362 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
October  8, 1918. 
syrup  or  beer  and  sugar  in  bottles  a  short  diitanoe  from  the  apiary. 
If  the  bottles  containing  the  tjrup  are  placed  in  close  proximity  to 
the  hires  many  bees  will  also  be  trapped,  which  should  be  avoided 
as  far  as  is  possible. 
Uniting  Weak  Colonies  of  Bees. 
Only  under  exceptional  circumstances  isit  advisable  to  attempt 
wintering  weak  stocks  of  bees,  for  os  a  rule  the  strongest  colonies 
in  the  autumn  will  be  found  to  be  the  best  the  following  spring, 
always  provided  they  are  headed  by  a  young  fertile  queen.  As 
has  been  often  stated,  the  best  winter  packing  for  bees  is  bees. 
The  reason  is  not  far  to  seek,  as  where  tbere  is  a  large  cluster  of 
bees,  a  much  more  even  temperature  will  be  maintained  in  the 
interior  of  the  hive  than  if  it  contains  only  a  few,  and  will  thus 
be  much  more  independent  of  the  various  changes  in  the  weather 
prevailing  ou  tside. 
Where  tbere  is  a  number  of  colonies  kept  in  an  apiary  there  are 
usually  to  be  found  some  stocks  that  are  much  stronger  in  bees 
than  others.  There  are  various  causes  for  this.  In  some  instances 
it  will  be  found  that  those  having  old  queens  which  commenced 
laying  early  in  the  spring  will  have  become  •somewhat  exhausted  by 
the  time  the  honey  flow  is  over,  and  few  eggs  will  be  laid  from 
them  onwards.  By  October  many  of  the  old  bees  will  have  died 
off,  and  instead  of  the  hive  being  crowded  with  bees,  on  examina¬ 
tion  there  will  be  found  to  be  only  sufficient  to  cover  four  or  five 
frames.  Another  cause  of  weakness  at  this  season  may  be  found 
in  those  containing  late-hatched  young  queens,  which  through 
various  causes,  the  chief  one  being  dull  weather,  failed  to  become 
f^tilised  at  the  usual  time,  causing  a  delay  in  egg  production. 
Where  this  is  found  to  be  the  case  it  is  advisable  to  unite  the 
two  colonies.  No  delay  should  take  place  in  this  operation,  the 
old  queen  being  destroyed  and  the  bees  united  with  those  headed 
by  a  young  queen,  according  to  advice  given  in  previous  notes  on 
uniting  bees.  I  his  will  be  found  in  practice  to  be  much  better 
than  attempting  to  winter  weak  stocks  of  bees. 
Reducing  Enteances. 
Not  only  is  this  necessary  at  this  season  to  prevent  wasps 
from  gaining  admission  to  the  hives,  but  it  also  prevents  the 
robbers  from  other  hives  gaining  access  to  their  neighbours’  stores, 
the  rightful  owners  having  a  much  better  chance  of  keeping 
intruders  out.  This  ^is  one  of  the  disadvantages  of  late  feeding, 
which  gives  a  great  impetus  to  robbing ;  but  if  from  any  cause 
there  still  remain  stocks  that  are  short  of  stores,  it  should  be 
seen  to  at  once  according  to  previous  instructions,  taking  care 
not  to  spill  the  syrup,  which  should  be  given  them  late  in  the 
evening.  Keep  the  entrances  reduced  for  the  next  two  or  three 
weeks,  by  that  time  the  bees  will  be  quietly  settled  in  their 
winter  quarters.— An  English  Bee-keepek. 
All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should  be 
ffirected  to  “  The  Editor.”  Letters  addressed  personally  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,  and  departmental  writers 
are  not  expected  to  answer  any  letters  they  may  receive  on 
Gardening  and  Bee  subjects,  through  the  post. 
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  p^er  only.  We  cannot,  as  a  rule,  reply  to  questions 
through  the  post,  and  we  do  not  undertake  to  return  rejected 
communications. 
Pangrus  (J,  E,').  The  specimen  is  a  Puff-ball,  and  certainly  not 
eatable  in  its  present  condition.  The  Giant  Puff-ball,  Lycoperdon 
gigauteum,  is  wholesome  when  gathered  in  a  young  fresh  state,  and 
cooked  at  once. 
Xiime  and  Xilmlng'  (T.  U.  E,'), — We  are  unable  to  supply  you  with 
the  number  you  require  as  it  is  out  of  print,  but  we  do  the  next  best 
thing  reprint  on  page  345  the  remarks  bearing  on  the  tubiect  you 
specially  indicate. 
Xieaves  with  Sc  and  Holes  in  the  Centre  (T.  C.'). — The  wood 
appears  to  be  that  of  the  common  Alder  (Alnns  glutinosa),  which^. 
though  a  timber  tree  in  some  parts  of  England,  is  a  dwarf  shrub  in 
elevated  placet.  A*  for  the  holes  in  the  leaves  we  have  not  seen  the 
like  before,  and  are  not  acquainted  with  any  insect  likely  to  produce- 
them. 
Everarreen  for  a  Hedge  (Juvenile). — The  best  evergreen  for  a 
hedge  is  Holly,  planted  1  foot  apart ;  but  yon  want  the  “best  and  quickest 
growing,”  for  which  combination  no  plant  equals  the  Evergreen  Privet 
(not  the  “  common,”  which  sheds  its  leaves  in  winter),  and  it  should  be 
planted  6  inches  apart  when  the  plants  are  1  to  2  feet  and  previously 
transplanted  ;  but  larger  plants  may  be  given  more  room  if  care  is  taken 
to  have  them  near  enough  to  form  a  good  bottom. 
violet  Xieaves  Spotted  (Foreman). — The  spots  on  the  leaves  are 
caused  by  a  fungus,  a  species  of  Hamularia.  It  is  rather  peculiar  to- 
the  small  leaved  varieties,  especially  the  Neapolitans,  and  is  certainly 
accelerated  by  damp.  Sulphur  is  of  no  use  as  the  fungus  is  endophytic,, 
but  it  may  be  prevented  from  spreading  by  the  use  of  one  of  the  advertised 
powdered  fungicides,  dusting  the  plants  very  lightly.  We  have  also 
nsed  air-slaked  lime  with  good  effect,  indeed  we  seldom  use  anything 
else,  taking  csre  to  have  it  dry  and  floury.  This  and  abundance  of  air 
on  all  favourable  occasions,  tilting  the  lights  to  let  the  plants  have  air 
when  the  weather  is  wet  but  mild,  enables  us  to  prevent  the  enemy 
doing  serious  damage  to  the  plants. 
Proliferous  Ferns  (C.  S.  F.). — The  Fern  you  describe  as  pro¬ 
ducing  a  number  of  little  plants  along  the  midrib  of  each  frond  is 
probably  Polystichum  prolifernm.  When  the  frondlets  are  half  an  inch 
long  or  so,  the  portions  of  the  fronds  bearing  them,  if  pegged  down  in  a 
free  mixture  of  leaf  soil,  peat,  a  little  loam  and  sand,  or  even  cocoa-nut 
fibre  refuse,  and  kept  moist  in  a  box,  snch  as  a  biscuit  box,  and  a  square 
of  glass  laid  across  to  exclude  air,  will  be  kept  fresh  for  supporting  thfr 
“little  plants”  till  they  form  roots.  If  not  kept  close  and  moist  as 
suggested  the  fronds  are  apt  to  wither  in  a  room  window  and  the  frondlets 
perish.  You  may  try  some  now,  and  if  they  fail  try  others  next 
summer  when  the  weather  is  warmer,  but  they  must  be  shaded  from 
the  sun. 
Freesla  refracta  (W.  E.  G.).  —  The  insertion  of  “Curtis”  in 
connection  with  the  “  Botanical  Register  ”  on  page  339  was  obviously 
a  slip  of  the  pen — the  result  of  momentary  haste  when  most  of  the 
pages  were  printed.  You  are  quite  right  as  to  the  plant  being 
figured  under  the  name  of  Tritonia  refracta,  also  under  the  name  of 
Gladiolus  refractus  by  both  Jacquin  in  his  “  leones  Plantarum  Rariorum  ” 
on  page  241,  and  by  P.  J.  Redouts  in  his  splendid  work  “  Les 
Liliace^es,”  on  plate  419  of  his  seventh  volume.  As  you  know,  the 
representations  of  flowers  by  different  artists  often  vary  considerably. 
We  are  much  obliged  by  your  able  little  critique,  and  as  you  appear 
to  know  most  things  in  connection  with  flowers,  and  have  time  to- 
consult  authorities,  you  may  perhaps  be  able  to  say  when  Freesia 
refracta  alba  first  became  popular  for  purposes  of  decoration. 
Cyclamen  Corma  Eaten  by  Grubs  (J.  W.). — The  corm  has  its 
base  practically  eaten  away  by  grubs,  the  larvse  of  the  grooved  or  black 
Vine  weevil  (Otiorhynchus  snlcatns),  which  are  very  tenacious  of  life,, 
and  on  that  account  not  easily  destroyed,  as  they  hold  a  sort  of  air 
bubble  just  below  the  throat,  and  this  prevents  their  being  easily 
drowned,  or  anything  intended  for  their  destruction  being  taken 
in  at  the  mouth,  such  as  poisons  ;  therefore  the  best  way  to  treat 
them  is  to  use  a  substance  that  will  act  on  the  skin.  The  best  we  have 
used  is  corrosive  sublimate,  a  very  dangerous  one  to  use,  and  on  that 
account  not  advised  by  us  for  some  considerable  time.  We,  therefore, 
advise  the  advertised  substance  you  have  already  used,  which,  in  th.i 
proportion  of  1  in  50  of  water,  destroys  the  pest  in  one  minute.  At  that 
strength  it  will  not  hurt  the  plants,  but  afterwards  benefit  them 
manurially.  The  plants,  however,  if  like  the  one  sent,  are  worthless — 
hopelessly  destroyed, 
iklllgrator  or  Avocado  Pear  (J.  M.).  —  The  fruit  of  Persea 
gratiesima  is  called  in  the  West  Indies  Alligator  Pear,  or  Avocado  Pear. 
The  tree  grows  to  the  size  of  one  of  our  largest  Apple  trees.  The  fruit  in 
size  and  shape  is  like  a  large  Pear,  and  is  held  in  esteem  in  the  West 
Indies.  The  pulp  is  of  a  pretty  firm  consistence,  and  has  a  delicate,  rich 
flavour,  which  gains  favour  with  those  who  do  not  like  it  at  first ;  but  it 
is  so  rich  and  mild  that  most  people  make  use  of  some  spice  or  pungent 
substance  to  give  it  poignancy,  and  for  this  purpose  some  make  use  of 
wine,  some  of  sugar,  others  of  lime  juice,  but  most  of  pepper  and  salt. 
You  will  perceive  there  is  very  slight  probability  of  your  growing  the 
trees  to  maturity,  though  they  may  perhaps  be  interesting  in  a  young 
state.  If  readers  generally  were  like  yourself  in  being  your  “own 
binder”  of  weekly  issues  of  the  Journal  of  Uorficulture,  they  would 
in  the  course  of  a  few  years  have  in  their  possession  a  rich  mine  of 
information  on  gardening  subjects. 
Mango  Treatment  (nenri). — The  Mango  (Mangifera  indica)  is  a 
large  tree,  and  requires  plenty  of  room  with  all  the  light  possible.  It 
is  sometimes  seen  in  this  country,  and  its  fruit  occasionally  grown  in 
very  good  condition.  It  grows  best  in  a  compost  of  peat  and  rich  loam. 
Being  a  native  of  the  East  Indies  it  requires  a  stove  temperature— 
namely,  60°  to  65°  at  night,  and  70°  to  75°  by  day  artificially  in  winter, 
but  during  cold  and  severe  weather  5°  lower  is  advantageous,  the 
atmosphere  being  comparatively  dry,  and  only  water  given  at  the  roots 
to  prevent  flagging  of  the  leaves,  as  it  is  an  evergreen.  In  summer  the 
temperature  should  range  10°  to  15°  higher,  wateringand  moisture  being 
more  liberal.  The  plant  being  in  a  7-inch  pot  will  be  a  long  time  before 
