September  4,  1S02. 
231 
JOURNAL 
OF  HORTICULTURE  A  SD 
CO  TTA  GE  GA  R DEFER, 
Driven  Bees. 
Driving  is  merely  a  more  humane  method  of  taking  honey 
from  bees  in  skeps  than  the  old  barbarous  custom  of  killing 
them  by  placing  them  over  a  brimstone  pit.  The  application 
of  the  word  “  driving  ”  in  describing  the  method  sounds  very 
formidable,  but  the  following  axiom  of  the  R^v.  L.  L.  Lang- 
stroth’s  explains  why  they  can  be  so  easily  forced  to  desert  the 
stores  they  have  gathered  at  such  expense: — “When  frightened 
by  smoke  or  by  drumming  on  their  hives  bees  fill  themselves 
with  honey,  and  lose  all  disposition  to  sting  unless  they  are 
hurt.”  • 
The  operation  is  performed  as  follows : — On  a  fine  warm 
evening,  give  a  puff  or  two  of  smoke  at  the  entrance  of  the 
skep,  and  after  allowing  a  few  minutes  for  the  bees  to  load 
themselves  with  honey,  invert  the  skep  and  remove  it  to  a  spot 
as  far  away  from  other  bees  as  possible,  and  place  an  empty 
skep  in  its  position  to  catch  the  flying  bees  which  will  return 
home.  Now,  above  the  inverted  hive  (which  for  ease  in  manipu¬ 
lating  should  be  placed  in  a  bucket  at  a  comfortable  height) 
place  another  empty  skep  and  fasten  the  two  together  at  the 
point  furthest  away,  and  fix  them  with  their  backs  to  the 
strongest  light,  the  front  edges  being  about  Gin  apart,  in  which 
position  secure  them  by  driving  iron  on  each  side.  This  liberates 
both  hands,  and  the  whole  structure  will  be  quite  rigid.  Now, 
with  the  open  hand  tap  the  sides  of  the  bottom  hive  hard 
enough  to  cause  the  combs  to  vibrate,  but  not  sufficiently  hard 
to  break  them  from  their  attachments. 
The  bees  at  first  view  these  movements  with  perplexity,  and 
finally  dismay,  then  commences,  what  in  bee-keeping  phrase¬ 
ology  is  termed  the  subdued  roar,  and  at  a  run  the  bees  make 
for  the  dark  interior  of  the  empty  skep.  If  the  queen  is 
required  she  may  be  found  as  she  passes  over  the  junction  of 
the  two  skeps  and  captured.  When  conditions  are  favourable 
they  may  be  driven  in  less  than  fifteen  minutes.  If  the  opera¬ 
tion  is  prolonged,  pouring  a  little  warm  syrup  between  the 
combs  will  facilitate  matters.  Immediately  the  bees  are  cleared 
from  the  combs  they  should  be  secured  by  covering  the  mouth 
of  the  hive  with  porous  bagging,  or  cheese  cloth,  and  if  there 
are  two  or  three  weak  lots  they  may  be  joined  together  after 
removing  the  surplus  queens. 
To  prevent  robbing,  it  is  necessary  when  placing  them  in 
their  new  hive  to  throw  them  into  the  empty  brood  chamber, 
placing  the  frames  in  position  afterwards.  The  quilt,  feeder, 
and  entrance  may  then  be  adjusted.  It  is  scarcely  necessary 
to  point  out  that  ready  drawn  out  combs  for  this  purpose  are 
invaluable.  Never  attempt  to  unite  driven  bees  to  an  estab¬ 
lished  stock  by  running  them  in  at  the  entrance.  This  will 
result  in  nothing  but  fighting,  thousands  being  killed,  besides 
which  most  of  them  die  before  winter. 
To  strengthen  a  weak  colony  the  driven  bees  should  be 
placed  on  the  spare  combs  in  another  hive  close  to  the  old 
stock,  and  any  time  up  to  October,  when  they  have  developed 
a  good  brood  nest,  they  may  be  united  by  first  smoking  both 
stocks  and  then  alternating  the  bars  of  bees  with  those  in  the 
weak  colony  after  deposing  the  oldest  queen.  Much  more  is 
achieved  by  this  plan  of  uniting.  The  amount  of  brood  in  the 
driven  stock  will  represent  the  additional  strength  given  to  the 
weak  lot. — E.  E.,  Sandbach. 
“Russia,”  a  New  Magazine. 
The  title  conveys  the  scope  of  this  magazine’s  work,  and  its 
brevity  leaves  room  for  the  imagination’s  play.  Four  numbers 
have  reached  us,  the  first  appearing  on  July  19,  the  others  in 
each  week  since.  “  Russia  ”  is  an  illustrated  journal  (12^in 
by  9^in),  devoted  to  policy,  industry,  commerce,  literature,  and 
art  in  their  relation  to  Russia.  The  articles  are  useful  and 
interesting  in  their  several  departments,  and  are  admirably  illus¬ 
trated.  Russian  notabilities,  soldiers,  poets,  authors,  clergymen, 
peasants,  and  views  of  architectural,  sculptoral,  and  rural 
features  in  Russia  and  its  towns,  are  portrayed  in  its  pages. 
Politics,  literature,  and  industry  receive  considerable  attention 
in  these  four  numbers  before  us,  and  if  the  publishers  can  con¬ 
tinue  to  send  out  weekly  issues  of  it,  the  educative  influence  it 
exerts  should,  at  all  events,  be  greatly  beneficial  to  the  great 
country  it  represents.  The  journal  is  beautifully  printed  on 
stout  art  paper;  the  cover  is  suggestive  of  snowy  regions. 
15  WORK  F0fiTHEWEEK.. 
Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
PREPARATIONS  FOR  GATHERING  FRUIT.— The  varie¬ 
ties  of  Apples  and  Pears  are  numerous,  and  the  periods  when  the 
fruits  are  matured  sufficiently  extend  over  several  weeks,  accord¬ 
ing  as  to  whether  the  varieties  are  early,  midseason  or  late.  The 
importance  of  careful  gathering  at  the  right  time  is  only  equalled 
by  the  care  and  attention  devoted  to  storing  under  conditions 
which  shall  gradually  bring  the  fruits  to  a  perfect  state  of  ripe¬ 
ness.  At  this  period  attention  may  well  be  called  to  a  number 
of  small  but  important  items. 
THE  FRUIT  ROOM. — Where  there  is  much  fruit,  the  varie¬ 
ties  being  numerous,  and  the  quality  of  the  fruit  generally  good, 
the  provision  of  a  good  room  for  the  purpose  of  storing  is  a  prime 
essential.  A  room  40ft  to  50ft  long,  and  14ft  wide,  will  provide 
plenty  of  space  for  a  considerable  quantity  of  fruit.  Arrange 
tiers  of  shelves  down  each  side,  or  adopt  a  more  modern  system  of 
storing  the  fruit  in  trays  specially  made  for  the  purpose.  These 
receptacles  can  be  stored  one  upon  another  in  a  limited  space, 
and,  being  portable,  are  easily  examined  from  time  to  time. 
Whether  permanent  shelving  or  trays  are  used,  however,  the 
general  cleanliness  of  the  fruit-room  must  be  seen  to.  Every 
portion  of  the  walls  should  be  limewashed  after  thoroughly  cleans¬ 
ing  the  woodwork.  Make  a  careful  search  for  holes  or  crevices 
in  the  walls  or  flooring,  as  rats  and  mice  scenting  the  fruit  will 
make  every  effort  to  reach  it,  and  the  damage  they  can  do  in 
a  short  time  is  deplorable.  Every  proper  fruit  room  has  the 
means  of  heating,  this  being  necessary  in  frosty  and  occasionally 
in  damp  weather.  Should  there  be  any  defects  in  the  working 
of  the  apparatus  this  is  the  time  to  remedy  them.  Finally  re¬ 
move  all  offensive  matter  from  the  floor,  so  as  to  secure  perfect 
sweetness.  Leave  the  structure  open  until  thoroughly  dry. 
CONVENIENCES  FOR  GATHERING  FRUIT.— Fruit  that 
is  out  of  reach  by  persons  standing  on  the  ground  must  be 
gathered  either  from  steps,  ladders,  or  from  the  limbs  of  the 
trees.  Steps  of  a  good  height  are  very  convenient  for  the  outer¬ 
most  branches,  which  can  be  reached  from  them.  They  should 
be  made  firm  and  safe  before  using  them,  alike  for  the  safety  of 
the  gatherer,  and  to  prevent  injury  to  fruit.  Ladders  must 
be  light  and  convenient,  and  in  good  repair,  danger  arising  at 
critical  moments  from  defective  rungs.  Iron  hooks  which  can  be 
suspended  from  the  rungs  of  the  ladder  or  convenient  boughs  of 
the  trees  are  almost  indispensable  for  hanging  baskets  upon.  The 
baskets  mav  be  of  various  sizes.  Those  used  for  the  actual 
gathering  or  placing  in  the  fruit  direct  from  the  trees  must  not  be 
too  large,  and  ought  to  have  something  soft  in  the  bottom  for  the 
fruit  to  lie  upon  to  avoid  bruising.  The'  gardener’s  apron  is  an 
excellent  receptacle  for  holding  fruit  as  it  is  gathered  from  the 
trees.  The  lower  edge  may  be  drawn  together  and  held  by  one 
hand,  thus  forming  a  pouch,  while,  of  course,  the  upper  part  is 
secured  round  the  waist  of  the  wearer.  In  emptying  the  gather¬ 
ing  basket  the  fruits  should  be  handed  out  separately,  and  care¬ 
fully  placed  in  larger  baskets  for  conveyance  to  the  fruit  room. 
If,  however,  the  permanent  storing  trays  are  used,  all  that  is 
necessary  is  to-  place  the  fruit  in  them  at  once,  and  move  to  the 
fruit  room  without  further  disturbance. 
WHEN  TO  GATHER  FRUIT. — The  gathering  of  fruit  all  at 
one  time  from  the  trees  is  not  to  be  recommended,  except  in 
such  cases  as  Plums  or  Damsons,  but  usually  these  have  had  a 
preliminary  overhauling  in  securing  the  first  ripened  fruits.  The 
best  test  for  knowing  when  Apples  and  Pears  are  ready  f in¬ 
gathering  is  to  raise  the  fruits  to  a  horizontal  position,  when,  if 
ready,  they  will  readily  detach  themselves.  Of  course,  the  appear¬ 
ance  of  the  fruit  is  some  guide,  and  should  be  followed  before 
handling  the  fruit  too  freely.  Plumsi  come  freely  from  the 
spurs  just  before  they  are  ripe,  and  this  is  the  best  time  to 
gather  them,  placing  in  a  cool  fruit  room  for  a  few  days.  None 
but  sound  fruit  should  be  thus  kept.  Fruit  of  all  kinds  must  be 
gathered  only  when  dry.  Soft  fruit  will  much  deteriorate  if 
gathered  damp,  and  do  so  in  a  very  short  time.  Apples  will  suffer 
the  least,  but  it  is  better  to  wait  for  dry  conditions. 
PLANTING  STRAWBERRIES. — Abundance  of  well-rooted 
plants:  ought  now  to  be  available  where  the  runners  have  been 
allowed  to  remain,  and  the  precaution  has  been  taken  of  affording 
the  needful  thinning-out  of  the  crowded  growth,  together  with 
the  uprooting  of  weeds  from  among  them.  In  many  cases  special 
preparation  of  the  ground  will  have  been  given  in  order  to  facili¬ 
tate  the  rooting  of  the  runners,  hence  only  the  most  desirable 
plantlets  have  been  selected  for  rooting,  and  the  rest  dispensed 
with.  It  is  possible  to  lift  now  all  suitable  plants  with  abun¬ 
dance  of  roots  and  soil  attached,  and  to  plant  them  without  their 
suffering  from  the  removal.  In  introducing  fresh  plants  or  varie- 
