460 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
May  22,  1902. 
Croydon  Gardeners. 
That  the  members  of  the  Croydon  Horticultural  Mutual 
Improvement  Society  are  imbued  with  a  praiseworthy  desire  to 
-assist  each  other  to  a  better  and  more  useful  knowledge  of  the 
practice  of  gardening  has  been  amply  demonstrated  since  the 
inauguration  o-f  the  society,  two  years  ago,  many  thanks  to  the 
ever-vigilant.  hon.  secretary,  Mr.  Gregory.  On  Wednesday, 
May  7,  they  held  their  first  exhibition  of  spring  flowers, 
plants,  &c.,  and  everyone  did  his  best  to  furnish  a  good  show  and 
make  the  effort  a  success.  And  it  was  so.  No  prizes  were 
awarded.  The  whole  effect  was  most  excellent,  and  reflected 
the  greatest  credit  upon  the  committee  who  so  ably  carried  out 
the  arrangements.  Palms,  Ferns,  Pelargoniums,  Roses,  Caraa- 
tions,  &c.,  and  bouquets  of  Carnations  and  Roses  were  exhibited 
by  Mr.  Thomas  Butcher,  of  George  Street.  Staged  upon  the 
tables  to  the  right  round  the  room,  the  first  group  was  a  fine 
collection  of  Tulips  in  vases  in  the  best  varieties  and  glowing 
colours,  exhibited  by  Messrs.  J.  R.  Box  and  Co.,  Croydon.  Mr. 
J.  A.  May  (gardener  to  Wickham  Noakes,  K.sq.,  Selsdon  Park) 
showed  a  beautiful  collection  of  Alpine  and  Show  Auriculas,  and 
some  good  Cinerarias.  Mr.  E.  Kromer,  Roraima  Nursery, 
Bandon  Hill,  exhibited  upon  a  space  20ft  by  4ft  a  magnificent 
group  of  Orchids,  most  tastefully  arranged.  Mr.  J.  R.  Box 
staged  a  most  attractive  and  showy  group  of  Azalea  mollis, 
Gloxinias,  and  Calceolarias,  &c.  (the  latter  a  fine  strain)  ;  also 
alpine  plants  among  rockwork.  Mr.  E.  Mills  (gardener  to  Frank 
Lloyd,  Esq.,  the  president  of  the  society),  arranged  a  charming 
collection,  18ft  by  4ft,  of  spring  flowers.  Mr.  W.  Bentley 
(gardener  to  George  Curling,  Esq.,  Elgin  House)  exhibited  pots 
of  the  beautiful  Alonzea  illicifolia  Ferns.  Mr.  Roffey  showed 
two  Spiraeas.  Messrs.  J.  Cheal  and  Sons,  Crawley,  staged  a  col¬ 
lection  of  cut  specimens.  Mr.  Tennant  exhibited  a  delightful 
group  of  Palms,  Spiraeas,  Rhododendrons,  and  Crotons;  Mr. 
Jeffiren  (gardener  to  Mrs.  Lascelles)  two  boxes  of  Ro.ses ;  Me.ssrs. 
Dupre  et  Cie  a  charmiiig  basket  of  Spanish  Iris  and  White  Lilac, 
also  a  vase  of  Carnations  ;  Mr.  F.  Oxtoby  (gardener  to  J.  J. 
Reid,  Esq.,  Coombe  Lodge)  a  pretty  group  of  Pelargoniums;  and 
Mr.  J.  Dingwall  (gardener  to  W.  F.  Stanley,  Esq.,  Cumberlow, 
South  Norwood)  a  group  of  Cineraria.  One  of  the  attrac¬ 
tions  of  the  show  Avas  a  set  of  cases  of  the  eggs  of  insectivorous 
birds,  exhibited  by  Mr.  G.  F.  Bunyard,  the  treasurer  of  the 
society.  The  Mayor  and  Mr.  Frank  Lloyd  were  amongst  those 
present. 
The  Metropolitan  Pnhlic  Girdtns  Association. 
Open  Spaces. — At  the  monthly  meeting  of  the  Metropolitan 
Public  Gardens  Association,  held  at  83,  Lancaster  Gate,  W., 
Sir  Mhlliam  Vincent,  Bart.,  vice-chairman,  presiding,  it  was 
stated  that  the  Leathersellers’  C'ompany  had  kindly  granted 
£10  10s.  towards  the  funds,  and  that  a  donation  had  been  pro¬ 
mised  for  the  erection  of  a  drinking  fountain  in  one  of  the  grounds 
laid  out  by  the  Association.  In  reference  to  the  complaints 
Avhich  had  been  made  as  to  excessive  tree  cutting  at  Burnham 
Beeches,  to  Avhich  the  Association  had  draAvn  the  Corporation’s 
attention,  a  reply  was  read  from  that  body  stating  that  the  work 
had  been  done  under  advice.  It  Avas  con.sidered  Nature  ought  to 
be  interfered  AA'ith  as  little  as  possible  in  this  unique  piece  of 
woodland,  in  order  that  its  Avild  aspect  might  be  pre.served.  A 
report  Avas  received  as  to  the  building  of  rooms  and  halls  in 
certain  disused  burial  grounds  Avhose  erection  it  Avas  strongly  felt 
ought  to  be  contested,  OAving  to  the  laAV  Avhich  prohibits  building 
oh  grounds  of  this  character,  Avith  a  vieAv  to  their  preservation 
as  open  spaces  of  utmost  A-alue  to  the  community.  Special 
reference  AAas  made  to  Holy  Trinity  Churchyard,  Stepney,  laid 
out  by  the  Association  in  1887  as  a  very  effective  public  garden, 
and  maintained  until  recently  by  the  London  County  Council, 
but  AA'hich  is  to  a  great  extent  being  de.stroyed  in  order  to  proAude 
a  site  for  a  hall.  It  Avas  decided  to  urge  the  Council  to  take  steps 
to  test  the  legality  of  such  u.se  of  this  and  other  grounds.  Progress 
V  as  reported  Avith  regard  to  schemes  for  the  acquisition  of  All 
Saint.s’  Churchyard,  Poplar,  and  the  laying  out  of  certain  .squares 
in  Stepney  and  ehseAvhere.  Seats  were  granted  for  a  ground  and 
other  sites  in  ChisAvick,  and  it  AA'as  decided  to  take  steps  to  secure 
the  preserA'ation  of  St.  Peter’s  Stpiare,  Haminer.smith,  roadside 
strips  in  Islington,  and  of  land  formerly  part  of  WandsAAorth 
C’ommon,  now  in  the  occupation  of  the  Patriotic  Commis.sioners, 
should  the  property  be  utilised  for  building.  Attention  AA-as 
draAvn  to  the  grievous  lUAitilation  of  a  number  of  fine  trees  in 
St.  Margaret’s  C'hurchyard,  Westminster,  in  connection  Avith  the 
erection  of  a  stand,  and  it  AAas  agreed  to  issue  an  appeal  for  the 
preservation  of  such  trees  as  still  remain  there  and  of  those  that 
exist  in  other  portions  of  the  routes  to  be  traversed  by  the 
Coronation  processions. 
Watercress  and  FloAwer  Girls’  Christian  Mission. 
A  Floral  Exhibition  by  members  of  the  above  is  announced 
to  be  held  in  the  Town  Hall,  Chiswick,  from  May  26  to  May  31. 
The  girls  will  make  artificial  floAvers  by  Avay  of  entertainment. 
•  _ j  1  j  .  t — ,  1  ,  1  wm 
^  6) 
■IE)  BEE-KEEPER.^ 
Foreign  Queens. 
By  the  infusion  of  foreign  blood  we  have  undeniably  improved 
our  natives,  and  eradioated  the  mischief  resulting  from  oon- 
sanguinity  or  in-breeding.  Constant  watchfulness,  hoAvever,  is 
necessary  to  keep  the  essential  qualities  in  vieAv,  as  hybridisation 
intensifies  and  concentrates  both  good  and  bad  qualities.  Too 
much  admixture  of  blood  should  be  avoided.  The  superiority  of 
Camiolans  and  Italians  for  their  poAvers  of  endurance,  fertility, 
and  even  temper  is  generally  admitted  by  all  careful  observers. 
With  almost  all  others,  it  is  found  that  some  undesirable  tra’t  is 
not  compensated  by  their  good  qualities.  The  former  are  in)- 
ported  from  Carniola,  in  Austria.  One  of  their  excellent  charac¬ 
teristics  clearly  distinguishes  them  from  all  others,  namely,  the  r 
mild  disposition,  smoke  and  veil  being"  entirely  unnecessary  in 
handling  them.  These  qualifications  should  recommend  them  to 
lady  bee-keepers.  They  are  someAvhat  similar  to,  but  rather 
larger,  than  our  native  bees,  being  light  broAvn  in  colour,  with 
lighter  rings  on  the  abdomen.  In  the  production  of  comb  honey 
they  excel,  using  little  or  no  propolis.  Their  only  failing  is  a 
tendency  to  swarm,  OAving  to  the  great  fertility  of  the  queens, 
but  this  can  be  moderated,  if  not  avoided,  by  giving  plenty  of 
room  for  ovipositing  and  closely  AAatching  the  supers. 
Camiolans  are  also  extremely  nervou.s,  and  their  susceptibility  to 
outside  influences  is  so  marked  that  in  the  hot  Aveather  if  the 
hive  is  not  properly  ventilated  they  appear  almost  paralysed. 
This  peculiarity  regarding  outside  influences  makes  them 
splendid  winterers.  The  queens  vary  in  colour  from  black  to 
yelloAv,  and  the  difference  betAveen  native  drones  and  Camiolans 
is  almo.st  imperceptible. 
Italians  or  Ligurians  are  natives  of  northern  Italy.  They 
are  extremely  prolific,  and  their  most  marked  feature,  that  they 
work  longer  hours  than  native  bees,  and  frequent  floAvers  not 
visited  by  the  latter.  This  is  the  only  Amriety  knoAAn  to  work 
the  red  Clover  in  this  country.  Ligurians  are  also  veiy  docile 
and  indefatigable  toilers.  The  basal  segments  of  the  abdomen 
have  di.stinct  orange  coloured  rings,  Avhich  render  these  bees 
very  attractiAm.  As  they  store  honey  close  to  the  surface  of  the 
cappings,  their  comb  honey  is  not  sO'  beautifully  AA'hite  and 
attractive  as  that  produced  by  Camiolans.  There  is  a  progressive 
development  in  hybridisation  AA’liich  is  noAv  considered  one  of  the 
most  important  features  of  apiculture.  Hybrids  are  produced  in 
an  exactly  similar  manner  to  ncAv  breeds  of  cattle.  The  crossing 
of  queens  reared  from  carefully  selected  eggs  by  drones  from 
special  stocks,  is  the  plan  employed  in  each  case.  It  is  by 
hybridising  that  Ave  have  been  furnished  Avith  the  Durham  ox, 
the  SouthdoAvn  sheep,  and  many  other  examples  Avhere  the  inter¬ 
vention  of  man  in  imitating  Nature  ha.s  been  for  his  OAvn  comfort 
and  conAmnience.  Perfection  in  breeding  an  improved  strain  is 
not  necessarily  restricted  to  foreign  and  native  bees.  Similar 
traits,  though  less  pronounced,  may  be  obsen-ed  in  our  oaau. 
There  is,  therefore,  no  reason  Avhatever  Avhy  anyone  should 
not  improve  his  stock  by  selecting  and  breeding  from  those 
AA'hich  hav’e  been  particularly  noticeable  for  some  good  quality. 
The  greatest  benefit,  hoAvever,  is  gained  by  the  addition  of 
foi-eign  blood,  or  the  purchase  of  a  queen  from  some  distant 
breeder  is  beneficial.  The  act  of  cros.sing  alone  adds  greater 
energy.  For  instance,  if  a  native  queen  mates  Avith  a  C'araiolan 
drone,  the  honey  gathering  poAvers  of  the  Avorkers  of  such  a  cross 
are  far  in  excess  of  those  of  any  pure  race.  FeAv  things  are  more 
erratic  than  the  behaviour  of  hybrids,  and  occasional  results  have 
originated  the  supposition  that  they  are  invariably  irritable,  but 
then  Avhat  is  generally  supposed  is  not  neces.^arily  true.  This  is 
stated  Avith  no  intention  of  criticising  this  assumption,  otherAVise 
than  in  a  friendly  spirit. 
To  properly  understand  the  matter  it  is  necessary  to  bear  in 
mind  that  queens  govern  ;  constitution  and  disposition  come  ^rom 
the  drone,  and  should  a  queen  mate  Avith  a  drone  from  a  mild 
dispositioned  oolony,  the  resultant  cross  Avill  partake  of  similar 
qualities.  By  crossing  and  re^crossing  some  very  A'aluable  honey 
gathering  strains  have  already  been  secured.  There  is  much 
inequality  in  the  health  and  vigour  of  queens  just  as  in  the 
constitutions  of  individuals  of  the  human  race.  Those  reared 
from  eggs  from  the  same  mother,  under  apparently  precisely 
similar  conditions,  Avill  possess  constitutions  peculiar  to  them¬ 
selves.  Those  readers  aa'Iio  harm  sufficieTit  knoAvledge  of  queens 
AA'ith  their  combinations  of  excellencies,  and  have  learned  to  judge 
them,  Avill  be  Avell  aAA^are  that  one  indiA'idual  of  the  same  breed 
