy  soil. 
A  grower  having  scant  supplies  of  manure  found  kainit,  which  contains 
salt  largely,  very  serviceable  in  rather  light  soil. 
Nectarine  Stem  and  Hoots  Dying  (J.  M). — The  roots  are  not 
infested  by  any  form  of  parasitic  micro-organism,  nor  have  they  been 
attacked  by  any  fungus.  Their  appearance  suggests  soil  poisoning — 
soddenness,  or  an  overdose  or  doses  of  strong  liquid  manure,  or  other 
disastrous  treatment.  Many  trees  have  gone  off  this  year  by  attacks  of 
the  larvae  of  a  certain  moth,  which  infests  the  stem  at  the  junction  of 
stock  and  scion,  giving  rise  to  an  exudation  of  gum  and  causing  the 
destruction  of  the  affected  tree.  You  have  not  sent  the  stem,  therefore 
we  cannot  form  an  opinion  of  it.  The  shoots  are  thick-jointed  and 
brown,  but  the  buds  are  nearly  all  “  deaf,”  and  would  have  dropped 
under  any  circumstances. 
Vine  not  Bearing  (Seymour). — It  is  unusual,  but  not  by  any 
means  rare  for  a  Vine  here  and  there  to  be  unfruitful ;  this  usually 
arises  from  excessive  vigour  and  too  close  pruning.  By  allowing  the 
Vine  to  make  growths  on  the  extension  system,  and  shortening  the  canes 
at  the  winter  pruning  to  round  firm  buds  on  firm  ripe  wood,  merely 
removing  the  extremities,  it  is  likely  you  would  have  a  good  show  of 
fruit.  But  overcrowding  the  growths  must  be  avoided.  If  you  cannot 
do  this,  and  we  do  not  consider  there  can  be  such  a  thing  as  a  tap  root, 
it  would  be  advisable  to  graft  the  Vine  with  an  approved  variety, 
and  so  secure  a  cane  or  more  this  year  for  bearing  next  season.  In 
that  way  we  have  changed  unprofitable  for  very  satisfactory  rods. 
Orchid  Definitions  (Ignorant). — Terrestrial,  as  the  term  signifies 
in  dictionaries,  pertains  to  the  earth  or  existing  on  the  ground — 
that  is,  terrestrial  Orchids  grow  on  soil  like  ordinary  plants,  and 
derive  nutrition  from  it,  such  as  Calanthes,  Cypripediums,  and  others. 
Epiphytal  are  those  growing  naturally  on  other  plants,  such  as  trees  or 
even  rocks,  but  do  not  (as  generally  accepted)  obtain  food  from  them, 
neither  penetrating  their  substance  nor  absorbing  their  juices,  such  as 
the  Vandas,  Cattleyas,  and  others.  Many  epiphytal  Orchids,  however, 
are  grown  in  pots  for  convenience,  suitable  material  being  used.  To 
give  a  list  of  the  different  species  and  their  requirements  would  fill 
several  issues  of  the  Journal  of  Horticulture.  Consult  a  work  on 
Orchids. 
Grapes  Stoning;  (IF.  A.). — We  can  only  say  what  has  often  been 
said  in  these  columns,  that  Grape  stoning  means  that  stage  when  the 
berries  remain  almost  stationary  after  taking  the  first  swelling  after 
setting,  or  when  from  about  half  to  three  parts  swelled,  though  the  pro¬ 
cess  commences  earlier  than  the  half-swelled  stage,  and  it  lasts  until  the 
Grapes  take  their  last  swelling  for  ripening,  when  they  commence 
colouring.  During  the  stoning  period  the  fertilised  ovule  surrounds 
itself  with  a  hard  covering,  called  the  stone,  and  within  that  is  the  per¬ 
fect  plant  in  embryo,  furnished  with  growing  parts  and  nutriment 
essential  for  germination  and  primary  development.  Indeed,  though  a 
seed,  it  is  to  all  intents  and  purposes  a  plant  with  a  separate  existence 
from  the  parent  when  the  fruit  is  perfected. 
Endive  and  Chicory  (H.  M.). — The  Endive  would  not  do  lifted 
when  three  parts  grown  at  the  end  of  September,  and  carefully  planted 
in  the  soil  in  a  greenhouse,  with  shelves  under  the  roof  filled  with 
Carnations,  for  the  drip  from  these  would  cause  the  Endive  to  rot  in  the 
heart, and  be  spoiled  instead  of  sound  and  well  blanched.  The  temperature 
is  also  too  high  for  any  but  partially  grown  Endive,  as  it  would  develop 
nothing  but  leaves  instead  of  forming  a  close  heart.  The  better  plan, 
even  if  you  avoid  drip,  is  to  lift  the  plants  and  place  them  in  frames, 
affording  protection  in  severe  weather,  and  where  a  regular  supply  is 
neceisary  employing  fire  heat  if  practicable.  By  keeping  the  Chicory 
roots  in  sand  and  introducing  a  certain  number  at  intervals  you  may 
maintain  a  supply  through  the  severest  weather  in  the  way  you  propose. 
“Ant  Eggs”  for  Gold  and  Silver  Fish  ( E.  S)  —  The  “eggs”  are 
certainly  not  fresh,  but  the  smell  is  peculiar  to  this  “  prepared  ”  form  of 
food,  and  we  consider  it  very  undesirable.  It  is  sufficient  to  account 
for  the  slimy  condition  of  the  water,  giving  it  a  sticky  oil-like  adherence 
to  vessels  into  which  it  is  placed.  The  fish  must  have  "sweet”  water 
for  obtaining  the  requisite  oxygen — that  is,  pure  air  ;  the  foulness  of 
the  water  alone  would  prove  disastrous  to  the  fish.  Your  specimen 
swarmed  with  bacillus.  Few  substances  are  better  for  feeding  gold  fish 
than  sweet,  well  baked  bread  crumbs  or  small  wheat  boiled  until 
chipped.  Too  much  of  anything  is  bad  for  them,  and  food  of  a  fleshy 
nature  should  be  given  very  sparingly,  and  not  any  beyond  what  the 
fish  take  as  fast  as  it  is  thrown  into  the  water.  We  know  that  the  real 
eggs  of  ants,  if  stale  or  putrid,  will  dsstroy  gold  fish. 
