142 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTDRE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 



[ Angnst 20, 1863. 



afterwards shaken. No. 1 was a gcod swarm, but in the even- 

 ing the hive was found deserted. No. 2 was very email ; it re- 

 mained, however, in the hive, and has done tolerably well since. 



On the third day another swarm issued, went again to the 

 orchard, was shaken as usual, and has since done well. 



The two swarms on the second day must have been from the 

 same stock, as there was but this one stock in the garden, and 

 a Bwarm was seen to come out from that stock by a person 

 standing near. — S. 



[The following is the probable explanation of the eccen- 

 tricities described by our correspondent : — 



The first swarm either issued without a queen, or that in- 

 dispensable functionary fell on the ground and was lost. The 

 Eecond issue owed its dual character to the bulk of the bees 

 clustering, as if from habit, on the spot where they had settled 

 before, whilst the minority with the queen sought a new resting 

 place. The third issue would under these circumstances be in 

 reality an unusually strong second swarm. It is almost un- 

 necessary to add, that a queenless swarm returns to its parent 

 hive.] 



BEES IN AMERICA. 

 It would seem that swarms have been quite as scarce during 

 the past season in America as in this country, for the Rev. 

 L. L. Langstroth, in a letter which I have recently received 

 says : — " This season in the Ohio valley has been a poor one 

 for swarms. Some apiaries of nearly a hundred colonies have 

 not had a single swarm." Mr. Langstroth also states that he 

 has used indiarubber bands for fastening combs into frames for 

 nearly two years. — A Devonshire Bee-keeper. 



MANAGEMENT OF FERRETS.— No. 2. 



The female Ferret (or gill as I believe she is called), should 

 be put into the breeding-hutch before she brings forth her 

 young, in order that she may become settled. — ^ 



The time of gestation is six weeks, and during that~period 

 she should be supplied with milk morning and evening. If 

 milk cannot be had, water may be substituted. Some people 

 think that Ferrets do not require drink, but I find they will 

 drink very freely. Mine much enjoy a little new milk given 

 warm from the cow. 



The number of young produced at a birth varies from one 

 to eight. 1 think nine has been the largest number mine have 

 had, but I have been informed that the mother will sometimes 

 have twelve and rear them all. They are very small at first, 

 and quite blind, but rapidly increase in size. When they are 

 about nine days old they begin to crawl from the nest into the 

 hutch. At three weeks they begin to eat, and it is very amus- 

 ing to watch them running about eating their food and lapping 

 mUk with their eyes closed. 



At the end of the fourth week, or the twenty-eighth day, the 

 eyes begin to open, and by the thirty-fifth day are fully open. 

 The young Ferrets should now have nice sweet bread and milk 

 twice a-day, or if much meat is given, milk alone. The vessels 

 used for food should be of earthenware and kept clean, and the 

 milk should not be left to become sour. 



As regards food, small pieces of meat, dead chickens. Pigeons, 

 Rabbits, or an old hen now and then, will be very good diet. 

 Where there is not a poultry-yard, more bread and milk may 

 be given. I never give stale food of any description. They 

 should be accustomed to the voice of the person who feeds 

 them, and will then always come when called. The mother is 

 always looking out for nice little pieces to store up for her 

 young. From their birth she carries food into their nest-box, 

 and places it in one corner of the compartment. This should 

 be frequently removed until the young ones can eat. The little 

 creatures squeak and grow, the noise resembling that of mice. 

 The mother will provide for them for many weeks, and as soon 

 as food is put into the hutch will continue to carry it away. 



The young Ferrets are easily tamed, they may be called, 

 taken out, and allowed to run on the grass. They soon detect 

 the difference between the hand of the feeder and their food. 

 It is best to handle them early and they will become very gentle. 

 — LOOTSA B. 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



HASUUaDEN PouLTEV SHOW.— I advertised a pen of my Light Brahma 

 chickens aa being highly commended at HasUngden, from the fact that I 



received a card to that effect with one pen of my birds when returned, 

 and a second prize with the other. In your report of the Show and prize 

 Ust,I sawthatthe secondpen of Mr. Pares was highly commended. Having 

 ascertained from the Secretary that the honour belongs to Mr. Pares and 

 not to me, I trust you will give this a space in your Journal, as I do 

 not for a moment wish to mislead any one. My pen was advertised as 

 highly commended on the faith of the card I received, evidently by 

 mistake. — D. Causer, Erdiit'jton, Birmingham. 



An Advertiser's Grievance. — " I wish all advertisers would agree io 

 let it be understood that, except in known cases, no answer would be 

 returned to letters of inquiry unless accompanied by a stamped directed 

 envelope. I iind that no sooner does one advertise any stock than a host 

 of letters pour in, asking all sorts of questions, many of which are 

 often already answered in the advertisement; and you are put to the 

 inconvenience as well as expense of answering these, or else are likely to 

 appear wanting in courtesy. I am sure I am within the mark when 

 I say that two-thirds of these inquirers never mean to be purchasers. 

 They all seem to want you to let them have a bird that has perhaps cost 

 you three guineas, for half-a-crown or thereabouts. Pray give these 

 people a hint through your columns that it would be well to enclose 

 a stamp, and that no letters are likely to be noticed that do not contain 

 one.— T. C. Hose." 



Black Poland Cockerel with Crooked Tail (St. Edmunds). — 

 Crooked spines are common to all Polands, both cocks and hens. A 

 crooked tail sometimes exists with a perfectly straight spine. From 

 whatever cause the defect may arise, we strongly advise you not to breed 

 from him. 



Points of Golden-pencilled Hambckghs {An Old Svhscriber).~la 

 hens and cocks it is essential to have perfect combs — well shaped, firm 

 on the head, and the pike turning up behind. The cock's tail should be 

 well bronzed, but the bronzing should not predominate. The hen's 

 hackle must be as clear as possible, and the tail well marked in 

 every feather. The pencillings should be distinct on every feather, in 

 order that patches of colour, or, as they are called, " mosses," should not 

 appear. They should have blue legs. 



Golden Pheasants Affected with Roup iThaumalea). — Stimulants 

 will best answer your purpose, and you may feed on bread and ale. Golden 

 Pheasants are subject to roup, but they get over it. Put wormwood in 

 their water, and camphor. Peas and small Heligoland Beans are excellent 

 for the plumage. Canary, hemp, and Indian corn are all bad, as they 

 make soft feathers. 



Separating Chickens of Different Breeds (H. C)— It is difficult 

 to lay down one rule applicable to all. Cochin-Chinas and Erahmas 

 will require to be separated earlier than Dorkings and Spanish, and 

 autnmn chickens may run together longer than those hatched in the 

 spring. "Where there are conveniences for it, the easiest plan is to make 

 two runs, putting the pullets in one, the cocks in the other, till the 

 time that the walks are made up. As a rule. Cochins and Brahmas 

 should he separated at four months old, and other breeds et five, if they 

 are March, April, or May birds ; if they are autumn birds they may 

 remain longer together. 



Jacobins' Eves {A. A.). — Jacobins should have pearl eyes. Both cocks 

 and hens should be alike, and it is not weU to breed from old birds. Buy 

 them wherever you can obtain them good. 



Canaries Plucking each other (S. D. K.). — "I said in my notes on 

 Norwich Canaries that it did not take long to reduce a well-feathered 

 young bird to a state of nudity if the old ones were disposed to pluck it. 

 You will be able to endorse this. The young birds in question have 

 been plucked by their parents. Take them away, and hang them in a 

 nursery cage in front, and allow the old ones to feed them through the 

 wires, or their nice little joicy tails will go next. Give plenty of green 

 food. — W. A. Blakston." 



Canaries Dying {Whitey Brown).—"! have never met with the 

 symptoms mentioned. Have you not mistaken that swelling which we 

 all like to see, a full crop, for some unfavourable sign ? — W. A. Blakston." 

 With regard to the Red-coUared Bengalies, we are promised some infor- 

 mation next week. 



Saffron Finch.— " What is a Saffron Finch? I can find no descrip- 

 tion in Bechstein or in any other ornithological work. I have one which 

 I have been trying with a Canary hen, or rather half a dozen, for he does 

 not stand upon trifles as to the number of his mistresses, bntthere is no 

 issue in any case. Can mules he bred from one ? If to, with what ? — 

 Ginger." 



Destroying Bees (L. M.). — Much depends upon the locality, but we 

 should think that in most districts no farther increaEe of stores can be 

 looked for. We are not acquainted with the best mode of killing bees, 

 but this we do know, that it is very easy to drive and imite them to 

 other stocks in the way described in page HO of the seventh edition of 

 " Bee-keeping for the Many," just published at this office, price 4d., and 

 that they will well repay any little extra trouble which may be caused 

 by the operation. 



Fallen Comb iJ. G. A.).— Vie do not deem the accident of much 

 importance, but it would be well to replace the comb as soon as yon can 

 manage it. 



POULTRY MARKET.— AcGDST 10. 



In oar qaotationa this week we shall have to mentiou Gronse, an 

 anDaal remembrancer that another Beason tas arrived. According to 

 present apppearances they are unusually scarce. The early parcels 

 made Os, each. We are unable to average the prices till onr nest 

 number. 



