February 24, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENEK. 



155 



niy way than flowers — very glad to see you," and then he set up his 

 back like a (I don't suppose my friend Wallace will read this) Belgian, 

 and mounted guard again. "Here y' are, sir! sixpence a mile, 

 or two shill'ns a hour. Whereto, sir?" " Crystal Palace station." 

 11 Fine mornin', sir. I 'd like to run yer all the way down, sir ! " We 

 had no time to spare for the road, but took the rail, and landed at 

 the Palace in time to take a short stroll before the doors of the sanc- 

 tum sanctorum were thrown open to the public, which was dono with 

 commendable punctuality at twelve to a minute. 



The collection was, as stated last week, for numbers without a 

 parallel ; and now for a short run through them. We don't all see 

 with the same eyes, and perhaps it's as well we should not. I com- 

 pared notes with friend Barnesby in one or two classes, and in the 

 main we agreed. Where we did not agree — well, we agreed to differ. 

 In my remarks on this or any other show, what I say I say in a 

 friendly spirit. I must say it in my own way, or I cannot say it at 

 all ; but the wish is far from me to write as an oracle, and quarrel 

 with those who think differently. Said a fiery-faced old gentleman to 

 his fellow inmate of a coffee-room, " Wo'n't you take mustard with 

 your beef?" '* Thank you, no." After a pause, " Do take mustard 

 with your beef ! " " Thank you, I don't like it." Another pause, and 

 then says the fiery-faced gentleman, " Wo'n't you take mustard with 

 your beef.'" "Thank yon, no; I'm much obliged." Then, rising 

 fiercely, he left, with, " I wo'n't sit near any man who wo'n't eat mus- 

 tard with his beef! " Readers of "our Journal," I shake hands with 

 you all. You may all eat mustard with your beef, or the contrary. I 

 only wish you may always have plenty of beef to eat with your 

 mustard. 



Class 1 and 2, Clear Yellow and Bvff JNbrwich.— The best birds 

 were, beyond doubt, those exhibited by Messrs. Bemrose & Orrue. 

 Condition and completeness of feather assisted the first-prize Jonque 

 (H. Vine) ; No. 19 (Bemrose & Orme) and 65 (Messrs. Moore & Wynn), 

 equal second, showing signs of recent visits to the laundry. Condition 

 rightly turned the scale. The first (89, cup) and two equal second 

 Buffs (Bemrose & Orme), were gorgeous birds, but to my eye deficient 

 in meal. No. 117, very highly commended (W. Walter), was my idea 

 of a Mealy Norwich, and I liked it much better than 118, third prize. 



Class 3 and 4, Even-marked Yellow and Buff 3 I could not under- 

 stand. According to my ideas of Even marking (or Variegation proper), 

 there were not half a dozen birds correctly entered. The bulk of 

 them should have been entered among the seventy-nine birds in tho 

 next two classes, comprising the Ticked and Unevenly-marked birds. 

 No. 158 (Moore & Wynn), first prize, Even-marked Yellow, was 

 marked on each wing, and had a cap. Whether such be even marking 

 or not, is one of the points whi^h ought to be definitely settled by the 

 Jockey Club of the "fancy." My own opinion is that it is not. No. 

 159 in the same class (Moore & Wynn) was the best pencilled bird in 

 the class, but not so pure a Jonque. No. 188, first and cup, Even- 

 marked Buff (Moore & Wynn), was all quality, and the awarding of 

 the cup to him was sound judgment. No. 167 (H. Vine), and 181 (S. 

 Bunting), were the right sort. 



The T/fhzd classes contained some very beautiful and very cheap 

 birds. The winners were excellent. Bemrose and Orme's Buffs were 

 " found " at the prices, as compared with catalogue figures generally. 



Class 7, Crested Yellow Norwich, were a very moderate lot, the 

 first-prize bird, No. 2S2 (T. Fenn), only having very decided merit. 



The Burr's, however. Class 8, were a good sample. No. 332 (J. 

 Young), is the best bird I have seen out this season. 325, second 

 (J. Judd), carried a beautiful crest, as did 302 (W. J. Toon), and 

 several others " mentioned." 331, very highly commended, was a tine 

 specimen of a clean body with dark green crest ; and 324, very highly 

 commended (J. Juddl, though very heavily marked, was magnificently 

 crested. 



The Belgian entries were not numerous, only forty-three in four 

 classes. Mr. Walter took the first prize and cup with 343, Clear 

 Yellow, and also first with a group of six in its place. Can it bo 

 possible that Mr. Walter is going into Belgians ? He whose name 

 has always figured so highly among the Golden Jonques and splendid 

 Mealies, sitting like brides beneath their gossamer lace veils? Walter, 

 don't let this cup wean your affections from your first love. I am 

 serious — bond jidc. I saw nothing marvellous among the Belgians, 

 but Mr. Hawkins made his mark among them. — W. A. Blakston. 

 (To be continued.) 



SUGGESTIONS ON THE CRYSTAL PALACE 

 CANARY SHOW. 



It seems to me that a great advantage would result from 

 placing the tickets at the bottom of the cages, as when placed in 

 the centre, in order to obtain a glimpse at some birds, it became 

 necessary to frighten them from behind their screen of tickets, 

 which in some cases numbered three — viz., the number, award, 

 and " sold " labels. The labels being fastened with long pieces 

 of wire were vary dangerous — birds' legs become easily entangled. 

 I saw several lamed, possibly from this cause. Draughts ought 

 to be carefully guarded against by exhibitors, especially in the 

 case of Belgians. Some of the cages not covered at the sides 

 and back contained shivering specimens ; one bird in particular 



had already become asthmatical. I noticed a sad case of fighting 

 among " six British birds in one cage " — the victim seemed al- 

 most dead; when I called the attention of a policeman to its 

 sufferings, the cage was strewn with its feathers, and the bird's 

 back bare and bleeding. Surely this " happy family " were of 

 too short acquaintance to be sent to a public exhibition. 



The height of the stage bearing the Lizard and Cinnamon 

 Canaries was much preferable to that of some others ; that of 

 the Clear Yellow Norwich, No. 1 and upwards, was too low to 

 examine the birds with comfort. I had quite a backache in 

 consequence, although I am only of medium height. I hope 

 the numbers next year will be placed more in consecutive 

 order. I had often to apply to the attendants for guidance. 



I must just mention one little circumstmce (I would it were 

 less rare), and that was the amusing tameuess of a three-year-old 

 Goldfinch, No. 813 ; on presenting one's finger it was instantly 

 and vigorously assailed by " Goldie." — C. A. J. 



Fob several years a few exhibitors have been allowed to show, 

 without charge, birds and cages for sale as extra stock, the 

 company taking the visual commission on all sold. The 

 number exhibited in this way has so increased year by year 

 that this Show nearly every extra stock list was returned, with 

 notice that only about half the number could be admitted ; the 

 number shown as extra stock to be regulated by the number of 

 entries for show. When at the Palace my attention was called 

 to eight birds and cages, " extra stock," not included in the 

 catalogue, and without any name attached, which I was assured 

 belonged to one of the company's servants employed in the Show. 

 Personally I very strongly object to extra stock being exhibited, 

 as it is unfair to private exhibitors, and very often spoils the 

 sale of show birds ; but nothing will justify the company in 

 allowing their servants (who are always about among the birds, 

 and are being constantly asked by intending purchasers to 

 recommend them a bird), to compete with regular exhibitors 

 in this underhanded manner. Unless these practices be discon- 

 tinued, I for one shall decline to exhibit at the Palace another 

 year. — An Exhibitor foe Many Years. 



PREVENTING BEES SWARMING. 



I will state what is my intention unless you can suggest 

 any better plan. I have two stocks, swarms of last year, with 

 which I commenced bee-keeping ; the one, by-the-by, is very 

 strong, as it consists of a double swarm, through two swarms 

 having taken place in one day ; and the latter, one of its own 

 accord, following the other which had been hived just before ; 

 the other stock being a very good single swarm hived in the 

 end of May. What I propose doing, is to put a super on (a 

 wooden box to hold about 20 lbs.) as soon as expedient, and 

 also to give room underneath by placing a box as a nadir, of 

 about 5 inches in depth, the top of the box having a hole 

 6 inches in diameter in the top of it, the entrance of course in 

 the floor-board. Will this be right, and will it prevent 

 swarming? 



I should like you to be good enough to advise me as to the 

 best time to put on the super, as also the time for the nadir, 

 and which should be put on first ? It is my intention to put a 

 small piece of guide comb in the super, and also to remove the 

 nadir again at the end of the autumn. I am anxious to give 

 room before the royal cells are made, and at the same time not 

 give the room too soon. I may add that the bees are in good- 

 sized and well-made straw hives with flat tops, having adapter 

 boards, with a 2-inch hole in the centre, fastened to the top ; 

 they are in a bee house entirely closed in front, and I have 

 room for eight hives in it, in all, and am anxious to increase 

 my stocks by purchasing swarms, instead of letting my own 

 stocks swarm if possible ; this is mv reason for troubling you. 

 — E. M. 



[We may as well state at once that we know of no mode of 

 management which can be absolutely relied on to prevent 

 swarming, and more than this, that we have very grave doubts 

 whether any such system will ever be devised. All that we can 

 do is to give sufficient room at the proper time, and endeavour 

 to avoid an extreme temperature. You must use your own 

 judgment according to the circumstances of the cr.se, and the 

 strength of the colony, as to the best time for putting on a super. 

 If put on too soon it cools the hive, probably checks breeding, 

 and sometimes seems to be altogether disregarded by the bees, 

 which ultimately swarm without ever taking possession of it ; 

 and if put on too late, it is of course equally useless. There seems 



