September  30,  1897. 
325 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
benefit  rather  than  injure  the  bulbs  underneath.  Beds  of  Hj^acintha  in 
one  colour  edged  with  either  Snowdrops,  Crocuses,  or  Scillas  in  contrast 
are  very  gay,  a  change  being  afforded  by  a  mixture  of  colours.  The  same 
remarks  apply  to  Tulips  and  Narcissi,  grouping  them  together  answering 
better  than  general  mixtures.  In  large  beds  circular  patches  of  either 
Narcissi,  Hyacinths,  or  Tulips  might  alternate  with  other  flowering  plants, 
or  dwarf  Conifers  and  shrubs,  or  they  may  be  interspersed  among  the 
latter  when  these  are  thinly  planted.  If  Hyacinths  fill  the  centre  of  the 
bed  dispose  them  9  inches  apart  each  way,  while  if  the  surface  of  the  bed 
is  carpeted  with  other  plants,  the  bulbs  may  be  put  out  12  inches  asunder 
with  advantage,  the  crowns  being  covered  about  4  inches  deep.  Where 
the  soil  is  of  a  heavy  nature  surround  each  bulb  with  sharp  sand ;  Narcissi 
to  be  treated  similarly  to  Hyacinths.  Plant  the  neat  growing  Tulips, 
notably  the  Van  Thols,  4  inches  apart  amd  3  inches  deep,  but  the  stronger 
varieties  may  be  disposed  (i  inches  asunder.  A  little  fresh  gritty  soil 
benefits  Tulips,  and  the  choicer  varieties  ought  certainly  to  receive  this 
extra  attention.  Snowdrops,  Scillas,  Crocuses,  and  Winter  Aconite  are 
most  effective  near  the  margins  of  beds,  and  planted  in  double  lines  or 
circles.  Plant  4  inches  deep,  and  not  more  than  3  inches  apart.  On  light 
warm  soils  Kapunculuses'  may  be  planted  in  November,  but  where  the 
soil  is  of  a  cold  clayey  nature  keep  them  out  of  the  ground  till  a  favour¬ 
able  time  arrives  for  planting  in  Pebruary. 
Shrubby  Calceolarias.— As  yet  these  plants  cannot  well  be  dispensed 
with  in  the  flower  garden,  and  a  good  stock  ought  to  be  raised.  It  is  not 
yet  too  late  to  insert  cuttings.  No  bottom  heat  is  required,  but  it  is 
advisable  to  raise  shallow  frames  well  off  the  ground  with  the  aid  of  old 
hotbed  material  not  far  advanced  in  decay  ;  also  partly  fill  the  frame  with 
the  same  and  then  cover  with  about  4  inches  of  light  loamy  soil,  on  this 
placing  2  inches  of  sifted  soil,  making  this  firm  and  level  and  facing  over 
with  sharp  sand.  Select  short,  firm,  flowerless  shoots  ;  cut  these  below 
the  third  joint,  and  trim  off  the  lower  pair  of  leaves.  Dibble  them  in  at 
once  and  just  clear  of  each  other,  taking  care  that  the  cuttings  touch  the 
bottom  of  the  holes,  fix  firmly,  and  give  a  gentle  watering.  Keep  the 
frame  close  and  shaded  from  bright  sunshine  till  the  cuttings  freshen 
up  and  fail  to  flag  when  the  sun  shines  on  them,  after  which  ventilate 
freely  in  order  to  keep  them  as  hardy  as  possible.  Protect  from  severe 
frosts  only. 
Bedding  Violas. — Autumn-rooted  plants  of  these  are  by  far  the  best 
for  summer  bedding,  and  properly  treated  they  are  unrivalled  for  bril¬ 
liancy,  especially  during  the  early  part  of  the  season.  Although  much 
hardier  (they  are  quite  hardy  in  fact)  Violas  succeed  admirably  under 
precisely  the  same  treatment  as  Calceolarias.  Prepare  frames  as  for  the 
latter,  and  select  the  young  shoots  springing  from  the  centre  of  the  old 
plants  ;  make  these  into  short  cuttings,  dibble  them  in  rather  thickly, 
and  treat  exactly  as  advised  in  the  case  of  Calceolarias.  Tailing  plenty 
of  the  young  central  shoots  make  the  best  of  the  flowering  tops  into 
cuttings,  as  these  will  develop  into  very  good  plants,  fresh  growths 
springing  up  from  below  the  surface  next  spring. 
The  Season’s  Review. 
At  this  season,  when  all  is  quiet  in  the  apiary,  and  bee-keepers  are 
comparing  notes  as  to  the  result  of  the  honey  harvest,  it  may  be  of 
interest  to  state  how  the  bees  have  fared  from  a  honey  producer’s 
point  of  view  in  this  district  (South  Yorkshire)  when  compared  Avith 
those  in  the  southern  and  more  northern  parts  of  the  country.  From 
an  extensive  correspondence  with  bee-keepers  in  many  districts  one 
is  able  to  form  a  pretty  correct  opinion  of  what  the  harvest  has  been. 
Bees  throughout  the  country  wintered  badly.  Never  before,  even 
in  the  most  severe  winters  experienced  during  the  past  quarter  of  a 
century,  Avere  there  so  many  losses  chronicled,  clearly  shoAving  that  it 
was  not  owing  to  a  low  temperature.  The  winter  Avas  very  mild ;  the 
lowest  temperature  registered  was  on  January  24th — the  thermometer 
on  that  date  showed  14°  of  frost.  The  dull  wet  autumn  of  last  year 
was  the  cause  of  bees  wintering  so  badly,  as  during  September 
4’5l  inches  rain  fell  on  twenty-five  days.  The  folloAving  month 
3-61  inches  rain  fell  on  tAventy-three  days. 
It  is  during  the  autumn  that  the  bees  are  bred  that  Avill  live 
throughout  the  winter,  and  provide  strong  colonies  the  following 
spring.  If  from  any  cause  the  queen  is  prevented  from  carrying  out 
her  maternal  duties  the  stock  will  suffer  in  a  marked  degree.  From 
the  above  figures  it  will  be  seen  that  the  bees  were  confined  to  their 
hives  throughout  the  month  of  September.  The  result  Avas  at  once 
seen.  Breeding  was  at  a  standstill.  The  old  bees,  with  which  the 
hives  were  croAvded,  died  off,  as  is  usual  at  this  season,  in  great 
numbers,  and  there  Avere  not  sufficient  young  bees  to  take  their  ])lace. 
The  winter  continued  wet  and  mild,  many  colonies  gradually  dwindled, 
and  were  unable  to  recoup  themselves. 
The  Weather  and  its  Influences. 
The  above  clearly  shoAvs  the  influence  of  the  Aveather  on  bee¬ 
keeping,  and  the  necessity  of  giving  the  bees  assistance  at  the 
proper  time.  Although  strong  colonies  may  be  well  provided  Avith 
stores  to  tide  over  the  winter,  it  is  a  great  advantage  to  supply  each 
stock  with  a  small  quantity  of  thin  syrup  daily  throughout  September 
if  the  weather  is  dull  and  showery.  This  Avill  have  the  effect  of 
keeping  the  queen  laying.  I  have  no  hesitation  in  recommending  this 
plan,  as  several  stocks  in  my  apiary  that  were  treated  in  this 
manner  last  autumn  were  far  aw'ay  my  best  colonies  in  the  spring. 
This  is  a  better  plan  than  uncapping  sealed  stores  in  the  autumn, 
although  it  answers  remarkably  well  in  the  spring,  Avhen  sealed  stores 
are  plentiful. 
Unfavourable  weather  prevailed  throughout  the  spring.  A  few 
fine  days  about  the  middle  of  May  started  the  bees  working  in  earnest. 
This  was  followed  by  dull,  shoAvery  Aveather.  June  12th  and  13th 
were  perfect  days  for  honey  production,  being  bright  and^  Avarm,  a 
shade  thermometer  on  the  latter  date  registering  86°.  White  Clover 
was  fast  coming  into  bloom,  and  as  many  stocks  Avere  strong  and 
crowded  with  bees  there  Avas  a  great  promise  of  a  good  honey  harvest. 
Bee-keepers,  however,  were  again  doomed  to  disappointment,  as  dull 
Aveather  again  set  in,  and  for  three  Aveeks  the  honey  collected  Avas  only 
sufficient  for  the  daily  requirements  of  the  bees. 
The  Swarming  Mania. 
The  past  season  Avill  be  remembered  by  many  bee-keepers  on 
account  of  the  SAvarming  propensity  of  their  bees  and  the  number  of 
tly-aAvay  sAvarms,  the  cause  of  which  is  not  difficult  to  trace. 
During  the  honey  flow,  if  the  Aveather  is  warm  and  bright  for  a 
Aveek  or  tAvo  in  succession,  the  bees  will  settle  down  to  work,  and 
if  ample  space  is  provided  for  them  to  store  a  surplus  little 
SAvarming  Avill  take  place  if  due  attention  is  given  to  shading  and 
ventilation.  But  if  after  a  day  or  tAVO  of  excessively  hot  and 
bright  weather,  as  experienced  on  the  above  dates,  a  spell  of  dull 
weather  sets  in,  the  bees  Avill  form  queen  cells  and  prepare  for 
swarming,  and  vA'hen  this  takes  place  it  is  very  difficult  to  prevent 
them  doing  so. 
After  three  Aveeks  of  dull  Aveather  it  again  set  in  very  hot  on 
July  11th,  and  continued  for  several  days.  Bees  were  SAvarming  in 
all  directions.  In  an  apiary  of  upwards  of  thirty  stocks  not  a  solitary 
swaim  came  off,  but  three  colonies,  not  100  yards  aAvay,  managed  on 
a  different  system,  all  SAvarmed.  The  queens  Avere  removed  and  the 
bees  returned  to  their  hives. 
Late  Crop  of  Honey. 
The  bright  Aveather  that  prevailed  throughout  the  country  for  at 
least  a  month  from  the  above  date  was  the  means  of  a  great  amount 
of  honey  being  stored.  It  Avas  too  late  for  the  'White  Clover  as  the 
bulk  of  it  was  over,  but  the  Limes  Avere  in  full  bloom,  and  the  bees 
stored  freely  from  this  source.  The  season,  however,  Avas  soon  over, 
owing  to  the  great  heat,  and  instead  ot  liaving  to  chronicle  a  failure, 
a  really  handsome  surplus  was  stored  in  a  very  short  space  of  time. 
In  this  district  there  has  been  quite  half  an  average  crop  of  honey 
harvested. 
A  bee-keeper  in  the  West  of  England,  Avriting  early  in  July, 
says,  “  Our  bees  have  done  remarkably  well ;  Ave  have  a  grand  crop 
of  honey,  and  the  best  in  every  way  Ave  have  had  for  years.”  Vegeta¬ 
tion  being  earlier  in  that  district,  the  bees  were  enabled  to  store  a 
suiqilus  during  the  fine  Aveather  that  prevailed  early  in  June. 
In  Northumberland  and  neighbouring  counties  there  has  been 
quite  a  “record”  honey  harvest,  the  White  Clover  being  in  full 
bloom  when  the  bright  Aveather  came  in  July,  and  as  the  crops  did 
not  suffer  as  much  from  the  drought  in  those  districts,  the  bees  were 
enabled  to  store  a  much  larger  surplus  than  those  in  the  southern 
parts  of  the  country,  Avhere  vegetation  Avas  veiy  much  parched  up ; 
and  it  was  only  from  the  early  flowers  that  bee-kejepers  in  the  south 
were  able  to  obtain,  in  many  instances,  only  a  very  scanty  harvest. 
The  honey  generally  has  been  of  good  quality.  In  this  district  it  has 
been  the  best  obtained  for  several  years. — An  English  Bee-keeper. 
TRADE  CATALOGUES  RECEIVED. 
I?.  H.  Bath,  Wisbech. — Bulbs,  Carnatims,  Roses, 
W.  &  J.  Birkenhead,  Sale,  Manchester. — Ferns  and  Selaginellas. 
J.  Carter  &  Co.,  High  Holborn. — Autumn  in  the  Garden  and  Greenhouse. 
J.  Cheal  &  Sons,  Crawley. —  Trees  and  Shrubs. 
W.  Cutbush  &  Son,  Highgate.— Caraations  and  Pinks. 
Dicksons  &  Co.,  1,  Waterloo  Place,  Edinburgh.— i?oses. 
W.  Johnson  &  Sons,  Smallbrook  Street,  Birmingham.— DwfcA  and 
other  Bulbs. 
Pape  &  Bergmann,  Quedlinburg.— /Speeds  and  Bulbs, 
W.  Paul  &  Son,  Waltham  Cross.— i^oses. 
A.  W.  Pike,  Cardiff. — Carnations  and  Picotees. 
A.  Roozen  &  Son,  Overveen,  Haarlem.— 
J.  Russell,  Richmond,  Surrey. — Bulbs. 
E.  Webb  &:  Sons,  Wordsley,  Stourbridge.— Corn. 
W 
m  BBE-KBEPER. 
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■  t.i— r-i.i.r.iv 
