352 
JOURXAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AXD  COTTAGE  GAPJjEXER, 
to  them  artificially.  This  is  more  apparent  dnrirg  the  treeding  season 
than  at  any  other.  Unless  there  is  a  regular  supply  of  food  provided 
the  queen  will  not  continire  laying.  Any  bee-keeper  may  easily  prove 
this  fact,  as  where  there  are  several  colonies  some  will  l;.e  much  shorter 
of  stores  than  others.  The  stock  having  ample  stores,  and  headed  by 
a  young  fertile  queen,  will  at  this  season  have  several  combs  filled 
with  brood.  Another  colony,  which  is  short  of  food,  will  be  weak, 
and  there  will  ]  rohably  be  only  a  small  patch  of  brood  a  couple  of 
inches  in  diameter.  The  latter  queen  may  be  quite  as  good  as  the 
former,  but  she  will  not  lay  mere  eggs  or  raise  more  brood  than  there 
is  food  for. 
A  change  will,  however,  come  over  the  scene  directly  gentle 
feeding  takes  place.  This  is  best  done  by  giving  half  a  pint  of 
warm  st’rup  in  the  evening — a  small  quantity  given  daily  is  much 
better  than  rapid  feeding  as  practised  in  the  autumn.  Syrup  for 
spring  feeding  may  he  made  in  the  proportion  of  1  lb.  of  sugar 
to  one  imperial  pint  of  water.  This  should  be  boiled  until  the  sugar 
is  dissolved  ;  it  is  then  ready  for  use.  A  bottle  feeder,  over  the  month 
of  which  a  piece  of  thin  muslin  has  been  strained,  this  will  prevent 
the  syrup  escaping  at  a  too  rapid  rate.  The  bottle  should  be  inver;ed 
directly  over  the  brood  nest,  and  if  a  piece  of  perforated  zinc  is  placed 
on  the  top  of  the  frames  it  will  prevent  the  bees  escaping.  The  held 
in  the  quilt  need  not  be  cut  larger  than  the  top  of  the  bottle. — 
An  English  Bek-keeper. 
TRADE  CATALOGUES  RECEIVED. 
W.  Clibran  k  Son,  Altrincham. — Plants. 
J.  Yeitch  k  Sons,  Ltd.,  Chelsea. — Plants  and  Xymphaas. 
Vipan  k  Headley,  Leicester. — Garden  and  Farm  Appliances. 
Ail  correspondence  relating  to  editorial  matters  should,  until 
further  notice,  be  directed  to  “  The  Editor,”  8,  Rose  Hill  Road, 
Wandsworth,  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  tc 
unjustifiable  trouble  and  expense,  and  departmental  writers 
are  not  expected  to  answer  any  letters  they  may  receive  on 
Gardening  and  Bee  subjects  througb  the  post.  If  information 
he  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  plumei  are  given 
for  the  purpose  of  replies. 
Correspondents  should  not  mix  up  on  the  same  sheet  questions  relating 
to  Gardening  and  those  on  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  ^own  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. 
Brunfelsia  eximia  (^Inquirer'). — The  Brnnfelsia  may  be  grown  in  a 
cool  stove  or  warm  greenhouse,  but  not  in  an  ordinary  greenhouse  with 
the  temperature  at  15“  or  less  in  winter  time.  B.  grandifiora  is  the 
hardiest  species,  and  does  excellently  in  an  intermediate  house.  It  is  a 
native  of  Peru. 
Spaces  Round  Fruit  Trees  (0.  F.). — It  would  be  much  better  to  fill 
the  spaces  12  inches  wide  round  fruit  trees  with  decayed  manure  than  to 
plant  in  them  summer-flowering  plants  or  annuals.  Of  course,  by  giving 
liquid  manure  the  plants  would  not  materially  prejudice  the  fruit  trees, 
still  they  are  better  without  than  with  the  encumbrances. 
Charcoal  {Scotland'). — This  substance  is  not  a  fertiliser,  though  useful 
for  many  purposes,  such  as  mixing  with  potting  soil  to  keep  it  sweet, 
absorb  ammonia,  and  in  other  respects  act  beneficially.  Some  growers 
use  about  one  part  to  sixteen  of  potting  soil  for  rendering  the  soil  porous 
and  facilitating  drainage,  and  the  roots  of  many  plants  cling  to  charcoal 
before  anything  else,  such  as  Orchids.  It  absorbs  carbonic  acid  and  other 
gases,  and  some  consider  that  they  are  yielded  up  to  plants  as  required 
for  nourishment. 
April 
Eondeletia  Eogiera)  Irilliaurlssiiua  (A\. —  I:  certsinly  requires  in 
intermediate  temperature,  though  we  have  bad  it  very  fire  ia  a  greir.- 
hense  where  the  ttmperafjre  has  ranged  from  45'  to  cyi'  during  the 
winter.  The  p’ant  does  test  in  s  border, as  npeu  making  a  good  growth 
depends  its  producing  fine  pscicles  or  ocryutbs  cf  bloom. 
Climbers  for  a  Lofty  Conservatory  (J,  I..\ — Acacia  Ksceaut,  Bigucuia 
lEsminoides,  Clematis  indivisa  lohata.  Haircthamucs  eVeaus,  Passldcra 
Comte  Nesselrode.  P.  Imperatriee,  Tacsouia  Vm-Volxemi,  bciancai 
jasminifiorum  iloribnndnm,  Pinmbiago  capeusis^  Clianihus  ruuiceum 
mcgnificum,  and  Ceboea  scandens  variegata.  Lanireria  rcera  and  alba  are 
very  fine,  and  require  to  be  trained  near  the  glasa. 
Are  Peacocks  Mischievous  in  a  Garden  ^  — Terr,  they  are  rege- 
tarisns  with  a  strong  appetite,  and  ueroar  almost  anything  in  the  grcea 
stuff  way.  Ttey  kept  ns  one  season  almost  entirrlj  witbont  Peas,  cletr- 
ing  them  from  the  rows  in  the  gronnd. 
Shrubs  for  Ponltry  Bun  to  Afford  Shade  (TT.  H.  7.\ — These  we  hare 
seen  succeeding,  and  aTporently  liked  by  the  poultrv.  were — Cerumen 
and  Purp'e-leaved  Hanel.  Common  and  Golden  Elder.  Blackthorn  or 
Sloe,  Common  and  Scarlet  Dogwotd.  Common  and  White  Lilac,  Evir- 
green  and  Oval-leaved  Privet.  Common  and  Vsriegaied  Hclly,  Flcw-ering 
Currant,  and  Cotoneaster  Simmonsi.  In  large  spej-es  we  have  noticed 
fowls  fond  of  dusting  under  Cnpressus  Lawsoni.  Htmlcck  Sr-roeie,  and 
English  Yew. 
Fruit  Trees  fer  Ornament  X-  U'.\ — We  do  no:  know  of  any  riamphlet 
on  this  subject.  The  planting  of  Apples,  Plums.  Medlars,  Quinces, 
Siberian  Crabs,  and  other  fruits,  has  been  several  t  rues  advocated  in  the 
Jovmal  of  Horticiiliu'e.  but  if  the  artiaies  could  be  traced  the  numbers 
containing  them  wonld  probably  t>e  out  cf  print.  We  scarcely  think  yon 
need  anv  guidance  on  the  subject,  as  your  letter  indicates  that  you  are 
■  fully  aware  that  beauty  with  utility  may  be  combineff  in  many  gardens 
I  by  plantirg  fruit  trees  judiciously  in  ass.ciation  with  ether  ornamental 
I  trees  and  shrubs. 
j  Dog's-tooth  Violet  not  Succeeding  (JjHTrd — This  bulbrns  riant  does 
not  succeed  well  on  heavy  clay  soil,  especially  when  very  c  Id  and  dampK 
But  why  not  lake  cut  a  foot  depth  of  the  “clayey  foundanen.  "  rlace  in 
that  depth  of  rubble,  and  on  ibis  a  foot  thickness  of  g-'od  scil,  sav  a 
mixture  of  equal  parts  of  loam  and  peail  Of  course  it  is  no  use  making 
I  a  pit  to  hold  water,  as  that  in  the  clay  would  without  a  .drain  to 
I  c  iiry  off  the  supeiflnrus  water.  The  best  time  for  replanting  is  immedi- 
,  ately  after  the  leaves  die  away,  inserting  the  bulbs  abent  ?•  ioches  deep. 
I  It  may  be  grown  in  pots  in  a  cold  frame,  removinj  to  the  STeenhctise 
i  when  in  flower. 
Apple  from  Old  Tree  P.  G.). — The  fruit  is  the  Wanstall  (WanstaJl 
.Jack,  Jack-in-ihe-Wood)  a  dessert  Apple  of  the  first  quality,  which 
i  ‘•originated  at  Green  Street,  near  Sittingbourne  in  Kent,  with  a  tailcT  cf 
i  the  name  of  Wanstall  about  the  beginning  cf  tne  present  century.  " — 
i  (Dr.  Hogg's  “  Fruit  Manual”'  It  is  very  handsome,  skin  golden-yellow 
on  the  shaded  side,  but  red,  which  is  striped  and  mottled  with  darker  rod 
on  the  side  next  the  sun.  roundish,  but  narrowing  towards  the  eye,  giving 
a  conical  appearance.  Flesh  yellow,  firm,  crisp,  juicy,  rich  sugary,  and 
highly  flavoured.  It  is.  as  you  say,  very  hard  when  first  gathered,  and 
will  keep  till  May  and  Jnne. 
I 
i 
i 
j 
1 
Establishing  a  "Mistletoe  Farm (WorccsfrrX — We  have  only  seen 
one  orchard  made  to  grow  Mistletoe.  It  was  an  old  one,  and  the  Misiletc-e 
berries  were  simply  placed  or  burst  on  the  smewth  pans  of  the  brarc'nes, 
especially  those  of  an  inch  or  two  in  diameter,  and  cn  the  under  ^^de  c  f 
them  in  patches  of  two  or  three  at  a  yard  distance  along  them,  pladrg 
the  seeds  an  inch  apart.  By  bursting  the  berries  on  the  bark  the  sce-ds 
adhere  fast  enough.  There  is  no  need  to  make  incisions  and  spueeze  the 
berries  info  them.  Mistletoe  always  cemmands  a  market,  bat  it  gc^ 
through  so  mtny  hands  that  the  growers  receive  the  least  share.  In  tea 
years  the  Mistletoe  would  be  grown  sn$ciently  to  bring  in  a  fair  rerurn. 
We  have  had  good  "  boughs at  seven  years. 
Hard  Substance  at  the  Eye  of  Figs  {G.  K). — The  hardness  is  caused 
by  a  fungus,  the  “spot,"’  Gloeosporium  finctigenum.  which  is  perhaps 
induced  by  moisture  settling  at  the  eye,  and  givin?  the  parasite  a  nidus. 
The  best  thing  we  have  found  was  to  use  a  little  sulphur  on  the  hot-water 
pipes,  and  admit  air  day  and  night.  The  circulstioa  cf  air  prevents  the 
depositicn  of  moisture  on  the  fimii.  Unfortunately  the  finer  the  fruit  the 
:  more  they  are  liable  to  attack,  and  that  means  that  the  structure  rccnires 
■  to  be  kept  drier  and  warmer,  and  more  airy.  We  have  also  found  a 
dressing  of  air-slaked  chalk  lime  nsefnl,  applying  a  p:and  per  s  uare 
yard,  and  poiating-in  lightly.  There  does  not  appear  to  be  any  imperfect 
■  fertilisation  of  the  flowers  at  the  upper  part  of'the  fruit. 
Ants  and  Flowering  Melons  (TTxiiycj). — You  say  that  “ants  are 
eating  the  essential  organs  clean  ont  of  the  flowers  '  of  your  Melons.  We 
have  known  a  similar  case.  If  yon  cannot  prevent  the  ants  ascend  ng  the 
stems  by  destroying  the  marauders,  sponges  dipped  in  treacle  ani  water 
and  p’aced  among  the  plants  will  act  as  conn  ter- baits,  and  lore  many  of 
the  little  p)e5ts  to  their  doom  if  the  sponges  taken  possession  of  are  tipped 
in  boiling  water.  If  their  nests  or  haunts  can  be  found,  a  correspondent 
some  time  ago  stated  that  a  miitnre  of  one  p.trt  XL  All  insecticide  and 
fifteen  parts  water  poured  in  or  among  them  will  .uickly  reduce  their 
numbers.  A  solution  of  camphor  made  by  dissolving  a  lump  the  sire  of  a 
walnut  in  a  gallon  of  boiling  water  destroys  those  it  reaches  and  tends  to 
keep  the  others  at  a  distance.  Lumps  ot  camphor  ;.  laced  al-Dui  their  runs 
is  said  to  be  a  good  deterrent,  though  we  have  not  tried  the  plan.  Per¬ 
haps  some  of  oar  correspondents  may  describe  methods  of  extenninaticn 
that  they  have  found  effective. 
i 
