July  2d,  I89f,5 
JOUniTAL  OF  HORTiGULTURF  AND  COTTAGF  GARDENER. 
10§  ; 
tied  down,  either  variety  would  form  a  good  groundwork  for  a  few  rather 
tall  Cockscombs.  A  bed  or  beds  thus  filled  would  raak  amongst  the  most 
attractive  feature  in  a  garden. 
PLANT  HOUSES.  ■ 
Blgnonla  grandlflora. — In  6-inch  pots  this  plant  fiowers  pro¬ 
fusely,  and  is  very  useful  for  various  decorative  purposes.  Cuttings  of 
young  wood  root  freely  in  houses  where  a  fair  amount  of  moisture 
is  maintained.  The  plants  should  be  well  ripened  and  rested  in  a  cool 
house.  When  started  into  growth  in  the  spring  an  intermediate  tem¬ 
perature  suits  them  well  if  fully  exposed  to  the  sun.  The  wood  made 
must  be  firm  or  else  the  plants  fail  to  fiower. 
Gloxinias. — Plants  raised  from  seed  sown  late  in  the  spring  and 
now  in  small  pots  should  be  transferred  into  others  4  and  5  inches  in 
diameter,  according  to  their  size.  These,  if  shaded  from  bright  sunshine 
and  grown  close  to  the  glass  in  cold  frames,  will  make  excellent  deco¬ 
rative  plants  a  few  months  hence.  Few  plants  when  well  grown  are 
more  effective.  By  starting  the  tubers  at  intervals  of  a  month  and 
raising  seedlings  a  very  long  succession  of  bloom  can  be  obtained. 
Plants  that  flowered  early  and  have  enjoyed  a  good  season  of  rest  may 
be  started  again  into  growth.  They  will  soon  commence  to  grow  in  any 
structure  that  is  kept  moderately  close.  The  plants  may  be  flowered  in 
the  same  pots. 
Tuberous  Begonias. — Seedlings  may  be  grown  in  cold  frames, 
for  although  they  may  appear  to  be  late  they  will  make  wonderful 
progress,  and  flower  profusely  during  October  and  November  if  placed 
in  a  warm  house  close  to  the  glass  where  the  atmosphere  is  kept 
moderately  dry.  The  flowers  of  these  Begonias  are  very  useful  for 
house  decoration.  They  are  easily  bruised,  and  therefore  do  not  travel 
well. 
M'ertera  depressa. — This  is  really  a  charming  little  plant  when 
well  grown  and  covered  with  its  coral-like  berries.  Plants  that  have 
berried  well  and  have  started  again  into  growth  may  be  broken  up  and 
dibbled  thickly  into  small  pots  or  pans,  the  latter  being  best  when 
needed  for  table  decoration.  This  plant  grows  freely  in  any  light 
moderately  rich  soil,  and  should  be  kept  moist  until  well  established  in 
an  intermediate  temperature.  By  autumn  the  surface  of  the  pots  or 
pans  will  be  covered  with  growth,  and  if  well  watered  we  find  the  plants 
winter  well  on  shelves  where  the  temperature  does  not  fall  below  45°, 
In  spring  a  fair  amount  of  air  and  full  sunshine  should  be  afforded 
them,  when  they  will  be  found  to  berry  freely. 
Celestas. — Plants  for  autumn  and  winter  now  in  3-incb  pots  may 
be  transferred  into  5-inch  without  delay.  Grow  the  plants  in  frames 
where  they  can  enjoy  a  liberal  amount  of  air.  They  should  not  be 
hurried  in  their  last  stages,  or  they  will  he  almost  certain  to  damp  at 
the  base  when  arranged  in  conservatories  and  other  structures. 
Asparagus  deflexus. — However  effective  and  usefnl  other  varie 
ties  of  Asparagus  may  be  for  furnishing  in  pots  and  for  supplying 
greenery  for  cutting,  A.  deflexus  is  a  handsome  basket  plant.  It  is 
very  distinct  in  appearance,  and  its  fairly  long  feathery  shoots  droop 
gracefully  over  the  sides  of  the  basket.  This  is  certainly  a  great 
acquisition  to  the  numerous  basket  plants  at  disposal. 
Eplphyllums. — These,  if  assisted  by  gentle  warmth  to  make  their 
growth,  should  now  be  fully  exposed  to  the  sun,  and  at  the  same  time  be 
given  abundance  of  air.  They  flower  profusely  when  the  growths  are 
thoroughly  ripened,  which  is  best  accomplished  by  exposure  to  light  and 
air,  and  not  by  the  barbarous  system  of  drying  them  at  their  roots  until 
the  plants  shrivel.  Where  stage  room  is  limited  these  plants  do  well 
grown  in  pots  suspended  from  the  roof  by  means  of  wire.  In  this 
position  they  do  not  suffer  so  quickly  from  the  drying  conditions  of  the 
atmosphere  as  many  other  plants.  Even  in  baskets  the  plants  do  very 
well,  providing  they  are  not  overwatered.  If  strong  stocks  of  Fereskia 
are  at  hand  they  may  be  cut  into  lengths  and  inserted  in  small  pots.  If 
pieces  of  Epiphyllum  are  attached  on  the  top  and  then  stood  in  the 
propagating  frame  they  will  unite  by  the  time  the  stocks  are  rooted. 
Grafting  is  easily  effected  by  splitting  the  stock  at  the  top  and  the 
removal  of  the  bark  from  the  scion,  or  by  placing  pieces  on  each  side 
after  removing  a  portion  of  the  stock,  so  that  the  two  barks  come 
together.  When  placed  on  each  side  of  the  stock,  and  each  scion  pointing 
outwards,  they  form  good  shaped  heads  much  quicker  than  when  one 
piece  only  is  attached. 
Missouri  Botanical  Garden.— The  Trustees  have  decided  to 
to  add  100  acres  to  these  gardens,  and  plans  are  being  prepared  by  the 
Messrs.  Olmsted  of  Boston.  The  work  of  making  extensions  and 
improvements  will  begin  during  the  present  summer,  and  will  cover  a 
period  of  five  years.  This  season  will  be  devoted  to  grading  and  the 
laying  of  water  pipes.  Next  year  the  planting  will  begin.  The  year 
following  the  walks  will  be  laid  out.  The  fourth  year  the  herbaceous 
plants  will  be  put  in,  and  in  the  fifth  year  the  work  of  preparation  will 
be  completed.  The  proposed  improvements  are  the  beginning  of  an 
entire  remodelling  of  “  Shaw’s  Garden."  The  instructions  given  to  the 
Messrs.  Olmsted  were* — first,  for  a  general  plan  for  .improving  the  farm 
land  adjoining  the  garden  ;  second,  a  detailed  plan  for  the  North  American 
synopsis,  and  a  small  department  of  medical  botany  ;  third,  suggestions 
for  the  gradual  modification  of  the  present  park  to  harmonise  with  the 
improvements.  According  to  a  contemporary.  Professor  Trelease,  who 
has  embodied  the  plans  in  his  forthcoming  annual  report,  considers  that 
the  improvement  will  place  these  gardens  in  a  forf;most  position  among 
the  famous  botanical  gardens  of  the  world. 
RR  iRifcTRi-KiF^^PTi)lFr 
rxJC/  X3JC/X2/  XVJlV JiV-t  XVXv> 
ReMovinq  Supers. 
Supers  will  now  require  attention,  as  it  is  not  advisable  to 
allow  them  to  remain  on  the  hive  after  they  are  properly  sealed 
over,  or  the  combs  will  soon  become  discoloured,  and  instead  of 
being  of  pearly  whiteness  the  cappings  will  be  dark  in  colour. 
This  is  very  objectionable,  whether  they  are  required  for  exhibition, 
home  consumption,  or  marketing  purposes.  It  is  not  always 
possible  to  have  all  the  cells  filled  with  honey,  as  a  sudden  change 
in  the  weather  will  often  cause  the  bees  to  leave  the  supers  and 
cluster  in  the  body  of  the  hive  ;  but  with  the  perfect  bee  weather 
experienced  during  the  past  fortnight  there  can  be  no  excuse  on 
the  part  of  the  bee-keeper  if  supers  are  not  in  good  condition. 
Sections  that  are  well  sealed  over  should  be  removed  from  the 
hive  without  delay.  If  there  are  a  few  cells  not  properly  finished 
ofE  place  them  in  the  middle  of  the  crate  and  allow  them  to  remain 
a  few  days  longer,  then  in  all  probability  they  will  be  in  a  fit 
condition  for  removal.  This  is  important,  as  the  unsealed  cells 
will  drip,  which  ia  often  a  just  cause  of  complaint  from  dealers 
who  have  the  handling  of  them,  and  prevents  them  stocking  a 
supply  of  sections  as  often  as  they  would  if  they  could  always  rely 
on  them  being  dry  and  otherwise  in  good  condition.  It  is  now  too 
late  (except  in  Heather  districts)  to  fill  up  the  vacant  space  in 
crates  with  empty  sectiona.  The  bee-keeper’s  aim  should  be  to 
endeavour  to  obtain  as  many  well-finished  sections  as  is  possible. 
This  can  only  be  done  by  placing  the  partly  filled  sections  close 
together  directly  over  the  brood  nett,  the  empty  space  being  filled 
with  some  warm  material  to  prevent  the  escape  of  heat  from  the 
hive. 
Removing  Glass  Supers. 
Although  glass  supers  are  now  not  nearly  so  common  as  for¬ 
merly,  when  the  majority  of  bees  were  kept  in  straw  skeps,  still 
many  bee-keepers  who  manage  their  bees  according  to  modern 
ideas  have  a  fancy  for  at  least  one  glass  super  in  their  apiary. 
This  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  for  what  is  more  interesting  to  many 
people  other  than  bee-keepers  than  a  well-finished  bell-glass  of 
honey  ? 
Many  of  those  that  are  in  use  for  the  above  purpose  are  most 
inconvenient  for  table  use,  the  combs  having  to  bo  removed  bodily 
and  placed  on  a  dish  or  something  similar.  The  most  useful  bell- 
glass  that  I  have  used  for  that  purpose  was  obtained  from  Messrs. 
Neighbour  &  Son,  High  Holborn.  It  is  circular  in  shape  with  straight 
sides,  which  are  about  9  inches  in  depth,  a  lid  with  a  knob  on 
top  is  supplied  with  it,  which  gives  it  a  very  handsome  appearance 
when  placed  on  the  table.  The  lid  also  prevents  flies  from  gaining 
access  to  the  honey,  which  is  a  great  advantage  when  stored  away. 
Before  attempting  to  remove  a  bell-glass  from  the  hive  a  piece 
of  fine  wire  or  string  should  be  drawn  under  the  glass  so  as  to  cut 
through  the  comb,  which  will  be  fastened  to  the  board  on  the  top  of 
the  hive.  When  this  has  been  done  place  some  thin  wedges  of  wood 
under 'the  super  so  as  to  leave  a  clear  space  between  the  comb  that 
has  been  severed,  otherwise  the  bees  would  connect  them  again, 
but  not  of  sufficient  height  to  allow  the  bees  to  escape.  Cover  the 
super  again  and  allow  it  to  remain  on  the  hive  for  at  least  two 
or  three  hours,  which  will  give  the  bees  ample  time  to  clear  up  the 
dripping  honey.  The  combs  will  thus  be  dry  and  the  super  may  be 
handled  with  impunity. 
On  removing  the  super  carry  it  bottom  upwards  some  distance 
from  the  hive.  If  the  glass  is  darkened  by  being  wrapt  in  some  of 
the  coverings  from  the  hive  the  bees  will  come  to  the  light,  when 
they  may  be  brushed  off  with  a  feather,  and  will  at  once  fly  back  to 
their  hive.  If  the  bees  will  not  leave  the  super  freely  a  little  smoke 
blown  into  the  glass  will  cause  them  to  do  so.  It  is  better,  how¬ 
ever,  not  to  use  smoke  if  it  can  be  avoided,  as  it  may  give  an  un¬ 
pleasant  flavour  to  the  honey. 
Carbolic  versus  Smoke. 
In  handling  bees  it  is  necessary  to  have  something  at  hand  for 
quieting  them.  It  is,  however,  a  disputed  question  what  is  best 
for  that  purpose.  For  general  purposes  I  prefer  a  Bingham 
smoker,  and  I  know  of  nothing  better  when  examining  stocks  in 
the  spring.  If  the  weather  is  warm  it  is  often  not  necessary  to 
use  anything  at  all,  but  if  the  bees  are  inclined  to  be  troublesome  a 
gentle  puff  or  two  from  the  smoker  will  quiet  them.  After¬ 
wards  when  removing  supers,  either  full-sized  frames  or  sections, 
I  now  make  it  a  rule  never  to  use  smoke  in  any  form,  as  a 
carbolic  cloth  is  much  better.  This  is  very  simple  in  preparation 
and  use.  All  that  is  required  is  a  piece  of  unbleached  calico, 
slightly  larger  than  the  top  of  the  hive  intended  to  be  operate<^ 
