320 



JOUBNAL OF HORTIGULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENEK. 



[ AprU 11, 1872. 



cousistence, but of a very agreeable flavour, and gives out a rich 

 aromatic perfume. Tlie wax is coarse, and of a brownish yellow ; 

 propolis does not appear to be used. 



It may be added that the honey of this species does not fer- 

 ment readily, but remains sweet long after its importation to 

 this country. 



OUR LETTEE BOX. 



CLAJtEE — SCOLES — ADDEnLEY. — We 



are one and the same party. Inquiries 



Books (White Tulip).— Ion can obtain it through any bookseller ; we do 

 Hit know the price. 



Magic op Mis-spelling {A.F.). — You changed a room into a book by making 

 **a"and"i" change places. You wrote "diary" instead of *'dairy." You 

 will hear from the maker. 



BiNTAM Cl.isses.— " I fiilly asree with Mr. Taylor and Mr. Jeffries in 

 stating that Black Bantams and also Brown Red Game Bantams should have 

 separate classes at the leading shows, and I am ready to give £1 as my sub- 

 scription to each of these two classes, for a cup for them at Ipswich Show. — 

 jAiiES "W. Will, JErrol, PertJtshire." 



Books about Poultry {St. Edmunds). — The fii'st with coloured portraits 

 was by Johnson and Wingfield, and published in 1853. The publisher failing, the 

 copyright passed to another, and the portraits were made use of by Mr. Teget- 

 meier, who was employed to edit it, and he began by copying the literary 

 IJortion. There is now a re-issue. Mr. L. Wright's " Illustrated Poulti^ 

 Book," of which two numbers have appeared, is entirely a new work, and far 

 superior to its predecessor. We have seen the illustrations intended for 

 future numbers, and they are the best we have ever seen. 



White Dorking's Deaf-ear— Hamburgh with Brahma {F. TF'.).— The 

 deaf-ear of a White Dorking is not an essential point, bub it is certainly pre- 

 ferable that it should be red. AVe do not approve the cross between a Silver- 

 spangled Hamburgh cock and a Brahma hen. We cannot see what your 

 object is in proposing such a one. We have always believed, and we see no 

 ii'eason to alter our opinion, that the Brahma is one of the most useful of oui- 

 fowls, inasmuch as it fulfils all the duties of its nature respectably. The 

 .Hamburgh only surpasses it in one particular — it lays, perhaps, a few more 

 eggs, but the gain in number is lost in size; and although there are instances 

 of then- sitting well, yet as a rule they cannot be depended upon. If you wish 

 for a cross we know none so good as that between the Dorking and Brahma. 

 This makes a good layer, sitter, and mother, also an excellent table fowl. 

 It is very hardy. 



M.ARKiNG Chickens (Ignoramus No. 5). — Take a stout wire or knitting-needle, 

 and ha\-ing made it red hot yyans it through the web of the wing in any pat- 

 tern you may choose, as . :, .'., :■: You can vary the marks in any way. They 

 are quite imperceptible, and cannot be obliterated. It causes but little pain. 

 Creve-C(ecr Points (B. £.).— The chief points of a good Creve-Cceur are 

 square bodies, blue legs, black plumage, good beards, and top-knots. Some 

 show spangles of white in their plimiage. This is to be regretted, and such 

 a bii'd cannot be shown with any hope of succes.s, but it does not of necessity 

 prove there is any impmity in the breed. All birds of black plumage are 

 subject to these sports. Spanish would afford a good illustration. The white 

 /eithers in the top-knot are indicative of age, inasmuch as they seldom show 

 ill ft pullet. The word age must be taken in a qualified sense ; it does not 

 mean that the bh-d is old, but that it has passed fi'om the stage as a pullet — 

 just as girls of sixteen call women of twenty-six old. As a inle, it must be 

 admitted that, where perfection is desired, it is nest to hopeless to look for it 

 in the produce of parents that are themselves imperfect. But we are so sui-e 

 that partially white top-knots are the rule of Creve-Coeur hens at a certain 

 age, that we should not hesitate to show two such put with a good and tho- 

 roughly black cock. No mistme of plumage can be permitted in this latter. 

 We should not h'sitate to breed your birds with mixed top-knots, but we 

 would not breed from those with spangled bodies. 



Andalusians with Brahmvs (St. Edmund). — The illustrations by 

 Harrison Weii- are not to be had separately. If the Brahmas are only intro- 

 <luced after the eggs are laid they will have no influence on the colom- of the 

 chickens, but we will not affirm as much if they are always allowed to run 

 with the othei-s. 



Glass Roof to Fowl House (G. W. B.).— There can be no objection to 

 a. glass roof to your fowl house in winter. In the summer it is far too hot. 

 We should not recommend it for the shed. A wooden floor is always damp, 

 an i generally offensive. It absorbs filth, but it has no deodorising properties. 

 Among other grave objections for the birds are two : first, that it is imyielding 

 to th3 foot, and keeps it constantly on the stretch ; next, that it affords no 

 scratch for the bird. These are two of the many reasons why wooden floors 

 cause swelled feet and joints, and are destructive" to the health of those com- 

 pelled to use them. 



The Persian Carrier (C(csar).— Enter it in the class for Any other distinct 

 variety. 



Hen Canaries Celibate {J. R. S. C.).— Give no stimulating diet of any 

 kind, but plenty of green food. Do as you will, however, it is impossible to 

 turn aside the cuiTent, and the poor things Tvill suffer more or less from the 

 unfortunate circumstances in which they are placed. Old maids ai-e an in- 

 stitution never intended for this world.— W. A. Blakston. 



Adapting Frames to Box (J. T., Derby).— We do not think your box is 

 suitable for being transformed into a frame hive. It would be of but little 

 service to you to start with such a makeshift affair. It ia of the utmost im- 

 portance that all the hives in the apiaiy, and all the frames or bars, should bo 

 made to one exact pattern, if you mean to adopt the moveable-frame system. 

 Hives may bo used varying as to the number of the frarae.'^, but every box 

 should be so accurately constructed as to take any one of your stock of 

 frames, these last, of com-se, being made equally exact. It is also necessaiy 

 that the bos should be made in the most substantial manner — that is, that 

 the sides be so dovetailed and pinned together as to be incapable of starting 

 or opening. You had hotter send five stamps to our office and obtain a copy 

 of " Bee-keeping for the Many," which will give you full directions for the 

 construction of the Woodbury frame hives. You can only ascertain if your 

 hives requii-e any more feeding by lifting or weighing them. If very light a 

 little food may be given with yreat advantage. 



Moving Hives into Bee HorsE (A. Z.).— You had better move your hives 

 gradually one at a time, bp^inning with the one nearest to the bee house. 



Shift it a few inches every day until you get it opposite the part of the bee 

 house it is intended to occui)y, which may bo the furthest end. Ha\'ing 

 brought it in a line with its new entrance, place it inside the house, and pro- 

 ceed to treat the rest in the same way. If you attempt to move the hives 

 suddenly you will have confusion, fighting, and much loss of life. We cannot 

 enlighten you as to the best and cheapest hive for a cottager, as so much 

 depeuds on his intelligence. ^Vhat would be a profitable investment for one 

 would be dear at any price for another. For information as to the price, &c. 

 of the Woodbury hive, apply to Messrs. Neighbour, 149, Regent Street, London 

 Foul Brood (J. i?.). — We canuot decide until we have read your notes. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, 



Camden Square, London. 



Lat. 51° 32' 40" N. ; Long. 8'Q""W.; Altitude 111 feet. 



REMARKS. 

 3rd.— Dull in eariy morning, fine at 9 a.m., and e 



dark and a shower ; fine starlight night. 

 4th.— Fine morning, but cold rain at 1 p.m., and again at 5 P.M., and : 



evening, but fine night. 

 5th. — Fair throughout, and at times beautifully bright, cold i 



but wanner after the sun had been out awhile. 

 6th. — Fair, but cold and rather cloudy all day. 

 7th.— Very fine throughout the day, bright sun, but rather c 



towards evening. 

 8th.— Slight showers in thi 



clear at night. 

 9t]i. — A very beautiful day, fine and bi'ight morning, noon, and night. 



The mean temperatm-e ia all cases (except undergi-ound and in the suu) 

 lower than last week; but from the absence of cloud and rain it has been a 

 great improvement on the recent weather, and though cold has been very 

 enjoyable.— G. J. Si'MOXS. 



) continued till 5 p.m., then 

 M., and in the 



L the morning, 



3ol and cloudy 

 g, fine the remainder of the day, and very 



COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— April 10. 

 Business is atrifle better, but not at all brisk ; quotations 

 lift sn.mfi. Of goodEuglish Pines the supply is short, but some excellent one^ 

 " ■ ' ■ ' i becoming plentiful, 



lb. 



Black do. 



Melons each 



Miilbcrries lb. 



Nect.irine8 doz. 



Oranges ^103 



Pears, kitchen doz, 



Filberfa lb. 



Cobs. lb. 



Grapes, hothouse.... lb. 10 



,.doz. Pir 



doz. 4 1-2 

 lb. 6 * 10 



Raspberries lb. 



Strawberries ^Ib. 10 



Walnuts bushel 10 



ditto ^100 1 



VEGETABLES. 



Artichokes doz. 



Asparagus ■¥^101]. 



Beans, Kidney — per 10") 



Broad buahel 



Beet, Red doz. 



Broccoli bundle 



Brussels Sprouts. -i i " 



Cauliflo 



, . . bunch 



doz. 2 



,. bundle 1 C 

 ('iiieworts.. doz.buncheB 



Cacumbers each 



pickling doz. 



Endive doz. 



Fennel bunch 



Crftrlic lb. 



Herbs bunch 



Horseradish bund'e 



Leeks bunch 



Lettuce doz. 1 



Mushrooms pottle 1 



Mustard & Cress, .punnet 



Onions bushel 2 



pickling quart 



Parsley per doz. bunches 3 



Peas quart 3 



Potatoes buahel 2 



Kidney do, 3 



Sea-kale basket 1 



Shalbits lb. 



Spinach bushel 3 



rOULTRY MARKET.— April 10. 

 ;i-adually appi"oaching our time of dearth. The winter fowls are 



: ones are hardly ready. Prices ; 



Large Fowls 1 G to 



Smallerditto i 



Chickens ^ *> 



Goslng-) H 



Dacklinss i 



Guinea Fowls 3 6 



8. d. 



8. a. 



Partridges to 



Hares u 



Rabbits 15 16 



WUdditto 9 I'J 



; Pigeons 9 10 



