2G4 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  30,  1839. 
ventilation  at  the  top  of  the  house,  which  must  be  increased  when  the 
temperature  reaches  50°,  and  full  at  65°. 
Unhealed  Houses. — The  trees  are  coming  into  blossom.  Ventilate  the 
house  at  50°,  and  do  not  permit  an  advance  above  65°  without  full  ventila¬ 
tion  top  and  bottom,  and  close  the  house  at  50°  in  mild  weather,  but 
when  there  is  a  prospect  of  frost  at  night  close  at  65°,  leaving  a  little  air 
to  allow  of  moisture  escaping.  In  mild  weather  leave  the  ventilators 
open  constantly  when  the  temperature  exceeds  50°.  Remove  the  blossom 
on  the  under  side  of  the  shoots  where  there  is  a  superabundance.  See 
that  the  borders  are  in  a  proper  state  of  moisture,  supplying  water  as 
required  or  liquid  manure  to  weakly  trees. 
—  ,  -■ - , — ,  1  1 — — - . _ _ , - 
- ^ 
4E  BEE-KEEPER. 
c)  ,4' 
The  Weather. 
Bees,  as  well  as  vegetation,  have  received  a  serious  check,  owing 
to  the  sudden  change  that  has  taken  place  in  the  weather.  The  extreme 
mildness  of  the  past  winter  had  enabled  bees  to  commence  breeding 
at  an  early  date,  and  the  brood  nest  was  enlarged  more  than  is  usual 
at  the  present  time.  Now  all  is  changed  ;  a  severe  frost,  followed  by  a 
heavy  fall  of  snow,  has  been  general  throughout  the  country.  In  a 
sheltered  spot  near  our  apiary  13°  of  frost  have  been  registered. 
At  the  time  of  writing  the  ground  is  covered  to  the  depth  of 
several  inches  with  snow,  and  this  will  have  the  effect  of  protecting 
vegetation,  which  had  already  become  very'forward. 
In  all  cases  where  the  hives  are  now  covered  with  snow,  it  will  be 
advisable  to  clear  it  away  from  the  roofs  as  well  as  the  entrances.  If 
at  midwinter  there  is  a  prolonged  frost,  it  is  advisable  to  allow  the 
snow  to  remain  on  the  roofs,  as  it  forms  a  warm  covering  so  long  as 
the  weather  is  dry ;  but  at  this  season  the  srtn  increases  in  power  daily, 
which  will  have  the  effect  of  partially  melting  the  snow,  and  if  there 
is  a  weak  place  in  the  roof,  moisture  will  penetrate  into  the  interior  of 
the  hive.  If  not  already  done,  the  entrance  should  be  reduced  to  half  an 
inch.  It  is  also  an  advantage  to  shade  the  entrance  so  long  as  snow  is 
on  the  ground.  A  piece  of  wood  or  slate  placed  in  a  slanting  position 
on  the  alighting  board,  so  as  to  prevent  the  rays  of  the  sun  striking 
directly  on  the  entrance,  will  answer  the  purpose  admirably,  and  will 
be  the  means  of  preventing  the  bees  from  being  attracted  by  the 
glittering  snow,  and  thus  becoming  numbed,  and  unable  to  return  to 
their  hive.  It  is  hoped,  however,  that  by  the  time  these  lines  appear 
the  snow  will  have  departed. 
Bees  should  not  be  uncovered  or  handled  whilst  a  low  tempera¬ 
ture  prevails,  as  they  will  be  warmly  clustered  in  the  middle  of  the 
hive,  and  if  they  have  ample  stores  the  brood  will  not  become 
chilled.  Directly,  however,  a  change  takes  place  in  the  weather  no 
time  should  be  lost  in  seeing  that  all  are  well  supplied  with  stores 
according  to  advdee  given  in  previous  notes. 
Packing  Bees. 
Bees  are  often  sent  from  one  part  of  the  country  to  the  other,  and 
when  in  straw  skeps  they  may  be  packed  with  very  little  trouble. 
In  the  case  of  old  stocks  the  present  is  the  best  time  in  the  year  to 
carry  out  this  operation,  because  the  bees  at  this  season  ought  to  be 
fairly  numerous,  but  not  unduly  so ;  there  will  be  a  small  quantity 
of  brood,  but  not  sufficient  to  become  damaged  in  transit,  and  owing 
to  the  paucity  of  bees,  and  a  comparatively  low  temperature,  they  will 
not  become  so  excited  as  when  the  hive  is  overflowing  with  them  and 
a  high  temperature  prevails.  But  whether  a  stock  is  weak  or  strong, 
the  same  care  is  necessary  to  insure  free  ventilation.  This  can  only 
be  done  by  packing  the  skep  bottom  upward.  If  sticks  were  not  placed 
across  the  skep  when  the  bees  were  put  in  it,  one  at  least  must  be 
driven  through  the  side  of  the  skep  about  3  inches  from  the  bottom, 
and  forced  through  the  combs  until  it  passes  through  the  other  side  of 
the  skep  This  will  hold  the  combs  in  position  and  prevent  breaking 
in  transit. 
Invert  the  skep  and  place  a  piece  of  cheese  cloth  or  some  other 
open  material  over  it.  This  should  be  securely  tied  with  small  string 
I'ound  the  outside.  Now  have  twelve  strong  laths  cut  the  same  depth 
and  breadth  as  the  skep.  Nail  them  together  so  as  to  form  a  skeleton 
box.  Cross  them  at  the  bottom  and  also  at  the  top,  and  place  the 
inverted  skep  inside.  The  ends  of  the  laths  should  be  nailed,  and 
round  the  whole  a  piece  of  cord  ought  to  be  tied  to  carry  it  by.  The 
skep  will  thus  travel  upside  down,  and  should  they  remain  in  this 
position  for  several  days  the  bees  will  be  found  to  be  in  good  condition 
at  the  end  of  their  journey. — An  English  Bee-keeper. 
Abutilons. — These  plants  may  be  grown  from  seed,  and  the  plants 
will  in  due  course  flower  freely.  Sow  in  pot  of  light  sandy  soil  at  the 
present  time  in  a  greenhouse  temperature.  When  the  seedlings  have 
attained  to  the  height  of  an  inch,  prick  them  out  in  other  pots.  The 
next  move  must  be  to  small  pots,  transferring  afterwards  into  larger 
pots.— S. 
All  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should,  until 
further  notice,  be  directed  to  “  The  Editor,”  8,  Rose  Hill  Road, 
Wandswortb,  S.W.,  and  HOT  to  12,  Mitre  Court  Chambers, 
Fleet  Street.  It  is  requested  that  no  one  will  write  privately  to 
any  of  our  correspondents,  seeking  information  on  matters 
discussed  in  this  Journal,  as  doing  so  subjects  them  to 
unjustifiable  trouble  and  expense,  and  departmental  writers 
are  not  expected  to  answer  any  letters  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.  Letters  of  inquiry  must  be  accompanied  by 
the  names  and  addresses  of  the  writers,  but  these  will  neither  be 
published  nor  disclosed  when  initials  or  nom  de  'plumes  are  given 
for  the  purpose  of  replies. 
Correspondents  should  not  mix  up  on  the  same  sheet  questions  relating 
to  Gardening  and  those  on  Bee  subjects,  and  it  is  convenient  when 
each  question  is  written  on  a  separate  sheet.  All  articles  intended 
for  insertion  should  be  written  on  one  side  of  the  paper  only  ;  and 
the  name  and  address  of  each  writer  must  be  known  by  the 
Editor,  though  not  necessarily  for  insertion.  We  cannot,  as  a 
rule,  reply  to  questions  through  the  post,  and  we  do  not  under¬ 
take  to  return  communications  which,  for  any  reason,  cannot 
be  inserted. 
Mushroom  Spawn  (if.  E.  C.'). — The  spawn  has,  as  you  say,  a  stale 
mouldy  appearance,  and  not  that  aroma  of  Mushrooms,  which  we  like  to 
find  in  all  samples,  as  indicating  freshness  and  life.  The  threads  or 
mycelia,  however,  appear  alive,  and  though  the  older  or  larger  may  not 
further  develop,  the  fine  threads  would  probably  do  so.  Still  we  should 
have  liked  the  bricks  fresher,  though  we  cannot  go  so  far  as  to  condemn 
them.  Wo  have  found  it  an  excellent  practice  to  test  the  bricks  or  spawn 
in  rll  cases  of  doubt  by  making  up  a  slight  hotbed  of  the  prepared 
material,  and  spawn  it  in  due  course,  when  if  the  spawn  be  good  it  will 
lay  hold  of  the  fresh  material  in  a  few  days,  and  the  spawn  can  be  used  with 
confidence  ;  or  if,  on  the  other  hand,  the  spawn  dies,  as  it  certainly  will  if 
too  old,  the  bricks  can  be  discarded  as  worthless,  and  trouble  avoided. 
We  always  make  a  rule  of  getting  a  forecast  of  the  crop  in  the  smell  of 
the  bricks.  If  they  have  a  very  decided  Mushroom  odrur  the  spawn  is 
quite  fresh,  and  only  needs  opportunity  to  develop,  and  produce  under 
good  management  an  abundant  crop  of  Mushrooms.  If  there  is  not  more 
than  a  fusty  smell,  though  it  may  produce  some  Mushrooms,  we  consider 
it  cannot  give  a  full  crop.  It  is  prudent  to  procure  samples  of  spawn 
before  ordering  on  a  large  sc  le. 
Sowing  Peas  (0.  F.). — Many  Reas  are  sown  too  thickly  in  the  drills 
for  the  development  of  robust,  productive  plants,  and  the  rows  are  very 
often  seen  too  close  together.  Given  deep,  rich  soil  that  contains  moisture 
in  dry  weather,  good  results  are  had  by  sowing  bold  new  seeds  2  inches 
apart  over  the  surface  of  flat  drills  4  or  5  inches  wide,  or  the  width  of  the 
boot  of  the  workman  as  he  runs  it  along  the  drills  to  make  an  even  base 
for  the  Reas  to  rest  on.  At  this  period  of  the  year  they  may  be  covered 
about  2  inches  deep,  or  rather  more  if  the  soil  is  of  a  light  nature.  As 
the  season  advances  they  may  be  covered  an  inch  deeper  with  advantage. 
Where  mice  or  other  enemies  abound  Peas  are  often  sown  more  closely  in 
the  drills,  to  allow  of  some  being  taken,  yet  sufficient  escape  to  produce 
full  rows.  If  practically  all  grow  under  this  close  sowing,  then  some  of 
the  plants  should  be  thinned  out  when  an  inch  or  so  high.  Moistening 
the  seeds  with  petroleum  and  dusting  them  while  wet  with  powdered  red 
lead  is,  however,  an  excellent  preventive  of  the  attacks  of  mice  and 
feathered  enemies.  If  several  rows  are  grown  on  a  plot  of  ground  the 
distances  between  them  should  exceed  the  height  of  the  varieties. 
Instead,  for  instance,  of  having  the  rows  of  tall  Peas  3  or  4  feet  apart  it 
is  much  better  to  allow  as  many  yards  between  them,  cropping  the  wide 
spaces  with  Potatoes  or  other  low  growing  vegetables.  When  it  is  conve¬ 
nient,  some  amateurs  find  it  advantageous  to  have  rows  of  Peas  near 
the  margins  of  the  vegetable  ground,  or  alongside  the  paths.  The  plants 
then,  through  full  exposure  to  light  and  air,  become  short  jointed  for 
the  variety,  and  produce  more  and  bolder  flowers  and  pods  than  they  can 
possibly  do  when  drawn  up  in  a  spindly  manner  by  overcrowding.  The 
best  possible  seeds  of  all  kinds  sown  somewhat  thinly  give  far  better 
results  than  the  cheapest  possible  inferior  seeds  sown  very  thickly. 
Pruning  Cotoneaster  and  Privet  (/dm). — Cotoneasters  only  require 
pruning  to  keep  them  within  desired  bounds,  and  this  may  bo  done  at  the 
present  time.  Privet  may  also  be  pruned  to  aiiy  required  extent  now ; 
but  to  keep  Privet  hedges  in  good  condition,  they  should  be  neatly  clipped 
about  the  middle  of  June,  or  sooner  if  the  growth  is  free,  and  again 
towards  the  end  of  August.  Overgrown  bushes  or  hedges  may  be  cut  into 
shape  any  time  in  April. 
