Murcli  1(>,  tS'.iy. 
225 
JOiniNAIj  Ob'  HOIlTlOlIl/rUllb]  AND 
(JOTTA  (Jb:  a  A  IUjENNIL 
A  tompcriitiiro  of  55°  at  niglit,  5°  Iohh  on  oolil  inoniiiifijH,  55°  to  (i0“  by 
<l(iy,  adviincinjj  to  (55°  or  70°  witli  ('loanin  of  huh,  will  briof'  tho  trroH  on 
Hnllicirntly  fust,  vpiitilntin^  from  55“  or  (50°,  and  not  allowing  an  advanco 
abovo  (55°  without  full  vontilation. 
Houses  Pldrtrd  Early  in  March.  —  With  tho  (lowcira  (•xpandiiif'  Hyriiif'inp; 
tho  troPH  luuHt  cpuso,  for  thoro  in  dan(>;pr,  pii|)Pcially  in  dull  wpathor,  of 
wpttkpiiiii^  tho  bloHNoin  and  convortiiip;  tho  pollen  into  pasto.  An 
occaHional  ayrinj'ing  uiay,  howovor,  bo  practised  if  tho  weather  b<* 
iinuHUally  bright,  and  iho  ntiiiOHphoro  dry.  Daiiipini'  tho  (loorH  and 
bordorH  ia  f>;on<‘ridly  HulVudont,  and  a  Haler  plan.  Adndt  air  freidy  in 
mild  wpiither,  and  ftM'tiliso  tho  llowors  on  lino  davft.  Maintain  tho  nif'ht 
tpinporaturo  at  45°  to  50°,  55°  by  day  artillcially,  and  05°  from  aun  boat. 
Admit  a  little  air  constantly,  incnuiso  tho  ventilation  at  50°,  and  f'ivo 
more  as  the  heat  rises,  havinij  full  air  on  at  (55°,  olosln^  at  50°.  Siiper- 
(luouH  llowors  on  (ho  under  side  of  tho  shoots  may  bo  removed  by  drawing 
tho  hand  down  tho  ('rowth. 
Trite  Houses. — Whore  tho  roof-li^iits  have  been  romovod  they  should 
bo  replaced  at  once,  tho  buds  beiiiff  W(>11  advanced  in  Hwollinf^,  and 
promisinf:^  an  abundant  cro])  of  fruit.  If  thoro  bo  any  trace  of  aphides 
apply  an  insecticide,  or  fumii'ato  tho  houso  hoforo  tho  ilowers  expand. 
Nothiiiff  oonilucos  more  to  a  f'ood  sot  than  removiiifr  the  Ilowers  on  tho 
under  side  or  back  of  the  trellis,  and  turning  on  tho  heat  after  tho  authors 
show  for  a  short  time  in  tho  early  jairt  of  tho  day  to  advance  tho 
temnoraluro  to  50°,  and  to  permit  of  ventilation,  ns  if  there  is  a  prevalence 
of  dull  cold  weather  at  that  time,  closing'  tho  ventilators  for  safidy 
prejudices  tho  pollen.  Houses  that  have  fixed  roof-liKhts  ninst  hav(»  tho 
Imrders  rendered  thoroniihly  nmist. 
A,' 
’'nJpj 
m 
P-L  !.L  LI  ■  LI  ajxnri.j,  *j  iTi 
BEE-KEEPER^ 
LiX  1  ■  r-i,i  ■  I  ■  r  -  T-  r--  -r.  r- 
I’AIN'I'INd  ’('III'!  InHIOK  0|i’  IllVICrt, 
A’c  this  Hoasoii,  piolmbly  iiioro  than  at  any  other  time,  there  are 
mimeroiiH  empty  liivoH  in  tlio  apiary.  'I’his  may  arise  from  a  variety 
of  causes,  and  not  necesHiirily  Ihron^li  loss  of  stocks.  If  only  a  few 
colonics  are  kept  there  may  he  only  a  solitary  empty  hive  on  hand, 
whereas  in  a  lar/'e  apiary  they  may  he  counted  by  the  dozen  owitif;^ 
to  tho  [ireparation  Hint  has  been  f^oin^  on  throiij.'hout  the  winter 
months  in  anticupat.ion  of  an  increase  in  slocks,  hut  in  either  case  their 
troatnient  should  ho  tho  same. 
Painting  the  inside  o(  the  hives  with  ordinary  jiaint  is  not  recom 
mended.  tStockholm  tar  and  carholic  acid  is  what  we  have  used  with 
■ireat  success  for  several  years  past.  We  first  operated  on  one  hive 
which  hail  been  in  use  for  several  years,  well  workinir  the  mixture 
into  all  tho  crevices,  the  whole  of  the  inlurior  of  tlis  hive  hein^  done 
in  this  manner.  'I’his  had  the  effect  of  destroying;  all  insect  life,  and 
was  ot  no  detriment  to  the  hoes.  'I'lie  mixture  should  he  put  on 
whilst  it  is  hoilin^,  and  is  best  prepared  by  placing  the  Stockholm  tar 
i'l  an  open  vcshoI  over  a  clear  lire;  an  old  saucopan  answers  the  purpose 
admirably.  Add  as  much  carbolic  acid  as  will  make  it  thin  enough 
to  be  put  on  with  an  ordinary  paint  brush.  (!are  must  betaken  that 
it  does  not  boil  over,  or  it  will  at  onias  be  in  llames.  Hhonid  it  do  so 
lift  the  vessel  containing  it  off  the  tin-,  and  place  a  flat  piece  of  slate, 
or  somethinp^  similar,  over  the  top,  and  Iho  fire  will  he  instantly  put 
out.  'I'ho  carbolic  will  evaporate  at  a  rapid  rate,  and  it  will  he 
necessary  to  add  more  should  tho  tar  be  too  thiiik  to  work  in  readily. 
It  is  more  im|tortant  to  use  this  composition  on  hives  that  have 
l)cen  in  use  for  several  years,  and  it  is  not  really  necessarv  to  treat 
new  hives  in  the  same  manner;  still,  as  it  cannot  possibly  do  any 
harm,  it  is  an  advanta^m.  After  tho  hives  have  been  well  dressed 
over  place  them  in  tho  open  aii'  for  a  few  days  and  the  smell  will 
(iompletely  pass  away.  It  sweetens  the  hives  in  a  mark(!d  de;;ree. 
15e(!H,  too,  appreciate  it,  as  it  is  (piito  a  common  thiiif;  to  see  them 
alifjfht  on  tin;  hives  the  same  day  they  have  been  placed  in  tho  o|)(ui 
air.  Although  dozens  of  hi ves  hav(!  h(!on  treaUsl  in  the  above  manner, 
the  bees  have  always  taken  roaddy  to  them;  in  fad,  to  judge  from  tho 
mannor  tluty  have  worked  after  being  placed  in  one  of  these;  hives,  we; 
are  incllne’d  to  ihitde  the;y  prefer  them,  as  the;y  aro  epiito  swe'ot  in  le;ss 
than  a  weei-k  afte;r  be;iiig  painte;d.  Wo  therefejro  have;  ne;  hesitatie;!!  in 
receemmi  ndin^;  all  bl•e^-ke■e;pers  who  have  not  te;sted  the;  plan  te;  g'ivo  it 
a  Irial,  ami  it  e;annot  have;  anything  but  a  bone;licial  e;nee;t  een  the;  bees,, 
lle)W  e)fte;n  euii;  he;arH  (if  elise;.'isos,  real  and  imaginary,  eif  be;e;s  in  various 
parts  of  the  e:ountry  !  'I'hen;  weeiild,  heewe've-r,  be  less  eiaiise  of  ceunplaint 
if  all  the  hives  in  tho  apiary  we-n;  tre;ated  as  above;. 
lON'i'itANni';  Mi.eee'KK.i)  uv  Dkad  I5hi5H. 
We;  aro  ceuivincesl  many  bee  ke;operH  make  a  mistake  in  realucing 
the;  (Uitrance;  te;  tho  hive;H  teee;  much.  Ne)W  that  tho  sun  is  gaining 
jM)Wor  elaily  they  fe)rgot  he)W  impe^rtant  it  is  that  the;  bees  sheeulel  be 
able  te;  jiass  in  and  e)ut  e)f  their  hive;  fre;e;ly.  During  tho  prevalonco  eef 
bright  Hunsl'ine  anel  a  high  temperature;  epdto  re'cemtly,  our  attention 
was  calle;d  to  a  hivo  in  which  there  was  ^reat  oxcitement  arnon^;  tho 
bees.  At  first  we;  thought  it  was  a  ca.se;  e)f  robliing,  but  een  a  closer 
e;xarninatie)n  we  fennel  the;  entrance  was  blockod  with  elead  beeos. 
Instead  of  tho  entrance  beang  half  an  inch  or  meiro  in  depth,  it  was 
less  than  twe)-e;ighths ;  this  was  eautsed  by  a  projecting  piejce;  of  weioel. 
'I’he  ceuiseepionco  was  the;  bees  in  thoir  anxiety  te;  leiavo  their  hive 
be-came;  suflocateid,  an<l  there;  neit  being  suflicient  s[)!u;o  to  bring  the 
dead  he;eH  eiulside;,  tlmy  bleiekcel  tho  entrance,  and  many  be;es  we;ro  lewt 
in  consoipie  iie:o.  'I'he  hivo  was  at  einco  [ilaceel  on  a  elry  lleior  beiard  anel 
the;  entrance;  eipeineel  its  lull  wielth.  Hut  this  diel  not  allay  the;  excite¬ 
ment.  'fhe;  front  of  tho  hive;  was  then  slightly  we;elge;el  up  about  an 
eighth  e)f  an  inch,  'fids  had  the  deisired  eelfect.  Since;  them  the;  bees 
liave  lieon  working  fre;(;ly,  and  are;  preebably  now  little;  tho  worse;. 
I''e)rtunaie'ly  it  was  feiuuel  eiut  in  time, — An  lONeji.isit  HttK-KHui-Ku. 
All  ceirrospeuidcnco  relating  to  celitorial  mattors  should,  until 
further  neitico,  be  elire;cte;el  te)“'riiic  EniTOii,”  a,  Roao  Hill  Road, 
VlTandaworth,  S.W.,  anel  NOT  te;  l‘2.  Mitre;  (Je)urt  Chambors, 
Fleet  Streeet.  It  is  re;epieiHte;el  that  ne)  e;no  will  write  jirivatoly  to 
any  of  eiur  ceirreespeinelonts,  seeking  infeirmatiem  on  mattors 
eliscusseel  in  this  Jemrnal,  as  doing  so  subje;cts  thorn  to 
unjustifiable  treiublo  anel  expense;,  anel  departmental  writers 
are;  nert  e;xpeicte;el  le;  answer  any  le;tte;rs  they  may  re;coivo  on 
Gardening  anel  He;e  suhje-cts  throitgh  the  jierst.  If  informatiern 
be;  elesire;el  ein  any  particular  subject  fremi  any  particular 
autheirity  whe;  may  be;  naineel,  oneleavour  will  bo  rnaelo  te;  obtain 
it  by  tho  Eeliteer.  Eetteers  eef  inepury  must  be;  acceunieanied  by 
tho  namees  anel  aeleIre;HHe-s  e)f  the;  writers,  but  these  will  neither  be 
publishesl  neer  eliscleeseel  when  initials  or  nom  de  plumes  aro  given 
feer  tho  [urrpeeso  e)f  re;plieH. 
Oorresponelents  shoidel  not  mix  up  on  tho  same;  she;ot  epiestions  reehiting 
to  Garde;ning  anel  theese;  ern  He;e  subje;cts,  and  it  is  convenient  when 
each  ejuostieen  is  writte;n  on  a  separate  sheet.  All  articles  intendeel 
fe)r  insertie)!;  sbonlel  be;  written  eeii  eene  side;  erf  tho  feaper  only  ;  and 
the;  name;  anel  adelreess  e)f  each  writer  must  bo  known  by  tho 
Editeer,  theriigh  not  noces.earily  feer  inse;rtion.  Wo  canrmt,  as  a 
rule;,  rejely  te;  epiostiores  througli  tho  peest,  anel  wo  do  met  undor- 
tako  te;  return  cerrnmunicatieuis  which,  for  any  re;ase)n,  cannot 
be;  inserte;el. 
Growing  Cucumbors  anel  Melons  in  tho  Same  House  (/ne/M/rer). —  When 
a  spaii-roe;tc(l  )ie)tiHe;  has  llm  ends  eaHt  and  weest,  and  (hicunnhe'rs  and 
Me;lons  are;  to  be;  grown  in  it,  the;  south  side  is  tin;  l)e;tter  for  Mcdeins 
aeid  the*  nortli  feer  ( !ucuinl)e;rH.  Sue;!;  has  be-eui  eeiir  e;x[je;ri«‘nce;,  and  we 
leave*  trie'd  tlie'in  both  ways,  and  singularly  unde-r  the;  same;  coeeelitieens  as 
obtain  in  your  case.  'I’he;  plan  you  jereejjoso  was  not  with  us  a  success, 
but  hardly  a  failure*.  Wc  aeivise;  the;  (luciin.bcrs  ))e;iieg  given  the;  neerth 
siele;  ;  the;y  will  elo  spleendielly  e)n  a  hotbed  platited  in  seeil.  .Meleens  cannot 
have*  te;e>  rteue*h  sun,  the*refore;  give;  the  peesitieen  where;  the;y  will  receive  it 
in  full  ine<asure*. 
Making  a  Vino  Border  (/e/cm).— Vines  like;  ferrugineius  or  iremy  soils, 
anel  tlieey  also  must  iiave;  lime*,  magnesia,  anel  potash.  Lime;  you  will 
supply  in  the;  e>ld  me>rtar,  and  lieith  potash  anel  magnesia  with  lime;  in  the; 
weieid  ashers.  As  the;  soil  is  rieit  fiiirous,  iiroken  puntile*H  will  be;  useful  in 
keeping  it  0[)e:n,  but  we;  sheiulel  have;  preferred  burnt  earth  ;  the  crushed 
boners  will  yieelel  phosphoric  acid  and  seune  ammonia.  We  should 
adel  some  charcoal  anil  alse;  horse;  dreippings  ;  the  latter  to  arnmemiate;  the 
irein,  anel  the*  leirmer  te;  ke;e;p  the*  inateerials  open  anel  swe*e;t.  With  the 
elrainage;  ceunpleite;  anel  the;  mateerials  fairly  proporliemeel,  we  elo  not  seo 
what  more  could  be;  provieleel  to  make  Vine*s  llourish. 
Cucumber  Roots  Knotted  (A’.  //..  Novice). — 'I'lie  plants  are*  alfectcel  in 
the  resits  anel  reieit  stems  liy  roejt-kimt  e-elworn#,  I letei eule-ra  radicicola. 
'I’lie;  plants,  if  like  tlmse;  encloseel,  are;  past  remedy,  the;  root  stems  being 
seriously  alTe'Cteul.  Yeui  may,  howeverr,  water  theun  wiiliout  delay  with  a 
solutiem  of  seiluble;  phenyle;  ( Little’s),  1  lluiel  ounce;  to  .'5  gallems  of  rain 
water,  giving  as  much  as  in  an  orelinary  watering.  'I’he;  watering  cun  be; 
re'[)nate*el  in  abeuit  a  we;ek,  but  we;  fear  there  is  lettle  chance;  e)f  saving  tho 
plants.  'I’he;  best  preventive;  is  to  scald  tho  soil  and  e*very  part  ol  the; 
lieuiso  in  connection  with  the  bed,  this  part  being  thoroughly  elone;.  Wo 
use;  seiluble;  phenyle;  at  eloiiiile  the;  strengtii  given  abeivc  feir  elisinfecting 
pur|ieiHcs.  It  answers  well,  opejrating  ten  days  eir  more;  beefore;  planting. 
A  neither  plan  is  to  mix  thrjugli  tho  soil,  some  time  in  aelvani*e;  of  using, 
1  III.  of  a  mixture  of  e*e|ual  parts  by  measure;  of  uir-slaked  lime; — dry  anei 
(lonry  —  anel  soot,  aiiel  lialf-peiunel  of  kainit  per  8e|uare;  yarei  of  1  foeit  depth 
of  compost,  mixing  e;ve;nly,  anel  turning  over  at  least  eini;e*,  say  at  an 
interval  of  aiieiut,  a  we-ek.  'I'lie  house-iieel,  lleior  everything — shoulel  bo 
thoroughly  scaleled  before;  placing  in  the  prepareel  soil. 
