2ir; 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AXD COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ :Marcli 14, 1872. 



diyness, in consequence of vei-y free ventilation. All the bees 

 are located in "Woodbury hives. In the latter part of the autumn 

 I annually remove two frames fi-om each hive, leading the bees 

 eight frames containing a sufficient supply of food to carry them 

 safely on to the end of March ; the bungs are removed fi-om 

 the crown boards, and pieces of perforated zinc placed over 

 the apei-tures, so that the air cau pass freely between the 

 combs and find vent at the top. The bees never suffer fi-om the 

 most intense cold when thus exposed, as it is cold and damp 

 combined, and not diy cold, which proves fatal to hives not 

 ventilated. 



The hives are all on separate stands in the garden, and each 

 hive is covered with a loose outer cover, with a space of about 

 three-quarters of an inch between the hive and co\er, sur- 

 mounted with a loose top. The air passes without the least 

 obstruction between the inner and outer box, and carries oS at 

 once any vapour which emanates from the interior of the hive ; 

 and owing to the space which exists between the top of the 

 frames and the crown board, the ventilation throusrhout the 

 hive is quite perfect, as vapour rising up fi-om between any of 

 the combs finds its way at once into this space, and is in full 

 communication with the centi-al hole in the crown board. To- 

 wards the end of February the bungs are replaced, and full or 

 empty combs, as circumstances may dictate, are put into the 

 hives later in the season, to supply the place of those which 

 were removed in the autumn. — J. E. B. 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Periodical LixERATrnE (A Very Old Subscriber).— The writer is well 

 known to us, and the comments need no notice. 



Chickens Dkoopixg and Dytxg (D. A.). — We imftgine your chictens die 

 of cramp. We fancy the greenhonse is paved with bricks, and the apple-closet 

 floored with hoarde. Both are as bad as can he, and both prodnce death from 

 cramp. Move the chickens; put them where they can have sunshine. Dis- 

 continue the rice. For an inunediate stimulant give some bread and ale 

 twice or three times per day. Move them on to the earth. Put the hen under 

 a rip where she is sheltered from draught and rain. See that the rails are 

 wide enough apart to allow the chickens to get in and out easily, and allow 

 them a free run on gi-ass if possible. Let them also have free access to dry 

 dust and rubbish. Keep the hen shut up for six or seven weeks at least, and 

 you will not lose the chickens. Feed on grits, bread, bread and milk, chopped 

 egg, chopped cooked meat, and bruised com. 



Ceeve-Cceuks' Combs {Jack). — We hope your artistic powers do your birds 

 injustice, or we manel they have taken any firh;t prizes. Neither of the combs 



you have drawn is correct, inasmuch as they all open far too much at the 

 points. We here show what they should he. They are the horns rising from 

 the cloven heart from which they take their name. Of these three we prefer 

 No. 2. 



Preserving Eggs (R. B. F.).— We follow only one plan of keeping eggs. 

 It is to put them in some slacked lime just stiff enough to keep them in the 

 position in which they are placed. Then pour slacked lime over them till they 

 are covered. Leave it till it is bard. Go on till the vessel (a bread, or other 

 pan) is quite full. The eggs should he put small end downwards. 



Cocms Pullets Ceasixg to Lay (A. M.).~Om- impression is, your fowls 

 are either too fat, or they suffer fi-om extreme constipation. Either com- 

 plaint would interfere with laying, and that would account for the appearance 

 of yoor fowls, and their disinclination to walk. We adviseyou to give all that 

 are affected a full tablespoonful of castor oil, and repeat it every other day till 

 they are better. Feed sparingly for a day or two. Discontinue'the wheat, and 

 feed for a few days on oatmeal only. If some recover, whDe others seem to 

 suffer, take a wing or tail feather, dip in castor oil, and pass it down the e^g 

 passage. If an egg is the cause it will be laid, and the cure is instantaneous. 



Failure of Early Sittings (E. G. J?.1.— If condemned because the eariy 

 eggs hatched badly half the cocks in England would be sacrificed. In the 

 early season cocks are capricious in theii- favours, and much more continent 

 than they are later in the season, when the weather is wanner. They are al- 

 most monogamous in January and followers of Mormon license in June, Our 

 advice is — keep him. The weather in January is had for eggs. 



CocHTN Hen La^ie {M. L.). — The defect of the hen would seem to be one 

 of sight, or she would pick from the gi-ound. We advise you to wash her 

 face and head with cold water and vinegar. She does not eat the food from 

 the gi-ound because she cannot see it. Continue the castor oil eveiy other day, 

 and give her some pills of camphor the size of a garden pea, two every day. 



Rouen Ducks' House (L. S. R.). — Dacks require no expense as to their 

 lodging. We have seen as good ones in an old pigstye as we ever saw any- 

 where. It should be floored with hard earth, or pitched with small stones, 



smooth at top lest they lame the birds. Oats, oatmeal, gravel and some flesh. 

 They should he confined for a time, as they gain weight by it, but they must 

 have the opportunity of washing for the saJie of plumage. They should weigh 

 18 lbs. at least. The birds you mention are not worth the money unless they 

 are perfect. 



Do^-ER AND Cinque Ports Show {Matthew). — The Secretary informs as 

 that the prize schedole can now be hod on application. 



Canaries (B. .V.).— Write to "Mi. W. A. Blakston, 22, Norfolk Street, Sunder- 

 land. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, 



CAiiDEN Square, London. 

 Lat. 51° 32' 40" N. ; Long. 0' 8' 0" "W. ; Altitude HI feet. 



6th. — A beautiful day, morning, noon, and night. 



7th. — Very fine, though sometimes rather dark, fine after 11 A.H., rather dull 



at night, and colder than in the morning. 

 8th. — Fine morning, rather dull about noon, then very fine afternoon and 



9th. — Dull early, but fine at 9 a.m., and so continued all day and night. 



10th. — Fine early, but clouded over about 9 a.m., then fine bright day except 

 for a short time about 5 p.m. when there was a peculiar dark mist, 

 but clearing off before night. 



nth. — Thick, hazy, and cold during much of the day, a little sunshine in the 

 day, and warmer at night. 



12th.— Very hazy at 8 a.m., but soon cleai-ed off, becoming fine during the re- 

 mainder of day except a few drops of rain between 7 and 8 p.m. Pyms 

 japonica in magnificent bloom. 

 A week of lower tempemtui-e, the difference caused chiefly by the coldness 



of the nights, the mean temperatm-e of which being onlySl.CP, and one night 



sinking to 26.2^— G. J. Stmoss. 



COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— March 13. 

 Prices remain without much alteration, and business is of its nenal 

 character. There is little to influence the wholesale markets, the weather 

 peiinittiug of shipping anivals being regular and unimpeded. 



FKTJIT, 



Apples Jsieve 



Apricots doz. 



Cherries lb. Ne. 



Chestnuts bushel 10 



Currants i sieve 



Black do. 



Figs doz. 



Filberts lb. 



Cobs lb. 



Grapes, Hothouse.... lb. 10 



Gooseberries quart 



Lemons ^100 7 



%^100 



Pears', kitchen doz. 



dessert doz. 



Pine Apples lb. 



doz. C 



VEGETABLES. 



Beans, Kidney.... per 100 



Broad bushel 



Beet, Red doz. 



Broccoli bundle 



Brussels Sprouts. -i sieve 



Cabbage doz. 



Capsicums ^100 



Carrots bunch 



Cauliflower doz. 



Celery bundle 



Coleworts.. doz. bunches 



Cucumbers each 



pickling doz. 



Endive doz. 



Fennel bunch 



Garlic lb. 



Herbs hunch 



Horseradish bundle 



Leeks bunch 



Lettnce doz. 



Mushrooms pottle 



Mnstard & Cress, .pnnnet 

 Onions bushel 



pickling quart 



Parsley per doz. bunches 



Parsnips doz. 



Peas quart 



Potatoes bushel 



Kidoey do. 



Radishes., doz. bxmchea 



Rhubarb bj ndle 



Savoys doz. 



Sea-kale basket 



Shallots lb. 



Spinach bnshel 



Tomatoes doz. 



Turnips bunch 



Vegetable Marrows.. doz. 



POULTRY MARKET.— March 13. 



Small supply and moderate trade, 



s. d. 8. d 



LarpeFowls 4 to 4 6 



Smallerditto 3 6 4 



Chickens 3 3 6 



Goslings 7 6 8 



Ducklines" 4 4 6 



GuineaFowl 3 3 G 



s. d. 8. d* 



Partridges to 



Hares 



Rabbits 15 16 



Wild ditto 9 10 



Pipeons 10 10 



Pheasants 



