424 



JOTIENAL OF HOE.TICULTUEE AJSTD COTTAGE GAKDENEK. 



[ November 24, 1863. 



conveyed in-doors, where the combs should be cut out, and 

 the few remaining bees brushed off with a feather and re- 

 turned to the apiary. If, on the other hand, many bees still 

 adhere to their original domicile, or if, as is sometimes the 

 case, only a few stragglers are found to have quitted it, the 

 one side of the upper hive should be upraised a few inches 

 and kept steadily in that position with the left hand so as 

 to permit an unobstructed view of the interior, whilst the 

 lower hive is rapped smartly with the right. Believing, as 

 I do, that the jaiTing of the comb is the principal cause 

 which impels the bees to ascend, I disregard the dictum of 

 authority, and always rap on one side of the hive which is 

 opposite to the sides of the combs, endeavoui-ing so to regu- 

 late the force of my blows that whilst the vibration of the 

 combs is so great that a bee can scarcely keep its footing 

 on them, the concussion shall not be sufficient to detach 

 them from then' foundations. Such energetic measures 

 admit of little delay on the part of the poor bees, a cry 

 analogous to that of " Sauve q^ie pent ! " speedily arises 

 among them, as with vibrating wings and uplifted tails 

 they " skedaddle " into the cheerless and ungenial shelter 

 of an empty hive. 



During this rash upwards, it is well to moderate the 

 violent rapping into gentle tapping, just suiEcient to keep 

 the bees moving. If, as wiU probably be the case, the first 

 exodus should not be sufficiently general, recourse must 

 again be had to vehement rapping, and in this way a suc- 

 cession of panics may be produced until scarcely a bee 

 remains in the hive. Should it be desii'ed to catch and 

 remove the queen, she may usually be found and secured 

 by watching for her dm-ing the ascent. If she escape this 

 scrutiny the congregated bees may afterwards be dashed 

 out of the hive on a linen cloth spread on the gi-ound, and 

 compelled to run a short distance over the cloth to the 

 empty hive, one side of which should be raised on a block 

 an inch thick to allow them to enter freely. During this 

 operation the queen may usually be found and secured ; if 

 not, it must be repeated until the desired end be attained. 

 As bees wiU frequently refuse to remain in an empty hive 

 when deprived of their queen, it is advisable to coirfine her 

 in a small box made of perforated zinc, which may be firmly 

 fastened to the top of the hive inside by means of a packing- 

 needle and twine. 



This is my mode of proceeding with ordinary straw hives, 

 and it is on these that I should advise the novice to make 

 his lii'st experiments, selecting only strong stocks and weU- 

 filled hives. When he has been completely successful, and 

 has attained sufficient confidence in liis own powers, he may 

 try his hand with wooden hives. In operating on these the 

 cloth, string, and bucket may generally be dispensed with, 

 but owing to the solidity of theu- material the vibration is 

 so much less that bees do not so readily ascend, and a little 

 more skiU and patience are required. 



In a future paper I hope to comply with the request of 

 such of my coiTespondents as have desired information as to 

 what modes of uniting bees have been proved the safest and 

 most effectual by — A Devonshibe Bee-keeper. 



FOUL BEOOD AND LIGUEIAN BEES. 



. In reply to " Inqbiber," I beg to state that foul brood has 

 nothing whatever to do with the introduction of Ligui-ian 

 bees. No foreign bees have ever been located within fifty 

 miles of my apiary, which is composed of the common black 

 bees, and yet one of my hives has this season fallen a victim 

 to the disease. From whatever cause it ai-ises, whether from 

 a c h i l l or something unknown which occasions an epidemic, 

 every practical bee-keeper must feel deeply indebted to Mr. 

 Woodbury for biinging foul brood under the notice of the 

 public. 



, It exists in many localities where it was never suspected, 

 and but for attention having been directed to the subject 

 the writer can prove demonstrably that he would have lost 

 a straw hive containing enough of honey to carry a medium 

 swarm over two winters. Bees, in the case of foul brood, do 

 not remove abortive brood in all stages. They remove chiUed 

 brood, but not invaiiably. 



Look into any old hive, and you wiU scarcely miss see- 

 ing some cells — to use a little colouring — that have been 



sealed up for ages. But let the cause be philosophically 

 and candidly inquired into. I for one am grateful to Mr. 

 Woodbury for the timely warning, which may probably lead 

 to the preservation of a hive that would otherwise have in- 

 evitably perished. — An On-Lookeb. 



MELILOTUS LEUCANTHA AND BEE 

 FLO WEES. 



Having for several seasons sowed some rows of Melilotus 

 leucantha alongside my accustomed supply of boi-age, I am 

 in a position to reply to the inquii-y of Mr. W. C. EUis, at 

 page 384. I found the bees showed such a decided preference 

 to the borage, to the almost total neglect of the meUlotus, 

 that for some years I have discontinued sowing it. It is a 

 rank-growing plant, and its value as a bee-flower I quite 

 agree with yoiu' cori'espondent is much over-estimated in 

 some works. Borage, on the contrary, is eagerly sought 

 after by the bees, and fed on even on wet days, shoiUd it be 

 in close proximity to the apiai-y, the pendiilous umbrella- 

 shaped flowers afibrding shelter. Borage, a succession, mig- 

 nonette, and a few beds of nemophila, are all the garden 

 provision I am accustomed to make, besides, of course, an 

 abundant supply of spiing flowers — crocuses, hepaticas 

 (single), and arabis. Bee-keepei-s would reap a much greater 

 benefit by presenting the fanners in their neighbourhood 

 with a few pounds of white clover per aci'e to sow as they 

 lay down their pastures (should the land be at all favourable 

 for its growth and they so neglectfiil of theii- interests as 

 to omit doing so), than occupy much space with what are 

 usually styled bee-flowers. — A Eenfeewshike Bee-keepeb. 



OUE LETTEE BOX. 



Spanish Cock*s Come Falling Ovk.s,{R. L. W.). — The comb may begin 

 to fall from several causes. If the bird is from a strain with large fleshy, 

 thick combp, they are carried over at the end by their own weight as aoon 

 U3 the birds attain a certain age and growth. In some cases the chamge 

 from, hard to luxurious living will cause undue development and a falling- 

 over. In others it is part of the breed, and such combs are distinguishable 

 by an indentation or hollow in front known as the thumb mark. Such 

 never breed prize birds. As you say the comb was perfectly straight when 

 you bought him it is probable it may return, if the change arises from the 

 first cause ; it is almost certain it will if it springs from the second. There 

 is no hope from the third. Your Cochins inherit a crooked back ; their 

 ancestors were so before them. Nothing is so certainly transmitted us a 

 crooked back. Either the cock or the hen requires to be changed. Perhaps 

 both require to be got rid of. 



Cochin-China Blind {Regular Subscriber).— \ye are disposed to think, 

 as you eay the eye is perfectly clear, the blindness is only partial or tem- 

 porary. We should advise purging with castor oil, a tablespoonful every 

 other day. If that failed we would bleed at the back of the comb. 



ToFKNOT OF Black Polanbs {G. W. F. P.).— It is a disadvantage, almost 

 a ai.-qDalifieation, if a white topknot have black feathers intevnused with 

 it. > o topknot is free from some black in front, at least we never saw one, 

 and it is bad policy to cut or trim it. But there should be no coloured 

 feathers save in the front. 



Beak of Red Game Cock (/dem).— A yellow beak is not the necessary 

 coirpanion to yellow legs, although uniformity is always pleasing. 



Points in Cochin-China Fowls {Regular Subscriber).— Onr space will 

 not permit us to give all the points, or a detailed account of Cochin cocks 

 and hens. We will give the principal points, but for detail consult one of 

 the many books on the subject. Round, sharp, intelligent heads; perfectly 

 upright and straight combs with many serratures; as little mixture of 

 colour in the plumage as possible ; well-feathered legs ; small tail in the 

 cock of curly feathers, in the hen of round teathers ; large pluff ; yellow 

 legs. Any fault in the comb a disqualification. 



Squirrel ( U'. WiUiamso7i).-~Squirre\s are in confinement mostly fed on 

 any kind of nuts, sopped bread and milk, and most kinds of corn. To tame 

 it let -he cage be placed low where persons are constantly moving about, 

 and tempt it by kindness and feeding from the hand. We know 9f no 

 manual on Squirrel-keeping. — B. P. B, 



Rabbits for Exhieition [R. J".).— We have known prizes for weight 

 awarded to Rabbits ten months old, weighmg from Dibs, to 12ilb6. A 

 Rabbit at three months old having ears 17^ inches long we consider very 

 likely to be a prizetaker, for they ought to be 21 inches long by the tim^ 

 the Rabbit is ten months old. 



LONDON MARKETS.— Nov^MBEE 23. 

 POULTRY. 



We have still a good supply of all poultry, and a very moderate trade. 

 Grouse and Partridges are ecarce. Pheasants and Hares plentiful. 



