94 



JOURNAL OF HORXIOULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ February 4, 1813. 



opinioti, even among its most unfortunate sufferera. With its 

 milder type, however, I have been long familiar, and every year 

 when engaged in experimenting and artificialising processes of 

 a certain character, have always samples of it in my apiary. — 

 J. Lowe. 



SUPERPOSING. 



I MET with a superposing case last week worth telling you. 

 To keep together the population of a strong queenless hybrid 

 stock in a set of Stewarton boses unusually well found in stores, 

 I procured from a cottager a stock of black bees whose straw 

 hive was about one-third combed, and for store as light as a 

 feather, their lives not worth a couple of days' purchase, being 

 already in that weak lethargic state past feeding and preceding 

 dissolution. To attempt uniting them to the strong colony in 

 their then famished condition, I knew from previous experience 

 was certain destruction. The plan I hit upon was this : I first 

 opened and covered with perforated zinc a circular feeding space 

 in the centre of the strong stock, and on the top of the stock 

 put three rather massive pieces of honeycomb, over which I 

 set the straw hive, closing its entrance and wrapping it well 

 up. The strong heat rising from the Stewarton colony gradu- 

 ally resuscitated a few of the black bees, which crawled down 

 to sip the honey, and they, being supplied, carried up and 

 strengthened other workers to follow, till at dusk the weaklings' 

 busy hum at work was delightful to hear. So, administering 

 a little smoke to both stocks, I drew the slides of the Stew- 

 arton, whose brisk battalions went up at once and cheerfully 

 fraternised over the unlooked-for New Year's banquet with their 

 new-found allies. I looked for nothing else than that both 

 parties would join in adding what honey remained to the ample 

 store below, and so left them. Judge my surprise the other 

 day, on raising the cover top of the united colony, and taking 

 off a bit of cloth from the central apertiue in the cottagers' 

 hive, in case any odd bee might be parading its combs before 

 removing it, to find, as I certainly looked for under the circum- 

 stances, the few combs in the one side entirely vacated ; but, on 

 the other hand, the abominable musty skep, more than twenty 

 years old, was full of glittering Italians and their sable allies as 

 closely as they could pack; from it I shall take care to forcibly 

 expel the latter the first day my favourites are on the wing. — 

 A Kenfrewshiee Bee-keepeb. 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Cochin Chwa Pdxlets (M. £.).— Yoa have had six ejrjis from five 

 pullets every week in January. We do not think you have cause to com- 

 plain; but we are sure the birds are overfed. We are opposed to allow- 

 ancing or weighing food for chickens. It is neither vulgar nor out of 

 place to say a Jowl is sometimes crop-sick and only so-so. At such a 

 time abstinence is beneficial. In your own case you would not declare 

 yon would fast, but still have your meals put before you; yet that is the 

 way you treat your f otvIs. Do not weigh nor measure ; give as much as 

 they can eat up clean and rendily, and no more. We have no doubt your 

 fowls are too fat internally. Lessen the food a little, and you will increase 

 (he number of eggs. Let no food lie about. 



Japanese Bantasis (Ercs/iam).— The real Japanese Bantams are re- 

 markable for very short legs, and as they carry their wings drooping, 

 like a Sebright Bantam, their legs are invisible. Their tails are carried 

 squirrel fashion, curling over the back till they nearly reach the head. 

 They are yellow-legged, and not heavily feathered. Soraeare quite white ; 

 some have black tails and flights. For choice, the latter are preferred. 

 The cock has a large comb, which is not upright. The Co«hin Bantams 

 are not Japanese. 



Time Occupied in Poultry-keeping (M. Hill}.—^o one could assign 

 the time required for the employments you name. Df> what you consider 

 your duty, and as no complaints are made, be not over-anxious about the 

 future. 



White Dorkings {M. H.).— Having feathered legs is certain evidence 

 that they are cross-bred. In fact, with such legs tbey are not White 

 Dorkings, but a mixture probably with White Cochin-Chlnas. 



Polish Fowls Plucked by Others (Lover of Poultry). — You must 

 separate your birds till the topknots are quite grown. It is only while 

 they are growing and there are bare spots that they are tempted to peck 

 each other. Having begun, they will not leave off while the top-knots 

 are growing. It facilitates the growth of the feathers oa bare spots if 

 they are rubbed with oil or sulphur ointment. 



Basin for Ducks (What you do, do ir<;H).— Your basin will do perfectly 

 vpell. Ducks do not want much water. A great advantage in such a 

 contrivance is that you can always have the water clean. We advise the 

 Aylesbury Duck, but it is a non-sitter. You will have to put the eggs 

 under hens. Any covered place will do for the Ducks to roost. They do 

 not want a large one, and require only a little straw. They are not much 

 given to lay in any particular spot (we speak of the Aylesburys), they 

 drop their eggs about ; but it you can induce them to take to a spot, it is 

 generally a corner fenced off by a low rail, as they are not clever in climb- 

 ing. You can feed oa oats mixed with bran, and it is more ecoaomica^ 



to give their food in water, when they eat it all, than it is to throw it on 

 the ground, when much is lost. 



For Eoos only (S. A\). — Where fowls are wanted for eggs only a cock 

 is unnecessary. We do not think you will purchase the best nest eggs 

 for less than 3rf. Years ago we gave that for some, and we use them 

 still. We bought some chalk eggs, and they were eaten or worn out in a 

 few months. 



Face of Spanish Cock (Inquirer). — It is more than probable the hens 

 peck the cock's face; the effect of this would be to turn it brown. If 

 only the outer white skin be rubbed, it turns brown ilircctly. The white 

 face is only a " sac," covering the usual skin and flesh underneath. Rub 

 the part with some emollient healing ointment, and separate the cock 

 from the hens. 



Cr£te-C(EURS (Fairer sham). — We believe you may rest quite satisfied 

 with jour birds. The passions of birds are influeaced by seasons and 

 weather. Early in the year and in unkind weather a cock will attend 

 only to three or four hens, and that so seldom that it will be rarely wit- 

 nessed. At this time it generally takes place the first thing in the morn- 

 ing, the time when they are not much seen. The same bird later in the 

 year will run satisfactorily with twelve hens, and ocular proof may be 

 had of it at any time. We often receive seven or eight complaints at a 

 time on this subject. We have several now, and Lope this answer will 

 satisfy them all. One, however, is anxious for what he calls " very fall 

 particulars." W^e will do all we can. FowJa wore originally birds of 

 season, and part of it remains in them ; instunce— that pullets only lay 

 in the winter ; they lay when they attain a certain age, but when they 

 become hens, which is ever afterwards, they lay in season only. As this 

 seldom occurs till the end of February or beginning of March, the cock 

 is not required till then. This may, and we believe does, account in 

 some measure for the apparent indifference of the cock in the winter. 



Diseased Fowls at an EsHtBiTioN {Northumlrian).~We fully abide 

 by the opinion we gave. If birds are proved to be diseased, and the 

 Committee have not paid the prize, they would be fully justified in 

 withholding it. In your case, you say the birds proved not to be diseased , 

 ^nd the Committee conssequently paid you the prize, so no space need 

 be occupied in considering the case. 



Sexes in Pigeons, &c. (Jf/.).— The cock may be known from the hen 

 by his thicker neck and fuller face. The hen is more delicately shai>ed 

 in the head, and has a less bold look. The cock coos more frequently, 

 and longer and louder than the hen. turning often half round. When 

 once Pigeons are paired they can be kept in the same house with others 

 with perfect safety. The best practical book oa Pigeons with which we 

 are acquainted is "The Pigeon Book," by B. P. Breut, to be had free 

 from our ofl&ce for twenty stamps. 



Pigeons from the Coasts of the Mediterranean (Ignoramus). — 

 Barbs, African Owls, Runts, and we have seen good White Trumpeters 

 from Egypt. 



R-A-BBiTS (A YcuTiff Inquir€r).~-We cannot advise yon which variety to 

 keep, as we do not know what object you have in keeping them. If for 

 kitchen purposes, we recommend the Belgian or Hare Rabbit. If yoa 

 enclose seven postage stamps with your address, and order " The Rabbit 

 Book "'to be sent to you, you will have it by post, free of charge. In it 

 are drawing and descriptions of the different varieties. 



Bees Dying (Sap^r).— The bees afforded no clue to the nature of the 

 disease with which the hive is afflicted. If it is dropsy we know of no 

 cure except that discovered by Mr. W^oodbury, and described by him in 

 page 534 of our ninth volume. If it is dysentery, the feeding necessary 

 to save the stock from starvation is likely to be of service if not resorted 

 to too soon. As, however, we have had but little experience of this latter 

 disease, we shall feel obliged by the advice of any of our correspondents 

 who, not having been so fortunate, may be better qualified than ourselves 

 to offer it. 



Berkshire Hive (A You.no Bee-keeper). — We have no more information 

 than that we printed in our last volume. 



Grey African Parrot {C. A. G.).— The cause of your Parrot being so 

 thin is its not having sufficient nourishment. Give it hemp and canary 

 seed mixed, nuts, apple, celery, tic, and occasionally soaked Indian com, 

 biscuit dipped in tea, coffee, or beer; soaked bread, the water being 

 drained off, and a little miik poured on the bread nnd squeezed ; also 

 give it a couple of small chilies daily, and if it will take water try a tea- 

 spoonful of rum in it. The sweUing on the wing is caused either by 

 weakness or bv having struck the wing when falling, most probably by 

 the latter. If the bird will allow you, take a piece of sponge and bathe 

 theswelling with warm water once or twice daily, and the swelling will, 

 no doubt, disappear. It is difficult to adt-ise without seeing the bird ; but 

 if the swelling appears to have matter in it, we would suggest that it be 

 lanced. The beak peeUng at the point is not unusual, and the age has no 

 connection with it. It wUl come all right. 



MczZLE {A. F. ?;.).— Muzzles for dogs of all sizes are sold in London. 

 They are straps buckling round the jaws and neck of the dog. 



Gold Fish Dying (A., of Hounslow). — The entire absence of sunshine 

 sufficiently accounts for the mortahty. Gold fish require abundance of 

 Ught, and more warmtk than our common native fish. 



POULTRY MARKET.— February 3. 



We have still to chronicle an unexampled depression of trade. The 

 supply is not great, and choice goods are even scarce, but the demand ia 

 so small that prices do not rise. 



Large Fowls 3 



Smaller do *^ 



Chickens 1 



Geese 7 



Ducks 2 



PigeoDd 



s. d B. 

 6 to 3 



Pheasants 



Partridges 16 19 



Hares 2 2 6 



Rabbits 14 16 



Wiiddo 9 10 



Grouse 



