110 
JOtlRNAL  OP  RORTIOULTtlRP  ANT)  GOTTAGE  GARDERTER. 
July  189? 
on,  sprinkle  the  calico  with  a  few  drops  of  carbolic,  and  it  is 
ready  for  use.  First  remove  the  covering  from  the  top  of  super, 
and  lay  the  carbolic  cloth  in  its  place.  The  bees  will  at  once 
beat  a  retreat,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  super  will  be  quite  clear 
of  bees,  and  the  most  timid  bee-keeper  may  handle  them  with 
impunity.  For  this  purpose  carbolic  cloths  are  strongly  recom¬ 
mended,  but  a  smoker  is  preferred  when  examining  the  brood  nest, 
as  if  carelessly  handled  the  carbolic  would  drive  all  the  bees  from 
their  hive. 
But  \yhatever  bee  deterrent  is  used  it  is  well  to  bear  in  mind 
that  it  is  often  quite  unnecessary  to  use  anything.  Careful 
handling  is  essential  to  success,  and  the  less  bees  are  examined  the 
better.  A  bee-keeper  who  has  only  two  or  three  stocks  will  often 
spend  more  time  manipulating  them  than  another  who  has  ten 
times  the  number,  the  former  half  suffocating  the  bees  with  smoke, 
whilst  the  latter  who  has  his  smoker  handy  will  use  it  only  when 
really  necessary,  and  the  bees  are  less  disturbed  in  consequence.-:- 
An  English  Bee-keeper, 
GARDENERS’  CHARITABLE  AND  PROYIDENT 
INSTITUTIONS. 
The  Gardeners’  Koyal  Benevolent  Institution.— Secretary, 
Mr.  G.  J.  Ingram,  .50,  Parliament  Street,  London,  W.C. 
United  Horticultural  Benefit  and  Provident  Society.— 
Secretary,  Mr.  W.  Collins,  9,  Martindale  Road,  Balbam,  London,  S.W. 
Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Secretary,  Mr.  A.  F.  Barron, 
The  Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund.  Chiswick,  W. 
All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should,  until 
further  notice,  be  directed  to  “  The  Editor,"  8,  Rose  Hill 
Road,  Wandsworth,  London,  S.TT.  It  is  requested  that  no 
one  will  write  privately  to  any  of  our  correspondents,  seeking 
information  on  matters  discussed  in  this  Journal,  as  doing 
BO  subjects  them  to  unjustifiable  trouble  and  expense,  and 
departmental  writers  are  not  expected  to  answer  any  lettera 
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. 
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,  as  a  rule,  reply  to  questions  through 
the  post,  and  we  do  not  undertake  to  return  communications 
which,  for  any  reason,  cannot  be  inserted. 
Propagation  of  Conifers  (J.  Thompson).  — You  will  find  on 
page  91  an  article  on  the  propagation  of  Conifers  and  shrubs  which  is 
certain  to  be  of  assistance  to  you.  It  is  from  the  pen  of  a  thoroughly 
practical  man,  and  the  information  is  reliable. 
Seedling  Carnations  (IF.  Pearce), — Owing  to  your  flowers  being 
wrongly  addressed  they  were  so  much  shrivelled  when  they  reached  us 
that  it  was  impossible  to  form  any  reliable  judgment  as  to  their  merit. 
When  sending  in  future  kindly  comply  with  the  directions  printed 
weekly  at  the  head  of  this  column. 
Pear  Tree  Iieayes  Eaten  ( IF.  Fry).— The  “  sort  of  caterpillar” 
vphich  has  been  grazing  on  the  leaves  you  have  sent  is  known  as  the 
^imy  grub  or  Pear  slug,  the  larva  of  the  Pear  saw  fly,  Selandria  atra. 
The  slime  on  the  body  is  not  dried  by  exposure  to  the  hottest  sun.  This 
covering  is,  however,  cast  as  the  season  advances,  and  the  grubs  are 
then  clay  coloured.  They  form  cocoons  in  the  autumn,  rest  in  the  soil, 
and  pom  them  the  perfect  insects  emerge  the  following  summer,  the 
females  depositing  eggs  cn  the  upper  surface  of  the  leaves,  from  which 
the  grubs  are  hatched.  We  have  found,  as  have  others,  that  dusting 
with  freshly  slaked  lime  destroys  the  grubs.  We  have  also  found  it 
decidedly  advantageous  to  remove  3  or  4  inches  of  surface  soil  from  around 
the  trees,  give  a  good  dressing  of  lime  and  soot,  covering  with  fresh  soil. 
It  you  find  petroleum  and  soapy  water  the  best  remedy,  and  the 
rnixture  does  not  injure  the  leaves,  by  all  means  use  it.  Perhaps  a  few 
ight  sprayings  in  June  and  July  might  prevent  the  flies  depositing 
eggs,  it  18  generally  safer  to  apply  petroleum  mixtures  in  the  evening 
ban  in  the  morning,  because  if  hot  sun  follows  while  the  leaves  are  wet 
they  are  liable  to  be  scorched. 
Seed!  for  Chiswick  (^Brassioa). — The  proper  courie  to  pursue  is 
to  write  to  the  Secretary,  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  117,  Victoria  Street, 
Westminster,  on  the  subject. 
Unknown  Plant  (N.  J.  A,). — If  you  can  oblige  with  the  botanical 
name  of  the  plant,  so  that  we  may  be  able  to  identify  it,  we  shall  bo 
glad  to  give  you  any  information  we  can  on  its  cultivation.  Good  King 
Henry  is  one  of  the  fanciful  names  of  the  Lincolnshire  Mercury 
(Chenopodium  bonus  Henricus),  but  we  doubt  if  this  is  the  plant  yon 
have  ia  mind. 
Paraffin-lTapthalene  Emulsion  (A.  J,  iV.). — We  are  unable  to 
give  you  the  desired  information.  The  preparation,  as  you  say,  is  “  not 
advertised,”  and  we  really  do  not  know  whether  it  is  on  sale  generally 
or  not.  The  “  Patentee’s”  letter  gives  you  as  much  information  as  we 
can,  but  he,  as  he  stated,  is  not  personally  interested  in  the  sale  of  the 
product.  We  do  not  know  the  address  of  the  proprietor. 
Early  Rivers  N'ectarlne  Splitting  at  the  Stone  (IF.  H.).— 
This  variety  has  been  so  short  a  time  in  commerce  as  not  to  enable  us  to 
say  if  it  is  accustomed  to  this  serious  defect.  The  specimens  have  not 
come  to  hand,  hence  we  cannot  form  any  opinion  as  to  what  caused  the 
splitting.  In  your  case  it  may  be  due  to  the  tree  being  overfed  in  the 
later  stages  of  swelling,  the  roots  of  the  tree  then  only  having  got  exten¬ 
sive  possession  of  the  soil,  and  transmitted  more  nutriment  than  could  be 
utilised  ;  hence  the  cracking  of  the  flesh  and  splitting  of  the  stone,  both 
too  hard  to  bear  tbe  tension  and  growth  of  new  cells.  See  ”  Peaches 
Decayed  and  Hollow,”  page  86, 
Cucumber  Plant  Diseased  (  T.  A.  ).  —  The  fine  plant  and 
excellent  specimen  for  examination  was  found  perfectly  healthy  in  the 
leaf  and  stem,  also  on  the  root-stem  for  G  inches  or  more  downward 
from  the  collar  of  the  plant,  and  even  the  main  lateral  roots  were  quite 
normal.  The  small  roots  or  fibres  are  knotted,  numerous  small  knobs 
being  on  them,  and  the  effect  of  this  is  to  arrest  the  ascent  of  the 
nutrition  absorbed  by  the  young  fibrelets,  in  consequence  of  which  the 
foliage  of  the  plant  becomes  sickly  in  appearance,  and  this  results  in 
gradual  collapse.  In  the  knobj  were  eelworm,  fine  examples  of  Tylenchus 
devasfatrix,  Kuhn,  and  its  cysts  or  eggs  in  various  stages  of  development. 
We  advise  you  to  use  Little’s  soluble  phenyle  in  the  proportion  of  1  gill 
(quarter  pint)  to  3  gallons  of  rain  or  soft  water,  applying  as  in  an 
ordinary  watering.  It  may  be  necessary  to  repeat  the  application 
occasionally,  and  in  such  cases  half  the  strength  sufldees.  The  soluble 
phenyle  acts  as  a  manure,  besides  compassing  the  destruction  of  the 
eelworm.  Nitrate  of  soda,  quarter  ounce  to  a  gallon  of  water,  also  acts 
well  against  the  eelworm,  especially  when  used  ia  conjunction  with 
soluble  phenyle  (see  article  by  Mr.  W.  Iggulden  in  our  issue  of  February 
18  h.  1897,  page  130). 
Woodllce  In  Encharls  Pots  (Subteriber). — The  fact  of  the  soil, 
which  was  scorched  before  using  it  for  the  Bucharises,  being  ”  full  of 
woodlice,”  suggests  that  it  has  been  kept  more  than  ordinarily  dry,  and 
too  dry,  we  are  inclined  to  think,  for  the  well-being  of  the  plants,  while 
favourable  to  the  increase  of  their  enemy  the  mite.  We  have  never 
known  woodlice  to  swarm  in  soil  which  is  kept  sufficiently  moist  for  tbe 
h  alth  of  Bucharises.  We  should  give  the  plants  a  good  watering  to 
“swell  ”  the  soil,  then  follow  with  clear  soot  water  of  the  colour  of  pale 
ale.  This  would  not  be  palatable  for  the  woodlice,  which  would  find 
means  of  escape,  while  it  would  benefit  rather  than  injure  the  plants. 
The  best  thing  to  do,  then,  is  to  catch  the  pests.  The  old  plan  of 
placing  a  boiled  Potato  in  each  of  a  few  flower  pots,  covering  rather 
thickly  but  somewhat  loosely  with  dry  hay,  and  laying  the  pots  where  the 
woodlice  abound,  will  attract  many  of  them.  Another  simple  method  is 
to  take  two  dry  dirty  old  boards  and  place  them  face  to  face,  with  just 
sufficient  room  between  them  for  the  pests  to  enter.  We  have  seen 
thousands  of  the  woodlice  caught  in  this  way,  and  ended  in  a  moment 
by  casting  them  into  boiling  water.  It  is  said  that  a  spriukling  of 
oatmeal  or  crumbled  potato  on  the  lower  board  causes  the  pests  to 
congregate  the  more  quickly.  By  perseverance  in  tbe  methods  propo8.ed 
you  may  clear  the  house  of  woodlice. 
IMCadresfield  Court  Grapes  Diseased  (^Grower,  Darlington).— 
The  leaves  aud  berries  are  attacked  by  anthracnose  fungus  (Sphaceloma 
ampelinum),  but  in  a  very  mild  form.  The  tendency  to  crack  is  also 
accelerated  in  the  berries,  as  appears  in  your  specimen.  There  are  not 
any  “  fruits  ”  of  the  fungus  on  either  of  the  leaves  or  berries,  but  there 
will  probably  be  some  borne  on  the  young  wood.  They  appear  as 
minute  pustules  on  the  epidermis,  through  which  the  spores  push  and 
are  scattered  far  and  wide.  That  the  atmospheric  conditions  of  our 
vineries  are  unfavourable  to  their  germination  is  evident  from  its 
attacking  some  varieties  in  the  same  house  and  leaving  others,  evapor¬ 
ating  more  freely,  severely  alone.  It  appears  to  prefer  light  coloured  or 
somewhat  delicate  varieties,  especially  those  not  in  vigorous  health. 
The  treatment  advisable  is  to  cut  off  all  injured  canes  during  winter,  as 
will  be  done  in  pruning,  and  burn  them.  When  the  house  has  been 
cleansed  in  the  usual  manner  drees  the  Vine,  with  all  the  rods  in  the 
house,  with  a  lolution  of  sulphate  of  iron,  1  lb.  to  1^  gallon  of  water, 
applying  with  a  brush  to  every  part  of  the  rod,  not  missing  any  part, 
but  taking  care  not  to  injure  the  buds.  Do  not  practise  peeling  the 
rod,  as  the  iron  sulphate  on  raw  bark  may  sink  in  and  do  mischief, 
but  we  have  not  found  any  result.  It  must  be  used  whilst  the  Vine  is 
quite  dormant,  but  preferably  just  before  the  buds  start.  It  is  needless 
to  say  that  all  fallen  leaves  should  be  removed  and  burnt.  As  a  further 
preventive  measure  you  may  dust  the  Vine  with  a  powder  formed  of  equal 
parts  best  chalk  lime,  air-slaked,  and  flowers  of  sulphur  when  the  leaves 
are  fairly  formed.  We  find  the  sulphate  of  iron  quite  sufficient.  Use 
fertilisers  freely. 
