April  6,  1899. 
JCURRAL  GF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
285 
as  moisture  is  necessary  for  the  perfecting  of  ihe  crop.  Choose  a 
bright  morning  for  the  watering,  and  admit  air  rather  freely,  so  that  all 
superHuous  moisture  will  disappear  before  ventilation  is  reduced  for  the 
dav.  A  little  sweetened  manure  may  be  spread  on  the  border  to  stimu¬ 
late  the  roots  and  prevent  the  soil  cracking.  Ventilate  night  and  day 
when  the  berries  liegin  coloiirinEr,  and  increase  it  as  they  approach  ripe¬ 
ness,  maintaining,  however,  a  circulation  of  warm,  rather  drv  air  until  the 
Grapes  are  thoroughly  finished,  when  the  temperature  should  be  gradually 
reduced. 
Fmes  tn  Floicer. — Muscats  and  other  shy-setting  Grapes  require  a 
rather  high  temperature  to  set  freely,  the  points  of  the  bunches  being- 
kept  well  up  to  the  light,  and  a  free  circulation  of  air  w  ith  a  fair  supply  of 
atmospheric  moisture  to  prevent  the  young  foliage  suffering  under  the 
influence  of  bright  sun.  The  temperature  may  be  maintained  at  70°  by 
night,  but  with  the  ^■ines  in  good  condition,  free  setting  is  effected  with 
H5°  or  even  60°  at  night,  a  little  air  being  admitted  constantly,  and  70°  to 
75®  bv  day,  advancing  to  8.o°  or  90°  from  sun  heat.  AVhen  the  Vines 
are  in  flower  they  should  be  lightly  tapped  on  the  stem  each  day  after  the 
houses  have  been  ventilated  an  hour  or  two,  or  they  may  be  brushed  over 
lightly  with  the  hand,  which  rids  the  flowers  of  their  caps,  sets  the  stamens 
free,  and  disperses  the  pollen  on  the  stigmas.  If  there  be  no  pollen 
visible  as  a  yellowish  dust  when  the  bunches  are  brushed  over  with  the 
hand,  it  should  be  taken  from  varieties  that  supply  it  abundantly,  as 
Alicante  and  Black  Hamburgh,  and  a  large. camel’s-hair  brush  be  filled 
with  it,  and’the  hunches  brushed  over  after  the  hand  has  been  drawn  over 
them,  refilling  the  brush  with  pollen  as  occasion  requires,  it  being  col¬ 
lected  on  a  sheet  of  white  paper  turned  up  at  the  edges.  Alnwick  Seed¬ 
ling,  Mrs.  Pince,  Lady  Downe’s,  and  other  varieties  liable  to  produce 
small  seedless  berries  should  be  carefully  fertilised  on  fine  days  when  the 
caps  part  readily  from  the  flowers. 
L'lie  Houses. — Accelerate  the  growth  of  late  Vines  by  making  the  most 
of  solar  heat,  as  all  long-keeping  Grapes  cannot  be  over-ripened  for 
keeping  sound  for  some  months  alter  they  are  removed  from  the  Vines, 
Lady  Downe's  ripened  early  in  September  being  quite  fresh  in  May  ancl 
June.  Ventilate  early  on  fine  mornings,  as  soon  as  the  sun  acts  on  the 
house,  and  allow  the  heat  to  rise  to  S0°,with  increased  ventilation  and  plenty 
of  moisture,  closing  in  time  for  it  to  rise  to  85°  or  90°  from  sun  heat  on  fine 
afternoons.  A  temperature  of  60°  at  night  will  be  sufficient  until  the 
Grapes  flower,  w  hen  5°  more  will  be  necessary  to  increase  the  length  of 
the  bunches  and  produce  conditions  favourable  to  the  setting  of  the 
fruit.  Gros  Colman.  Gros  Guillaume,  and  Alicante  set  freely  ;  but  most 
other  kinds  of  late  Grapes  require  careful  artificial  impregnation,  they 
being  attended  to  as  before  advised. 
THE  KITCHEN  GARDEN. 
Asparagus. — Directly  top  growth  commences,  the  time  has  arrived 
for  forming  new  beds.  Elants  obtained  from  a  distance  will  usually  make 
good  progress  if  properly  managed.  Asparagus  succeeds  best  on  a  free 
working,  sandy  loamy  soil,  which  will  bear  enriching  without  liability  to 
becoming  too  rich  and  damp.  On  the  heavier  clayey  soils,  or  those  most 
retentive  of  moisture,  the  plants  are  liable  to  perish  during  the  winter, 
especially  if  heavily  dressed  with  stable  manure.  In  the  case  of  the 
sandy  soils,  double  digging,  mixing  manure  with  both  spits,  adding  the 
more  decayed  portions  to  the  surface  soil  is  all  the  preparation  needed, 
and  the  Asparagus  may  be  grown  either  on  the  level  or  only  slightly 
above  it.  Greater  attention  to  the  drainage  should  be  paid  where  the 
planting  must  be  done  on  heavy  soils.  When  planting,  open  w  ide  deep 
drills  15  inches  to  18  inches  apart,  according  to  the  width  of  the  beds,  and 
in  these  form  little  mound?  of  good  soil  about  15  inches  apart,  allowing  a 
greater  distance  if  extra  fine  produce  is  desired.  On  these  mounds  set 
the  jilants  with  their  roots  spread  out  evenly,  and  cover  with  3  inches  of 
good,  fine  soil,  or,  in  the  case  of  lumpy  soils,  especially  prepared  compost. 
On  no  account  dress  new  ly  formed  beds  with  salt. 
Beet  — Near  the  end  of  April  is  the  best  time  to  sow  the  seed  of  main 
crop  varieties,  especially  where  there  is  a  tendency  of  the  roots  to  become 
coarse.  For  early  use  the  Turnip-rooted  or  Egj'ptian  Beet  is  to  be 
recommended,  and  this  form  is  also  the  more  profitable  for  sowing  on 
shallow,  hot  soils.  Seeds  maj'  be  sown  now  either  on  a  w  arm  border  or 
quite  in  the  open,  thinly  in  shallow-  drills  1  foot  apart.  Sparrows  are 
fond  of  the  young  Beet  leaves,  and  by  w-ay  of  protection  dust  over  the 
seedlings  directly  they  appear,  and  while  yet  damp,  with  soot  and  lime, 
repeating  as  often  as  necessary. 
Borecole  and  Broccoli. — Those  who  have  not  raised'plants  under  glass 
nor  wintered  any  in  seed  beds  in  the  open  ought  to  sow  seeds  of  Borecole, 
early  Broccoli,  Brussels  Sprouts,  Cauliflowers,  and  early  Savoys  as  soon 
as  possible  on  open  border.s.  Much  labour  and  vexation  will  probably  be 
saved  if  the  seed  is  sown  thinly  broadcast,  covering  it  with  sifted  soil,  or 
by  sowing  thinly,  in  drills  drawn  4  inches  apart.  If  raised  thickly  the 
plants  have  first  to  be  pricked  out  in  nursery  beds,  whereas  those  raised 
thinly  may  be  moved  direct  to  where  they  are  to  arrive  at  a  serviceable 
condition.  In  all  the  more  temperate  districts  the  end  of  April  or  first 
week  in  May  is  early  enough. to  sow  seed  of  main  crop  and  late  Broccoli, 
late  Caulidower,  ^avo^-s,  and  Chou  de  Burghley.  Brussels  Sprouts, 
Borecole,  and  Sprouting  Broccoli  require  the  longest  period  of  growth. 
Cardoons, — These  are  not  much  grown  nowadays,  but  if  there  is  a 
demand  for  them  they  will  not  be  found  difficult  to  cultivate.  Each  row- 
should  be  allowed  a  width  of  4  feet.  If  the  soil  is  comparatively  light 
and  non-retentive  of  moisture,  prepare  a  trench  as  for  Celery,  and  sow- 
tho  seed  thinly  in  a  shallow  drill  drawn  down  the  centre.  On  heavy 
sods  the  plants  ought  to  be  grown  on  the  level,  the  site  b^ing  well 
manured  and  deeply  dug.  If  the  ground  cannot  bo  got  into  a  free- 
working,  finely  divided  state,  raise  the  requisite  number  of  plants  under 
gla  s,  and  plant  out.  Fill  4- inch  pots  with  light  loamy  soil,  place  three 
seeds  in  the  centre  of  each  pot,  these  germinating  ([uickly  in  gentle  heat. 
Reduce  the  seedlings  to  one  in  each  pot,  and  before  the  soil  becomes 
crow-ded  with  roots  harden  the  plants,  planting  out  18  inches  apart  in 
the  rows. 
Carrots. — Young  plants  generally  had  a  trying  time  of  it  during 
the  third  week  in  March,  and  what  escaped  the  frosts  were  largely  cleared 
off  by  birds  and  slugs.  In  most  cases  more  seeds  of  the  stump-rooted  or 
Horn  ought  to  have  been  sown  soon  after  mild  weather  sets  in,  and  advan¬ 
tage  should  be  taken  of  a  showery  time  to  sow  the  main  crop  varieties  in 
quantity.  If  this  w-ork  is  delayed  a  drying  time  may  cause  the  coarser 
lumps  of  soil  to  harden  and  toughen  so  as  to  become  unworkable.  If  the 
Carrot  maggot  is  apt  to  bo  troublesome,  dust  dry  wood  ashes  very  lightly 
along  the  drills. 
Parsnips. — ^Try  large  roots  are  not  the  best  for  the  kitchen.  Com¬ 
paratively  small  roots,  which  may  he  cooked  whole,  are  to  bo  preferred. 
Early  sowing  and  allowing  much  space  is  conducive  to  coarseness. 
If  the  seed  is  sown  now  on  ground  well  manured  for  a  prece<liug  surface¬ 
rooting  crop  in  drills  not  more  than  15  inches  apart,  eventually  thinning 
the  plants  to  about  9  icohes  asunder,  abundance  of  serviceable  roots  will 
result. 
lii 
Qukkni.essness. 
It  is  important  that  stocks  should  always  bo  headed  by  young 
fertile  queens.  There  are,  however,  more  colonies  qiicenless  during  the 
early  spring  months  than  at  any  other  season.  This  arises  from  a 
variety  of  causes,  the  chief  one  being  old  queens  which  are  allowed  to 
remain  at  the  head  of  strong  colonies  after  they  have  become  decrepit 
and  worn  out.  Directly,  however,  a  queen’s  laying  powers  are 
retarded  in  any  way  tire  bees  dwindle  at  a  rajnd  rate,  so  that  a  stock 
that  was  probably  the  stiongest  and  best  in  the  apiary  the  previous 
season  may  in  the  following  spring  be  one  of  the  worst. 
If  a  system  of  rearing  young  queens  were  adopted  by  bee-keepers 
who  only  keep  a  few  stocks,  and  it  is  really  a  very  interesting  and 
simple  business,  losses  from  this  source  would  be  much  less  frequent. 
In  large  apiaries  where  the  bee-keeper  devotes  much  attention  to  his 
bees  the  practice  of  rearing  young  (preens  is  almost  universal,  and  if  it 
jiays  where  large  interests  are  at  stake,  it  is  only  reasonable  to 
sup])Cso  it  would  do  so  in  small  apiaries. 
It  must  not  be  assumed,  however,  that  if  young  queens  .are  raised 
annu<ally  the  loss  of  stocks  in  the  spring  would  bo  a  thing  of  the  past, 
as  qiuens,  to  bo  of  a  strong  robust  constitution,  should  bo  reared 
during  the  height  of  the  honey  flow,  and  not,  as  is  often  the  case,  in 
the  autumn.  Wo  cannot  do  better  than  imitate  Nature  in  this 
resjrect.  If  bees  are  left  to  take  their  chance  in  ordinary  seasons  they 
will  usually  swarm  a  few  weeks,  more  or  less,  according  to  the  weather, 
before  the  honey  How  is  obtained  from  white  Clover.  Young  queens 
thus  naturally  nared  are  as  good  as  it  is  possible  to  obtain  them. 
This  shows  the  .adv.antage  of  working  on  similar  line.s,  and  rearing 
all  queens,  as  far  as  it  is  possible,  before  the  middle  of  July.  Were  this 
plan  more  genor.ally  adoiffed,  and  the  stocks  rationally  treated  after¬ 
wards,  by  seeing  that  e.ach  was  crowded  with  bees,  and  after  the 
honey  flow  was  over  feeding  them  artiiiciiilly  with  sufficient  stores 
to  ticie  over  the  most  severe  winter  until  the  following  spring,  losses 
from  queenlessness  in  the  spring  would  then  be  almost  nil. 
It  is  not  advisable  to  handle  the  bees  too  much  at  this  season  to 
find  out  if  the  (pieen  is  safe,  as  with  a  little  practice  one  can  tell  by 
obfcrving  the  bees  whilst  at  work  whether  they  are  (pieeidess.  If  the 
bees  are  c.arrying  in  i  ollen  freely,  which  they  will  now  be  doing  in 
most  districts,  it  is  a  sure  sign  that  the  (lucen  is  all  right.  If,  on  the 
other  hand,  the  bees  remain  .about  the  entrance  to  the  hive  in  a 
languid  manner,  it  is  a  certain  sign  that  something  is  wrong  with  the 
queen.  Robber  bees  from  strong  colonies  are  nsiiallv  the  first  to  find 
out  a  (iueenless  stock. — An  Enui.isii  BEE-KEEi’Eit. 
TllADE  CATALOGUES  IIE(^EIVEI). 
Barr  .k  Son.s,  King  Street,  Covent  Garden. — Hnnli/  Perennials. 
,1.  Cheal  it  Sons,  Crawley. —  Dahlias  and  Other  Plants. 
Cooper,  Taber,  &  Co.,  Ltd,,  Southwark  Street. —  Wholesale  A^riculliiral 
Seed  List. 
11.  J.  Jones,  Lewisham. — Chrysanthemum  Ouide,  and  Catalojne  Genera 
Plants. 
W.  A.  Alanda,  .South  Orange,  N..!. — Seeds  and  Bulbs. 
J.  Feed  &  Sou,  West  Norwood. — Plants. 
W.  Sydenham,  Tamworlh. — Roses,  Pansies,  and  Violas. 
J.  Weeks  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  King’s  Road,  Chelsea. — Bodtn, 
-KBEPERfe 
i  7  7.  T  ■  ]  ■  I  .  I  r  -  [  . 
((^1 
