294 



JOUENAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 



[ October 15, 1868. 



the hive by ineans of two boxes. They have glass at each end, 

 and one of the ends can be detached for the easy removal of 

 the combs. The bees are admitted into the supers by means 

 of long holes nearly a quarter of an inch wide, so as to admit 

 only the worker bees. The holes are at the ends of the top of 

 the stock box, so as not to interfere with the centre of the hive 

 where the breeding chiefly goes on, and are protected by wooden 

 slides. 



The system of management is as follows :— One super is 

 always kept on, and the slide that communicates with it open, 

 to allow the condensed vapour to pass off. As soon as the 

 bees have filled the stock box they take to this super, and when 

 it is three parts full the bees are then admitted into the second 

 super. By this method one super is always filled before the 

 other, and is then taken off and replaced by an empty one ; 

 and thus the bees have always plenty of room and air, and 

 have no need to swarm, and a continual supply of honey is 

 obtained as long as the season lasts. 



This year Mr. Sadler has taken 40 lbs. of honey in supers 

 from one hive, and in 180<; he took nearly 60 lbs. from each 

 hive without interfering with the stock box ; and this, it must 

 be remembered, in an indifferent honey neighbourhood, where 

 there is no heather, and the bees are entirely dependant for 

 their stores upon the flowers, and their harvest ends with the 

 cutting of the grass in the meadows. 



Mr. Sadler's hives have never thrown oft any swarms, and 

 he never primes his supers with empty comb, as he finds it 

 quite unnecessary. When he requires swarms he purchases 

 them from his neighbours, as he finds it more profitable to 

 keep his own hives entirely for the produce of honey. The 

 bees are coniiued when necessary by a piece of fluted wood 

 which exactly fits the entrance. For simplicity of management 

 there is certainly no hive equal to this, and at so low a price — 

 viz., £1, which includes the complete hive with two supers. 



Mr. Sadler's bee sheds, too, are worthy of notice. They are 

 so thoroughly rustic, and so very pretty for either the garden 

 or the lawn. — S. B. 



THE HONEY HARVEST IN LANARKSHIRE. 



I AM indebted to Mr. A. Pettigrew for the following extracts 

 from a private letter bearing date the 25th of September, and 

 giving particulars of the recent honey harvest in his native 

 Tillage, Carluke, in Lanarkshire.— A Devoxshiee Bee-eeepek. 



" We only brought our bees home from the moors the week 

 before last. The weather was fine, and we thought they would 

 he gaining weight, but we were wrong. Henshilwood had his 

 home about ten days before us. We thought he would lose by 

 it, but not so. Ours lost 8 or 10 lbs. from the time he had his 

 home till we had ours. The heaviest top (first) swarm I had 

 was 104 lbs. when it came home. My weights (steelyard) only 

 weigh 112 lbs. I weighed the same top about a fortnight be- 

 fore it came home, the steelyard was drawn out to 112 lbs., and 

 did not lift it, so it was a few pounds more. I had another top 

 swarm about 6 lbs. lighter. Our best second swarm was 75 lbs. ; 

 our old stales (stocks), 50 and 60 lbs. I went over to E. Scou- 

 lar's to-day. His heaviest tops were three, about 120 lbs. each, 

 and one 130 lbs. ; he had also two second swarms, one 80 lbs. 

 and the other 90 lbs. J. Jack, weaver, had two stales in the 

 spring. 1 daresay they did better than any person's here. He 

 had a top 161 lbs., another 104 lbs., and a second swarm 68 lbs. 

 I did not hear the weight of the old ones, but he took 46 pints 

 of honey from the produce of the two stales. Samuel Penster 

 had two stales in the spring. His two tops were 110 lbs. and 

 148 lbs. So you see I am far behind this year, but I see the 

 reason why— Henshilwood, Jack, and Denster took theirs away 

 to the clover, the two first to Newbigging, and the latter to 

 Hankerton. They did a very great deal better at these places 

 than they did at Carluke. I forgot to say that my brother had 

 a top of 130 lbs., the rest of his were very middling. You have 

 already the news about Henshilwood. His heaviest top was 

 168 lbs., but it was put into a good skepful of combs, which 

 gave it a great start. He had not another above 100 lbs.— E. E.'' 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Game Cocks Leg Bboeen— Podltry Food UBfijiimcr).— In the first 

 place, we do not tbink the cocli will ever be of any service. We di^lilte 

 tail wLeat as food for anything but very small chickens, and even with 

 them It IB what It IS to everything else— ft plaything. There is no food 

 or rather fotdinf. m it. You need not be surprised if the hens do not lav 

 till November ; but you must feed better and give more variety— a Uttlo 

 whole barley, a handful of Indian corn, table scraps, and a lettuce. You 



do not state what run your fowls have beyond theii- house of 5 feet square. 

 Have they grass ? If they have not, they want some. What extent have 

 they, and of what nature ? 



Loss or A Claw (A. S. K.).—The accidental loss of a claw would not 

 disqualify a bird, or unfit it lor competition. It would be a disadvantage 

 in deciding between two pens of almost equal merit. 



Oldham PoultrvShow {Suhicril:er).—We have had a somewhat similar 

 circular from another show committee, and the only " very x)aiufal " cir- 

 cumstance in either case is, that any committee of gentlemen should ask 

 others to bear any portion of the loss which that committee have in- 

 curred. Consult your Bolicitur as you propose. 



DcBBiNG AND TRIMMING GAME STAGS.— In the ninth line from the 

 end of the article on this subject, in page 272, the word " of" shonld be 

 inserted before "Black-breasted Reds." 



Dark Grev Dorkings' Ear-lobes (ScoI).— It is preferable that a 

 Dark Grey Dorking should have a red ear-lobe, but if it is entirely or 

 partially white, it is by no means a disqualification. The ear-lobe in a 

 Dorking fowl is immaterial. 



Whitehaven Pooltrv Show.— We are informed that the dates of this 

 Show have been altered to the 12th, 13th, and 11th of January, 1869. 



Ddcks at Farnwoeth Show.— Both fl^rst and third prizes in the Any 

 other variety class were awarded to Mr. T. C. Harrison, of Hull. The 

 error is that of the list sent to us. 



PorLTRY Diseased (C i.).— We do not think yon will lose many of 

 your fowls. We believe the disease you mention has been brought by 

 the French fowls. Whether it be that they are not yet acclimatised, or 

 that it if; their natural state we cannot say, but all of these new breeds 

 are subject to illness of a serious and often fatal character when they 

 are chickens, and to relapses in adult life. In the latter case they re- 

 cover rapidly. We have noticed that these maladies are prevalent im- 

 mediately after heavy rains. We have seen at such times these birds 

 leave the tine spring water with which they are supplied, in order to 

 drink from any dirty little puddle, and they aro sure to be ill after it. We 

 advise you to keep them almost without water, and especially to see that 

 there aro no puddles of water about. Lot them have drink twice or 

 thrice a-day, but not .always by them. Continue the camphor. Feed 

 vei-y sparingly, and give only bread and ale. If you can do it. separate 

 the Cochins and Brahmas from the French breeds. A little change of 

 condition may be looked for as the air becomes damper, its temperature 

 lower, and the nights longer. Many fowls are out of condition from 

 moulting, but there should be nothing like such disease as you mention. 

 As appetite returns, you will, of course, increase the quantity of food. 



Commencing Poultry-keeping {Two-years Subscriber). — If you wish 

 to have the best possible return with the least trouble, we advise you 

 to keep Brahma Pootras. They are very hardy, good layers, good sitters, 

 and good mothers. They are also very useful table fowls. They will 

 do well in such a space as you name. Is there any grass in the ran 

 in front of the house ? The floor of the house must be earth ; clay beaten 

 hard and covered with gravel is an excellent flooring. Neitbor in the 

 house nor in the run should there be any boards, stones, or bricks. If it 

 be necessary a little of such may be left outside, but inside there must 

 be nothing but earth. The house should be ventilated just under the 

 roof by openings or windows that can be shut in very severe weather. 



Runt Pigeons (R. Barney). — We have a letter for you, and will forward 

 it if you send us your direction. 



Canaries Athcked by Parasites (B. J. G.).— "I know of no means of 

 eradicating them but extreme cleanliness, and even then it is a most 

 difficult matter. I will take an early opportunity of writing a short article 

 on the subject. Meanwhile try the Persian powder for destroying vermin 

 — I think that is the name ; but it is advertised daily. It is sold, with an 

 apparatus for using it, at a very cheap rate, and I have known it used 

 very effectively. Blow it under the feathers. — W. A. Blakston." 



Canary with Black Legs and Beak— Groats as Food (A. T. E.). — 

 Say what v.Triety of Canary the bird is. Some kinds are black in the 

 points mentioned, the blacker the better. We have not known a clear 

 bird ; ffected, and certainly should not attach blame to the saffron. 

 Groa are used as food by many breeders, and town a considerable ingre- 

 dient in the contents of the bags of seed sent with birds for exhibition. 



Feeding Bees (J. C. J.). — Your bottle-feeding must have failed either 

 through the mouth being too wide or from some error in management, 

 but as you do not give particulars we scarcely know how to suggest a 

 remedy. Read our reply to "Tyro," in i)vge 2m;. and if robbing take 

 place insert the bottle-mouth in a close-fitting perforated block of wood, 

 a precaution which will set pilferers at defiance. 



Sweet Cider (H. L.). — We believe that it is no more than cider bottled 

 before the fermentation is completed. We shall be obliged by practical 

 information on the subject. 



Rabbit Diseases (£,).— To cure the scurf which appears on the nose, 

 feet, and ears, give each a teaspoonful of flowers of sulphur mixed with 

 their bran daily, and a good supply of carrot and lettuce. The young 

 rabbits dying without any apparent cause, is, probably, occasioned by 

 their moulting, or changing their fur. At that time they should be kept 

 warmer and fed more liberally — that is, on more nourishing food, such as 

 boiled barley ; and if, notwithstanding, some die, give the others daily 

 fifteen grains of camphor each until the mortality ceases. 



Rabbits {J. B.). — If you enclose seven stamps with your address, and 

 order " The Rabbit Book," it will be sent from onr office free by post. 

 The ears are measured from the tip of one ear to the tip of the other. 



POULTRY MARICET.— October U. 



There is a large supply of goods in the market, liut the bad demand 

 and the hot weather cause things to be unusually dull. 

 p. d B. d 



B. d s. d 



Pheasants 2 6 to 2 9 



Partridges 16 19 



Hares 2 6 2 9 



Rabbits 1 



Wild do (I 8 



Grouse 3 3 6 



