66 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AXD  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
July  16,  1903. 
three  buds  there  for  the  continuation  of  the  rod  and  t'>vo  shoots 
for  bearing  next  year,  be  allowed  to  grow  unchecked,  so  as  to 
secure  a  good  root  formation  and  sturdy  stems.  Any  Vines 
intended  for  producing  full  crops  next  season  on  the  extent  con- 
.sidered  sufficiently  stout  in  rod  should  have  the  laterals  issuing 
from  the  side  of  the  buds  to  which  they  are  to  be  shortened, 
.stopped  to  one  leaf,  and  tlie  principal  leaves  kept  free  of  growths. 
If  permanent  Vines  the  cane  need  not  be  stopped  till  it  has 
grown  to  the  top  of  the  house,  cutting  back  at  the  winter  pruning 
to  three  good  buds  from  the  bottom  of  the  rafter  or  trellis, 
and  only  allowing  the  side  growths  to  bear  each  a  bunch  of 
Grapes  in  the  .“^econd  year  to  prove  the  variety,  taking  the  leading 
growth  forward  without  cropping.  Supernumeraries  intended 
for  next  year’s  bearing  and  then  to  be  removed  should  be  stopped 
at  a  length  of  7ft  to  9ft,  pinching  the  laterals  to  one  leaf  and 
sub-laterals  in  like  manner.  These  ought  to  be  shortened  in 
September,. and  by  degrees  cut  away  close  to  the  cane,  and  in  a 
fortnight  afterwards  the  Vines  should  be  pruned  to  the  first 
plump  bud  below  the  lirst  stoi)])ing,  leaving  the  old  leaves  to  die 
off  naturally.  Thorough  ripening  of  the  wood  is  importailt,  a 
free  circulation  of  air  being  necessary,  with  fire  heat  if  the  weather 
be  cold  and  wet. — St.  Albans. 
Kitchen  Garden. 
OUTDOOR  TOMATOES.— Growth  is  now  strong  and  active, 
and  the  flower  trusse.s  are  being  produced  freely  and  in  succession 
on  the  main  stem.  If  all  goes  well  with  the  plants  the  pollen 
should  be  liberally  produced  as  the  blooms  fully  open.  A  .slight 
shake  or  movement  of  the  blooms  will  distribute  the  pollen  readily 
in  the  middle  of  the  day,  and  there  will  naturally  follow  a  free 
setting  of  fruit  which,  under  favourable  conditions,  will  readily 
swell.  It  is  at  this  time  that  constant  attention  is  required.  The 
water  supply  must  be  regular,  so  that  the  roots  do  not  suffer,  or 
the  flowers  will  be  likely  to  drop,  and  probably  the  fruit,  soon 
after  it  has  set.  Serious  checks  are  often  given  to  the  plants  b.y 
the  water  supply  being  ineffective.  On  the  other  hand,  too  much 
water  must  be  avoided.  Another  matter  to  guard  against  is 
allowing  superfluous  growths  to  remain,  which  crowd  and  destroy 
the  chances  of  a  prolific  condition.  Commence  with  and  continue 
to  train  the  plants  to  one  stem.  When  a  fair  amount  of  fruit 
has  been  secured  small  doses  of  liquid  manure  may  be  afforded 
to  assist  in  swelling  the  fruit,  and  maintaining  the  general 
vigour.  It  is,  of  course,  an  essential  of  success  that  Tomatoes 
should  only  be  planted  where  they  are  fully  exposed  to  sun  and 
air. 
MELONS  IN  FRAMES. — Air,  light,  and  warmth  are  the  chief 
requirements  of  Melon  plants,  together  with  adequate  moisture 
at  the  roots.  T^ie  latter  may  be  mainly  secured  by  planting  in  a 
good  holding  soil  which  does  not,  of  course,  retain  water  too  long. 
Warmth  in  the  early  stages  must  be  maintained  either  by  fer- 
inenting  material  or  by  hot  water  pipes  running  round  the  frame 
inside.  Sun  heat  must  be  largely  utilised,  too,  in  frame  culture, 
closing  early  in  the  afternoon  to  have  the  benefit  of  it,  but 
judgment  must  be  used  at  this  season.  In  a  sunny  position  there 
will  alwa.vs  be  plenty  of  light,  while  air  may  be  given  in  .sufficient 
quantity  by  regulating  the  lights  of  the  frame.  Train  the  growths 
thinly,  whereby  they  will  develop  substance  and  be  short  jointed, 
with  leaves  of  corresponding  quality.  Fruits  form  on  short  side 
growths,  and  the  aim  must  be  to  have  a  certain  rrumber  of  blooms 
openiirg  at  one  time,  fertilising  them  all  on  the  same  day.  The 
fruits  setting  will  then  swell  together,  and  be  equal  in  size,  or  it 
may  be  po.ssible  from  the  number  set  to  select  a  limited  quantity 
equal  in  size.  All  others  should  be  removed,  and  the  selected 
ones  eircouraged  to  grow  freely.  Stop  the  shoots  at  a  joint  or  two 
beyond  the  fruits.  Give  air  early  in  the  day  according  to  the 
W'eather.  The  water  supplied  to  the  roots  nrust  be  given  at  the 
same  temperature  as  the  frame.  As  the  fruits  swell  to  a  good 
size,  place  them  on  a  square  base  of  wood,  and  as  they  become 
larger,  elevate  them  close  to  the  glass.  A  space  of  several  inches 
immediately  round  the  main  stems  is  best  kept  dry,  so  as  to  avert 
an  attack  of  canker.  If  signs  of  it  do  occur  rub  in  quicklime  or 
fine  charcoal. 
PLANTING  WINTER  GREENS. — The  principal  crops  of  Bore¬ 
cole,  Savoys,  autumn  Cabbage  should  now  be  planted.  If  inserted 
in  dry  weather  water  or  liquid  manure  must  be  given  them.  The 
rows  ought  not  to  be  less  than  2ft.  apart,  and  the  plants  loin,  to 
18in.  Some  good  reliable  varieties  of  Broccoli  ought  also  to  be 
planted,  choosing  for  them  a  plot  of  firm  ground.  Holes  may  have 
to,  be  made  with  a  crowbar  to  insert  the  plants,  but  they  often 
make  just  the  right  sort  of  growth  which  will  pass  through  the 
winter  well.  In  order  to  assist  in  well  establishing  all  winter 
greens,  run  the  flat  hoe  between  the  rows  frequently. 
LETTUCE. — Cos  Lettuces,  which  are  approaching  a  full-grown 
•  condition,  may  hav^e  the  leaves  tied  together  in  dry  weather,  so 
as  to  well  enclose  the  hearts,  and  assist  their  blanching.  Thin 
out  seedlings.  Further  sowings  should  be  made  in  watered  drills. 
The  earlier  Lettuces  which  have  commenced  to  run  to  seed  ought 
to  be  pulled  up  without  delay,  their  continuance  impoverishing 
the  ground. — East  Kent. 
Autumn  Stimulation. 
During  favourable  seasons  it  invariably  happens  that  the 
queen  of  a  colony  is  stimulated  to  such  an  extent  by  the  ingather¬ 
ing  of  honey  and  pollen  as  to  completely  occupy  'all  the  bars  in 
the  brood  chamber  with  eggs  and  brood  in  all  stages,  to  the 
exclusion  of  the  honey,  and  the  bees  are  therefore  compelled  to 
find  room  for  the  storage  of  the  latter  in  the  upper  portions  of  the 
hive.  Now,  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  harvest  is  seldom 
of  more  than  a  fortnight’s  duration  it  will  be  evident  that  if  the 
stock  hive  is  full  of  brood  at  the  beginning  of  the  honey  flow,  it 
will  from  the  same  cause  certainly  remain  so  through  the  whole 
of  the  harvest,  consequently  the  supers  rapidly  become  filled,  and 
the  colony  is  considered  an  excellent  one.  When,  however,  the 
supers  are  removed,  which  does  not  usually  take  place  until  the 
season  is  over  and  the  last  pound  of  honey  stored,  what  is  to 
become  of  the  bees  so  closely  robbed  of  their  surplus  stores? 
With  the  cessation  of  the  harvest  there  will  obviously  be  a 
dimini.shed  income,  and  the  large  quantity  of  the  brood  and  bees, 
with  their  innumerable  wants,  will  soon  be  reduced  to  a  pitiable 
condition  through  the  inadequacy  of  their  food  supply,  causing 
many  bees  to  perish  through  useless  flights  in  search  of  food,  in 
addition  to  the  loss  of  the  brood,  which  is  cast  out  of  the  hive  in 
times  of  scarcity.  This  state  of  things  can  be  prevented  by 
gentle,  continuous  feeding  in  the  early  autumn,  which  stimulates 
the  queen,  bringing  out  her  best  egg  laying  qualities. 
The  continuance  of  ovipositing  is  to  the  ultimate  benefit  of 
the  stock  and  the  apiarist,  as  it  secures  a  considerable  addition 
to  the  number  of  eggs,  and  as  the  brood  which  is  already  in  the 
hive  is  also  brought  to  maturity,  there  is  a  population  of  young 
bees  for  the  winter.  Breeding  is  discontinued  naturally  only 
through  cold,  wet  Aveather,  or  Avhen  the  income  is  very  sparse ; 
but  no  matter  when  the  harvest  ends,  stimulative  feeding  should 
commence  when  the  .supers  are  removed,  and  should  cease  not 
later  than  the  beginning  of  September,  as  should  cold  weather 
ensue  the  brood  in  the  hive  would  run  great  risk  of  being  chilled, 
and  the  bees  Avould  then  be  in  a  Avor.se  condition  than  before, 
through  performing  useless  labour  in  connection  AA'ith  the  brood. 
If  stocks  have  been  neglected,  and  breeding  long  discontinued, 
they  cannot  hav’e  too  much  attention  paid  to  them. 
"stimulative  feeding  should  be 'resorted  to  at  the  earliest  pos¬ 
sible  moment  to  promote  breeding.  There  is  another  advantage 
in  this  method  of  feeding  as  soon  as  the  .supers  are  removed — that 
is,  any  excess  of  food  is  stored,  and  Avill  be  put  into  its  natural 
position  and  properly  sealed  up  Avithout  an  undue  proportion  of 
moisture,  Avhich  almost  iuA^ariably  happens  AA'hen  stocks  have  been 
fed  up  too  rapidly  late  in  the  autumn.  There  is  nothing  gained 
by  procrastination  late  in  the  season.  As  soon  as  the  surplus  is 
taken  off,  put  on  rapid  feeders  if  short  of  food,  and  afterwards 
sub.stitute  sIoav  ones,  AAhich  should  contain  little  more  than  Avhat 
is  actually  required  for  the  daily  Avants  of  the  bees.  This  Avill 
have  a  stimulatiAm  effect,  and  aaTU  at  the  same  gradually  feed  up 
for  Avinter.  It  is  becoming  more  and  more  Avidely  appreciated 
that  the  maximum  efficiency  of  colonies  during  the  folloAving 
season  is  only  obtained  by  taking  into  account  all  the  varied 
operations  the  in-evious  autumn.  , 
Plenty  of  bees  must  be  secured  for  Avinter,  Avhich,  apart  from 
the  work  they  accomplish  in  building  up  strength  in  the  early 
part  of  the  year,  also  effect  an  economy  of  stores,  as  the  more 
numerous  the  inhabitants  of  the  hive  the  better  are  they  able  to 
maintain  the  necessary  heat  during  the  cold  months,  without  the 
increased  consumption  of  food  and  mortality  AA'hich  numerical 
weakness  entails.  This  again  results  in  spring  feeding  to  a  great 
extent  being  obA’iated.  Food  is  never  lost. — E.  E.,  Sandbach. 
Stray  Thoughts  on  Hives. 
When  people  only  used  straAv  skeps,  they  imagined  that  the 
oftener  bees  SAAarmed,  the  better  their  colonies  Avere  prospering. 
Unfortunately  this  idea  still  lives  in  outlying  country  districts, 
even  in  these  enlightened  days.  Some  of  the  more  thoughtful 
of  the  above  used  to  raise  the  hives,  and  do  now,  and  let  the  bees 
Avork  down  into  the  lower  chamber,  and  Avhen  the  busy  insects  had 
left  the  upper  hive,  this  sometimes  seemed  to  check  sAvarining. 
When  bar-framed  hives  became  knoAvn,  it  Avas  said  that,  by  givnng 
more  room  above,  by  placing  super  above  super,  the  bees  had 
been  deprived  of  their  desire  to  sAvarm.  Those  who  placed  their 
Avhole  faith  in  this  doctrine  kuoAv  hoAv  far  it  came  short  of  their 
hope-s.  Other  hives  were  invented,  all  non-swarming,  with  no 
warranty,  though,  Avith  room  on  the  sides,  but  these  proved  only 
worse  than  the  others.  t  .  i  i  • 
Last  year  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  Avatch  a  double  hive, 
something  like  a  “Wells,”  Avhich  .seems  to  have -attained  the 
object  most  bee-keepers  haim  in  vieAV,  viz.,  the  prevention  of 
swarming.  As  mv  observations  only  extend  over  one  season,  I 
could  not  undertake  to  say  that  it  is  absolutely  a  non-swarming 
hive,  but  it  did  not  swarm  last  year,  and  the  take  for  the  year 
Avas  phenomenal,  considering  the  season,  and  far  in  advance  of  the 
