Aognst 27, 18G8. J 



JODRNAL OF HORTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



161 



occurrence, and others very difficult to obtain and consequently 

 very rare, it becomes necessary to make some sort of distinc- 

 tion between them, and with this view the whole family of 

 Variegated, or Bicolored Canaries I might call them, is divided 

 into two classes, easily distinguished from one another. To 

 the first class belong those birds \Yhich are marked on each 

 wing, on each side of the head (what is known aa spectacle-eye 

 marking), and on either side of the tail. To these markings 

 some eminent judges add an oral cap on the crown of the head, 

 and an entirely dark tail. I shall not pause here to discuss the 

 question as to whether this is or is not a judicious addition ; 

 much may be .»aid on both sides, but I rather dissent from it. 

 To such birds the term " Variegated " is applied, which now, 

 divested of its parent or comprehensive character, is used as a 

 technical term to designate those birds which are evenly 

 marked, or approximate thereto by having markii-gs which it 

 is possible to repeat in duplicate in the position, I have 

 pointed out. I say approximating to exactness, because either 

 Bide may not correspond feather for feather with the other. 

 Neither must a bird necessarily possess the whole of these mark- 

 ings ; having any or all of them will constitute a Variegated 

 bird, but evenness and regularity determine the value of the 

 variegation. 



Now since there are but two classes of Bicolored birds (I 

 use this mode of expression for the sake of perspicuity), and I 

 have defined what constitutes that which we technically term 

 Variegated, a very simple process of reasoning will enable us 

 to arrive at the conclusion that a bird possessing any other 

 description of marking, either with or without any or all of those 

 before referred to, belongs to the second class, and is called a 

 " Marked " bird. 



However, well variegated a bird may be (I now use the term 

 variegated in its technical sense to signify evenly marked, 

 according to the conditions laid down), but has any other mark, 

 whether it be the faintest tick or a decided blotch on the neck, 

 back, breast, ramp, &c., it becomes a Marked bird; and 

 just as the slightest step beyond the boundary line shifts the 

 liird from the one class to the other, so the absence of any such 

 random marking, ticks, or blotches confines it to the Variegated 

 class, even though its eye marks, wing marks, or tail marks be 

 reduced to one ; in which case, though being strictly a Varie- 

 gated bird, it is so bad a specimen as to be unable to compete 

 with more regularly marked ones ; and it is usual where the 

 classes are separated to allow such birds to be entered in the 

 Marked class, where marks are not taken into consideration in 

 judging, but the valuable points — colour, quality, feather, 

 shape, condition, decide the matter. I do not approve of such 

 a compromise, any more than I do of adding the cap on the 

 crown of the head to the list of markings constituting variega- 

 tion proper, and think I can show both to be unsound in prin- 

 ciple. 



A bird must belong to one class or the other, and it is a 

 manifest absurdity to show it in a class to which it can claim 

 no legitimate pretensions, for no other reason than that it has 

 no chance of winning in the division to which it rightly belongs. 

 The uniting of the two classes "Variegated" and " Marked " 

 eertaiuly allowed of all gradations of excellence in marking being 

 shown together, from the specimen of absolute exactness down 

 to the bird ouly blotched without any approach to regularity ; 

 but it was in most instances equivalent to the exclusion of the 

 latter, for where the terms were held to be synonymous, the 

 true variegated bird always conquered one which was con- 

 sidered to be foul-marked : and these last, forming as they do a 

 very valuable portion of a breeder's stock, must be virtually 

 excluded from competing unless a separate class be found for 

 them, as was first done here (Sunderland), and then at the 

 Crystal Palace, where in the absence ot any definition of 

 terms the schedule states "Even-marked or Variegated Nor- 

 wich," and " Ticked er Unevenly-marked Norwich." At both 

 shows the separation was an immense success. — W. A. 

 Blaksion.] 



in constructing their cells on the basis of these sheets the bees 

 extend them, so that it is necessary to make them less than 

 the frame into which they are introduced. Is this really the 

 case ? For one thing I am aware they are very valuable — viz., 

 that they secure straight combs, which in the frame bar hive 

 is of consequence ; but my experience has been so limited, that 

 I rather desire to obtain than to impart information. — Apis. 



[We should be glad if such of our correspondents as have 

 had experience in the use of impressed waxen sheets or arti- 

 ficial combs, would reply to the foregoing inqxiiries.] 



PREVENTING BREEDING IN SUPERS. 



Will yon advise me as to the best mode of preventing breed- 

 ing in supers or boxes worked over bee hives on the storifying 

 plan ? We have had a great number of boxes greatly spoiled 

 from this cause this year, and even some of them had queen's 

 cells formed in them. Could it result from the excessive heat 

 of this season, or, perhaps, it may arise from something in- 

 directly wrong in our management or arrangement of supers ? 



1 was thinking of adopting Pettitt's system of very narrow 

 passages from stock hives to honey boxes or supers, and which 

 he asserts is a complete prevention of the evil of which I com- 

 plain. I see, however, that his arrangement in this respect, is 

 strongly condemned by " A Devoxshike Bee-keeper." — 



SOPEK. 



[I am glad to have the opportunity of explaining that my 

 reply to "E. Leech" was intended to apply only to the case 

 laid before me, and not to a general condemnation of Mr. 

 Pettitt's arrangement, which I have not myself had the oppor- 

 tunity of trying. Had the full particulars appeared, it would 

 have been seen that it was perfectly successful in excluding 



' both queen and drones from the super, although it unfor- 

 tunately proved fatal to an enormous number of bees. It does 

 not follow that because a contrivance acts injuriously in a par- 

 ticular instance, it may not succeed perfectly in others, and it 

 is, therefore, much to be desired that as many as possible who 



' have tested Mr. Pettitt's mode of restricting communication 

 between hives and supers, would report the results of their ex- 

 perience. I have myself been successful in excluding brood 

 from supers, simply by adopting side communication ; but I 



• fancy that your esteemed correspondent, " A Eesfrewshiee 

 Bee-keepeb," has had more experience on this point than I 

 have, and should, therefore, be much obliged if he would 

 kindly enlighten us on the subject. — A Devonshire Bee- 

 keeper.] 



BEES IN EAST WORCESTERSHIRE- 

 WOODBURY HIVES. 



The honey harvest here (East Worcestershire) has been 



] wretched, and while everyone has been complaining, a friend 



of mine at Wolverhampton (ten miles from here) has taken 



three supers worked off Woodbury frame hives, which he 



estimates contain together not less than 100 lbs. of honey. 



I use Woodbury hives only, and since living here (about 

 eight months), no fewer than five bee-ktepers in this neigh- 

 bourhood have adopted them, so great is their superiority. — 

 U.S. 



ARE WAXEN SHEETS USEFUL'? 

 Will one or more of your apiarian correspondents who have 

 made free use of the artificial wax sheets, give your readers the 

 results of his experience '.' There are two points on which 

 especially I desire information. I have been told that the 

 Stewarton (.\yrshire) bee-keepers consider that the use of the 

 sheets gives them three boxes of super honey, when without 

 them they would only have had two. It this "be true their Ufe 

 ought to be more gereral. Again, I have been informed that 



UNITING BEES. 



Having read of the great advantageof uniting bees, andhaving 

 two hives that appeared deficient in strength, I determined 

 to try the experiment. One was a Woodbury hive with a swarm 

 of this year, and the other a Stewarton with a stock three years 

 old. I arranged with a cottager to take some of his condemned 

 bees, and having acted carefully according to the directions 

 of the " DEVONSHIRE Bee-keeper," I was perfectly successful 

 in securing two hives full of bees. As soon as it was dusk I 

 removed the crown-board from the Woodbury hive, put another 

 hive on the top, shook the strange bees into it, covered them 

 up, and left them till morning. I then raised the Stewarton 

 hive, laid some sticks on the floor where it stood, shook the 

 strangers between them, sprinkled them well with boiled sugar 

 and water, replaced the hive on the sticks and left them for the 

 night, hoping that in the morning I should find peace and 

 harmony established. But what a melancholy sight did I 

 behold ! In the Woodbury hive there was evidently a 'urions 

 ' fight. Thousands of bees were being turned out dead, and 



