40 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



I January 8, 1867. 



which had combs from diseased stocks'. Two of those with 

 excised combs and one of the others did not survive the winter, 

 whilst another did well and swarmed twice. At this time I 

 examined it, and found foul brood in the bottom box, while the 

 two top boxes, which had old combs, were quite free, the disease 

 having broken out in the new-made combs ; but when the 

 young queen commenced breeding it spread throughout the 

 whole hive. In another I ventilated, and retarded breeding as 

 much as possible, and it was only when the weather became 

 warm that this one fell a prey to the disease. The other three 

 stocks are quite free, and at this time the best I have in my 

 apiary. I am inchned to think that the disease which causes 

 foul brood exists in hives even when no breeding is going on, 

 and that transferring diseased combs to other hives will infect 

 them. Infected combs may be known by their clammy and 

 adhesive character, and are of a brownish colour, appearing 

 also thicker than usual, as if some fungus existed. I believe 

 it is impossible to get rid of the disease so long as any of these 

 combs remain ; but I imagine that the side combs may be used 

 with impunity if they have a fresh and dry appearance, as they 

 were side combs only that were in the hives which escaped 

 the malady, notwithstanding that the combs were taken from 

 diseased stocks. My experience with foul brood leads me to 

 believe, that instead of cold having anything to do with it, it 

 is quite the reverse, and that it is warm weather which propa- 

 gates it. This has certainly been the case in my apiary during 

 the last two seasons. — A Lanakkshike Bee-keepek, 



WOODBURY HIVES. 



I WILL describe an improvement in the Woodbury bar-and- 

 frame hive, especially where the compound bars and frames 

 are used. I have tried it, and it quite answered my expec- 

 tations. It is intended to facilitate the moving and removal of 

 the frames, by doing away altogether with the notches in which 

 the frames rest. In the front upper and inner edge of the hive 

 you have, first the usual three-eighth rabbet ; below this, instead 

 of notches, is another rabbet one-eighth of an inch wide, by 

 three-eighths deep, and the positions of the bars and frames are 

 marked by incisions or lines, which are inked to make them 

 more conspicuous. The back upper and inner edge of the hive 

 has the rabbet made three-quarters of an inch deep ; on this 

 rabbet rests a loose piece of wood one-quarter of an inch thick, 

 and three-quarters of an inch deep, by 14.{ inches long. This 

 piece is also marked with lines in the same way as the front 

 of the hive, to show where the frames are to be. Through the 

 back of the hive are five set screws which are made to bear on 

 the loose piece of wood, so that when the bars and frames are 

 in their places, by turning the screws the wood is pressed for- 

 ward and holds them all tightly, so tightly, indeed, that the 

 hive may be turned upside down, and drummed, without their 

 getting out of their places. A bit of brass or iron is let into the 

 moveable piece of wood where the screws bear upon it,to pre- 

 vent its being galled. 



I was led to this contrivance by the difficulty I have ex- 

 perienced in moving the frames when well cemented by the 

 bees. The advantage of this plan is, that by loosening the 

 back screws the frames are all set at liberty at once. The loose 

 piece of wood can be easily pressed back, no matter how well 

 cemented, and the frames can be gently pushed one towards 

 another without lifting up, as you must do when they are in 

 notches. Another advantage is, that old hives can be easily 

 altered to this plan. It is also inexpensive, and the notched 

 piece of wood at the bottom is never required to keep the frames 

 in their places. 



My experiments as yet have all been with the black bee, but 

 I hope to have the opportunity of multiplying a stock of Ligu- 

 rians next spring, and should hke to ask Mr. Woodbirry the 

 way in which he would advise a bee-keeper to proceed with one 

 Ligurian stock. 



Can you tell me where the queen-cages (pipe-oovers) de- 

 scribed in Neighbour's book are to be obtained, and what is the 

 price of them? — C. F. George. 



[Wire pipe-covers are sold by many tobacconists at a very 

 moderate cost, and form excellent queen-cages. Mr. Woodbury 

 premises sn article on the propagation of Ligurians at no very 

 distant date.] 



RocEN DccKs (H. B.j.—U yoa read the report of the Birminghnm Show 

 yon will see you were beaten in weiRht. Your birds of 1866, weighing 

 14 lbs. the pair, are, nevertheless, good birds, and would havo won years 

 ago. It is a good plan to confine them for a fortnight or throe weeks 

 before exhibition at a large show. Your feeding is good, and an increase 

 In the amount of flesh will add weight. The great point in rearing birds 

 that are intended to compete against all England is to feed them from 

 the first with a view to success. By this we mean, never to allow them 

 to_ become thin or out of condition. No amount of feeding will make 

 winners of birds that have ever gone back. Indian corn is not good food 

 for young growing poultiy ; it makes only fat. 



Brahma Pootras {Novice /». Jirakmax).— There are certain points that 

 are in dispute. Both sexes should have pea combs ; yellow, feathered 

 legs. The cock should have a black or spotted breast, we prefer the latter; 

 and he should have a light hackle and saddle, black tail, and black-and- 

 white-marked wing. The hen should be pencilled all over. For perfect 

 specimens neither should have any buff feathers or shade. The hen 

 should as much as possible be pencilled on the breast. Vulture hocks are 

 objected to by many. Large size. 



Cheve Cceur's Head and Eyes Affected {Crire Cfvicr). — These birds 

 are subject to such attacks as you mention when they change about from 

 one place to another. We do not consider it infectious, and the conva- 

 lescence is not long. While they are suffering they should have very 

 little water. It is enough if they are allowed to drink three times per 

 day. They should have no water within reach. Barley and oatmeal are 

 the best food, with some whole Indian corn once in the course of the 

 day. Buckwheat meal is good food for them, and that on which they are 

 principally fed in France. Potatoes and pollard are not good. They mast 

 have green food ; and if they have no grass run they should have good 

 large sods of growing grass cut with plenty of earth — they will eat it all. 

 It is not well to give them many peas. In such attacks you wiU find 

 some stale bread soaked in strong ale very good food and beneficial. 



Apportiontng the Sexes in a Yard {Lex). — It depends on the time of 

 year. At this season four or five hens are enough to run with one cock ; 

 but it is not necessary to can-y this rule out strictly, as few hens are 

 laying. As the weather becomes warmer the number may be increased 

 to fourteen or fifteen. When you turn down another cock it is more than 

 probable — almost certain — there will be fighting ; but after it is decided 

 which is the master they will take separate walks and hens. You can 

 insiu-e similarity of breed on one side by having all the cocks alike. We 

 cannot teU you what the breed wiU be unless we knew the hens you keep. 

 As a rule chickens take more after the hen than the cock. 



Wart Under Hen's Eye (J. H.). — If it is productive of no inconveni- 

 ence we should take no notice of it. II otherwise, it might be burnt with 

 caustic ; or if small at the roots it might be cut off. 



Sprinklfng Water on Incubating Eggs {Harriet].— The eggs require 

 to be sprinkled with water once in the day (the morning is the best tirne), 

 for ten days before hatching. If the weather is very frosty it should be 

 done immediately before the hen goes on them after feeding. Half the 

 failures in hatching are to be attributed to the neglect of this precaution. 

 They do not want artificial heat, but at this season of the year they 

 require to be in an outhouse sheltered from draughts, and the flooring of 

 which is of earth and dust. They require high feeding, and it is well to 

 give them a meal by candlelight at eight or nine o'clock, as the nights 

 are so long. The chickens soon begin to look for it, and come out at the 

 first glimmer of light. They should have beer to drink. 



Comb of Cochin-China Cock (W. H. Q.). — There is no fixed size for 



the comb of a Cochin-China cock. The essential points are that it shall 



be perfectly upright and correct in shape. We never saw a Dorking comb 



on a Cochin cock ; tlieir shapes are essentially ditferent. and the Brahmas 



I have pea combs, which are never seen on Cochins. Wherever the combs 



1 are overgrown they show signs of turning over behind, and such are dis- 



I qualified. Most of the prizetakers at Birmingham have been successful 



I exhibitors for years, and are themselves too good judges to send faulty 



birds. 



Ladies' Pets {A Lover of the Country). — I see no reason why yon should 

 not indulge your desire 'or some Pigeons; and if you procure some of 

 the tamer varieties, as Fantails, Trumpeters, Jacobins, Nuns, &e., they 

 will not be Ukely to leave your place, especially if yon have more than 

 one pair. Of course, as pets you will provide them with comfortable 

 board and lodging, and there isno reason to consider they would in :iny 

 way prove a nuisance. A Jay may be kept tame in a cage and taught to 

 talk, but Jays are very a2>t to be mischievous if allowed their liberty. 

 CoUared Turtle Doves would roost in your trees, and if tamed before they 

 were let out would make very interesting pets. Bantams are very pretty, 

 and would do well in your ornamental grounds ; but if you fear them you 

 might have Plovers if your grounds are enclosed. — B. P. Brent. 



Goldfinch Mule with Indurated Skin (if. BedweJl). — I have ex- 

 amined the bird seut. I think rape seed injurious to cage birds from its 

 pungency ; but whether it would affect a bird in the manner yours is I 

 cannot say. Round one eye. down the back of the neck, and along the 

 shoulder of one wing, the "skin is denuded of feathers, white, hard, dry, 

 and granulated ; at the back of the neck was a tumour of a white cheesy- 

 looking substance as large as a pea. When Uving at Bessel's Green my 

 fowls were mostly attacked in a similar manner, and Ducks would not 

 live long with me. I attributed it to some mineral in the water, it having 

 a gi-eenish tinge, and the soil being what geologists call the green sand 

 formation.— B. P. Brent. 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Address {Rev. H. S.).~li you enclose a stamped envelop 

 full direction we will send the address you aek for. 



your 



POULTRY IVLOIKET.— Janu.uiy 7. 



We have had an anomalous week. There is always a temporary dearth 

 after Christmas ; but this year we have had snow enough to impede com- 

 munications, and this has diminished our small supply. It has caused a 

 rise that will not be maintained. 



d 



s d. a. 



Large Fowls 3 6 to 4 



SnoIIer do 3 8 



CLickens 2 6 3 



Geese 6 7 



Ducks 



, Pigeons 10 1 



6 Partridges 2 



Pheasants S 



Grouse 



Hares 3 



Rabbits 1 



Wild do 



