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JOCENAIj op nOBTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GABDENEK. 



[ November 28, 1867. 



ing day at last makes its appearance is nniversally known. 

 With a, large number of stocks, artificial swarming is manifestly 

 both profitable and convenient, for while one takes the queen 

 from one stock, from another a portion of its bees, from a third 

 a brood-comb, and in this manner establishes so-called put- 

 together artificial swarms, he does harm to no colony, and yet 

 obtains the most splendid young stocks. By this temporary 

 and trifling drain over-strong stocks are checked in their pre- 

 parations for swarming, whilst nearly equal industry is main- 

 tained, and so not only does the produce increase, but also the 

 lasting prosperity of the stocks is insured, since little by little 

 the superannuated mothers are removed, and strong young ones 

 become bred in their place. 



It is hardly necessary to remark, that it is only in hives with 

 moveable combs, that all the advantages herein signified, are 

 to be attained. In hives with immoveable combs artificial 

 swarming is difficult, and had better be avoided. Here at the 

 best driving only is practicable, but this frequently fails just 

 in those cases in which it would be most useful — i.e., when it 

 is desirable to remove a weak old queen. 



Extraordinai-y advantages and conveniences for artificial 

 swarming are offered by two apiaries about a half hour's walk 

 from one another, with this help, each fertile queen is easily 

 furnished with a corresponding quantity of bees from some of 

 the strongest stocks, after which the swarra is taken to the 

 other apiary, and established there. The difference between it 

 and a natural swarm is only this, that the bees have not pro- 

 vided themselves so abundantly with food. For this reason it 

 is well to furnish them with a honeycomb, or to give them 

 honey to prompt them immediately to the first play and to 

 gathering. It is well, also, to furnish them with a brood-comb, 

 because then the colony is certain not to forsake its dweUing, 

 and will the sooner defend itself from all attacks. 



In this way nearly all my artificial swarms have been esta- 

 blished, and not one has failed. From a good stock one can 

 take by degrees in the course of a summer, an incredible num- 

 ber of bees, and during a protracted honey season the number 

 of colonies may be multijilied to an extraordinary extent. 



The transport of bees is also rendered very easy, by removing 

 heavy combs, and substituting well-secured empty ones, which 

 will endure any amount of violent shaking and jolting. 



He who has not two distant apiaries at his disposal, and has 

 no opportunity of placing artificial swarms with a friend in the 

 neighbourhood, will do well to occasion artificial voluntary 

 swarms by taking away the queen only from a strong stock. 

 By means of the after-swarms which the stock will give in about 

 fourteen days, when the weather is not too unf.ivourable, or 

 when they are supplied with food, stocks can be established. 

 In order to obtain more swarms, one should be able from the 

 first, if they are strong, to give back a portion of the bees to the 

 mother stock. Indeed it only comes to this, through an inde- 

 pendent, if also weak swarm to form the foundation of a stock. 

 By the gradual insertion of brood the stock can be raised to 

 any strength desired, and by the continuous supply of food 

 may become the best brood-stock. Experience having proved 

 that second and third swarms possess excellent mothers, they 

 are, therefore, especially worthy of being strengthened 60 as to 

 be able to go through the winter. — Dziekzon. 



there I do not see why they should have left the feast which 

 Nature had provided for them, and betaken themselves to the 

 trees amongst the sooty aphides. At all events it is the first 

 year, and I hope it may be the last that will come under the 

 observation of — A Lanakushire Bee-iceepek. 



THE HONEY SEASON IN LANARKSHIRE. 



This year has been throughout a most untoward one, and so 

 uncertain were we of a fine day, that not unfrequently after the 

 barometer had been rising and well up for some days, we would 

 find the morning ushered in with squalls and rain. The fact 

 is, all our weather guides were at fault, and although at times 

 we could not say that the thermometer was low, still the air 

 wanted that serenity which accompanies fine weather, the sun 

 being most obscured throughout the season. 



Our crops showed a very great want of that golden colour so 

 pleasing to the eye in autumn, and so much did our flowers 

 suffer from the want of sun, that, for example. Sweet Peas 

 were six months in the ground ere they showed bloom. There 

 was a great paucity of flowers of all kinds, and particularly of 

 our best bee flower, white clover, and the bees had, therefore, 

 to betake themselves to the trees, gathering the honeydew 

 amongst the aphides, which when stored was in fact as dark as 

 treacle. Most of their work was from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m., this 

 being the only time when they could collect honey. Although 

 bees have this year maintained themselves from honeydew, it 

 must have been for the want of flowers, as if these had been 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Hamburgh Pcllets Losing theib T.\tls (P. P.).— We imagine your 

 Hambur<jhs do not shed their tails, but they poll each other's out. Se- 

 parate them, and give them some lettuces to eat. 



Fattening Rabbits (Subscriber). — Give caiTots, oatmeal, oats, and 

 bran, and a little water at times. 



Age to wuicit Fowls continue Profitable {Harriet).— -Uons may 

 be kept four years, and cocks as long. Old hens often make the best 

 sitters and mothers. 



DucKwiNG Bantams (S'pcs).— The dark markinR on the hackle of your 

 Duckwin^j Bantam is a grave fault, and in close competition would be 

 fatal. It is theresultof thecross. They would passiu slight competition. 



Feeding Owls ( J(Zrm).— Feed Owls on sparrows, mice, pieces of rabbit, 

 anything that has feathers or pelt. Owls require this, as they throw up 

 castings like other birds of prey. 



Bills of Rouen Ducks {A.'H.).—ln both sexes the bills should be of 

 the colour of those of Wild Ducks. In them the mallard has a yellow bill 

 shaded over with light green. Any slate colour in the bill of duck or 

 drake should disqualify. 



Plumage of Silver-spangled Hamburgii Cock (H. B.).— He need 

 not have a clouded haclde. It is the hen that must not have a clear one. 

 The gi'eat points in the cock are — a well spiked and not over-large comb, 

 piked behind, the pike turning upwards, well and firmly set on the head* 

 inclining to neither side ; a white deaf ear, not larger than a sixpence, 

 if no larger than a fourpenny picco so much the better ; breast well 

 spotted, black and white ; wing barred, nnd, in our opinion, laced, if 

 possible ; tail quite white, each feather spotted or mooned on the tip. 



Cross between Dark Brahmas and Dark Dorkings (Idevi). — We 

 approve of the cross you have adopted. It makes an excellent bird, much 

 better as a table fowl, than a Dorking cock and Brahma liens. You may if 

 you please let the pullets run with a Dorking cock next season, but you 

 must bear in mind each time you do so. you are drawing nearer to the 

 pure Dorking. Thus, the half- breds of 1&68 put to a Dorking cock in 1869, 

 will produce chickens with only one out of four parts of Brahma, and so 

 on, diminishing every year, till at last there vd]l be no appearance of 

 Brahma origin, nor would its existence be known, did not a throw-back 

 now and then give proof of it. 



Indian Game Fowls (^.L.P.).— "The Indian Game fowls aro Black- 

 breasted Reds, Ginger Reds, Gingers, Brown-breasted Reds, and Ginger 

 Brown Reds ; the first two sorts generally, though not always, with red 

 eyes and yellow legs, and red combs and faces ; the Gingers always with 

 yellow eyes and legs, and yellowish combs and faces ; and the two last- 

 named sorts with dark eyes, dark legs, and dark gipsy combs and faces. 

 The Black-breasted Reds are — some bright red, some light ginger red, 

 and some darkish red. Their hens are of a reddish Partridge-ltrown 

 colour of various shades, with golden hackles and reddish fawu or red- 

 dish bay breasts. The Ginger Reds are bright red gingers ; the cocks' 

 breasts red ginger, tho hens' breasts ginger. The hens are of a light ginger 

 rfd colour with yellow ginger hackles. The Gingers and Pencilled are 

 of a yellow giuger colour, with hens like those of the Ginger Reds, though 

 less red. The Brown Reds are dark birds ; hens of a dusky dark brown, 

 pencilled all over. Tha Ginger Brown Reds are lighter again in colour 

 than these, with the hens also rather lighter, but of the same colour. 

 These colours are also the primitive colours of our EngUsh Game fowls. 

 The average wcieht varies, but is also much the same as that of our 

 English birds. The number of spurs makes no difference in their good- 

 ness. They are in general not so well shaped, less handsome, and less 

 high-couraged than EngUsh Game, and more resemble the smaller 

 Malays, though ([uite distinct from any Malays. Colonel Mordaunt's 

 Engli&h Game fowls, however, in 1827, were beaten in India by the Indian 

 Game birds; but then his birds had, probably, suffered by his long sea 

 voyage to India. At some future time a full description of the Indian 

 Game fowls will be in the Poultry Chronicle, and also of the various 

 sorts of the Gallus ferrugineus, or the Red-brown Wild Jungle Fowl of 

 the East Indies. — Newmabeet." 



Feeding Dccks (T. W. £.).— Ducks fed on grain lay very well ; but 

 they, as well as other birds, want change of food, and thrive better when 

 they have it. Aylesbury Ducks lay more eggs than the Rouen, but they 

 do not sit. There is more nutriment in Ducks' eggs thau in bens' eggs. 



Brahmas Fon Exhibition (J. S. B.). — From the description you give 

 of the bird you bred of Ellis's strain, he is fit only lor tbe cook. He is 

 neither fit for stock nor exhibition. You may exhibit "Pickles'" bird 

 with good hope of success. 



Kalege Pheasants— Japanese Pea Fowls {A. L. B.). — Kalege Phea- 

 sants are natives of India, the Himalayas. The cock is blue and white ; the 

 hen brown. In shape, crests, andsize, they more resemble the silver Phea- 

 sant than any other of our accUmatised breeds. They have also the gait 

 of them. Tbe Japanese Pea Fowl difl'ers from the common inasmuch as 

 it has no plain feathers. The wing tliat is a plain brown in tho ordinary 

 bird, in the Japanese iscovered M'ith beanlifuUv shaded bright green and 

 blue feathers, each being marked in outline by a brilliant and shining 

 rim. There is not a plain feather in the plumage. The White Pea Fowl 

 is the most valuable. They are said not to breed till they are two years 

 old. It is a disputed point, and we believe it true only of the male. They 

 lay once in tbe year, and are natives of Asia. The Wonga Wongas have 

 been tried at liberty, but we have never heard of their breeding. 



Mortality among Canaries ill'. H, H.). — The numerous deaths of 

 your birds have been caused through exposure to tbe inclemency of the 

 weather. The weather lately has been far too cold for canaries to be in 

 an outbuilding, and a sudden change from waim to cold will oftentimes 

 cause the birds to drop ofl'. To keep canaries in health tbe temperature 

 should not be below 46- Fah., although they may be trained by gradual 

 exposure to endure a much lower temperature. An addition of a small 

 quantity of bruised hemiJ seed and a little maw seed, mixed with hard- 

 boiled egg chopped fine, and a few groats, is recommended, but. no 

 green meat, and most x^i'obably after a few days a great change 'will be 

 I observed. 



