122 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



[ February 0, 1868. 



where the bees will soon begin to ascend, and which it is certain 

 the queen must pass. If, as is very generally the case, a num- 

 ber of bees gradually form a thick cluster at this point, under 

 cover of which the queen may, perchance, slip past unper- 

 ceived, the upper hive should be lifted and bo far turued round 

 as again to present a clear surface, which her majesty will 

 scarcely be able to traverse without being perceived. And here, 

 probably, many will be inclined to ask if the queen is not in- 

 variably amongst the foremost, since we are told in bee-books 

 that she is always one of the first to ascend, and it is a popular 

 idea that the queen leads the workers on these and similar 

 occasions. All this is, however, a mistake ; the queen may 

 make her appearance at any moment, sometimes with the van- 

 guard, oftener amongst the main body ; sometimes with the rear- 

 guard, and occasionally, although very rarely, she lingers among 

 the last few stragglers remaining in the hive. As soon, how- 

 ever, as she is perceived she should be adroitly seized by the 

 wings, popped into one of the little perforated boxes,* which 

 is then tied to the loose end of the string, and by means of the 

 packing-needle drawn up to and secured in close contact with 

 the inside of the crown of the upper hive. 



The desired object havingbeen attained, the operation may be 

 brought to an end as rapidly as iiossible. either by close or open 

 driving, and the deserted hive conveyed iu-doors. Should the 

 queen escape detection, and it be merely intended to drive the 

 inhabitants of two hives into one with the view of establishing 

 them as a new colony, the same look-out may be kept for the se- 

 cond queen, whilst the bees are being driven in a similar manner 

 into the same hive. If, however, she also escape, it is probable 

 that no great harm will have been done, since bees generally 

 dispose of a superfluous queen under such circumstances with- 

 out much loss of life. There are, however, exceptions even to 

 this rule, and sometimes both queens are sacrificed. It is 

 precisely to guard against such casualties that I always take 

 the trouble of at least endeavouring to secure the first queen 

 in the manner I have described, and when I miss her (which, 

 however, occurs only in a minority of eases), I do not drive a 

 second colony into that hive, but reserve it for a purpose which 

 I shall afterwards describe. I have stated that a veil or bee- 

 dress is but seldom used, and however extraordinary it may ap- 

 pear to many, it is, nevertheless, a fact that an adept will pre- 

 fer to practise even open driving with exposed face and unen- 

 cumbered hands, whilst it is equally true that he but rarely 

 receives a sting. I do not, however, commend this example as 

 one to be immediately emulated by the beginner, who should 

 not disdain the protection of a veil and india-rubber gloves, 

 unless he happens to be constitutionally impervious to the 

 effects of bee stings. 



When the inhabitants of two hives are driven into one, it is 

 better, as soon as the operation is completed, to confine the 

 bees by standing the hive containing them on the floor-board 

 of the strongest of the two stocks, and tying them up in the 

 cloth with which it is covered, without regard to the stragglers 

 from the other colony, which are not likely to be very nume- 

 rous. It is, in point of fact, advisable to adopt this course in 

 all cases if the operator intends to quit the scene of action 

 before nightfall, as the bees will congregate more completely 

 within their new dwelling a few minutes after it has been 

 placed on the old stance than they are likely to do until dark- 

 ness begins to close in. The safe custody of the bees should 

 be farther insured by a string or small cord tied tightly around 

 each hive and outside the cloth between 1 and 2 inches from 

 the bottom, whilst ventilation should be cared for by standing 

 the hives on an uneven surface, or raising one side an inch or 

 two by means of a stone or block of wood. — A Devonshire 

 BeE-KEEPEK. (To be continued.) 



FISH F.ULIXG IN AN AQUARIUM. 



STAUNCHING A CANARY'S BLEEDING. 



I HAVE a large aquarium with an almost constant fresh supply 

 of water flowing into it. It contains about ten gallons of water, 

 and I am unable to keep fish of any kind alive in it beyond 

 two or three weeks. Its contents are a brass lacquered tube 

 for the pipe, shingle, washed sand, and the following plants — 

 Potamogeton oblongum, V. gramineum, Ilauunculus aquatilis, 

 Vallisneria. The fish almost at once become affected with 

 some fungoid growth, and seem to shrink and wither. They 

 are fed occasionally with the small red worm, but soon die. Is 



• As the object of imprisoning tbe queen is generally to Itoep her nlive 

 for a few days in case of accident, it is desirable that a few workers 

 Bhould share her captivity. 



this explained by any improper plant, or is the brass tube the 

 cause of my trouble ? 



I will mention one other subject before I close. I called in a 

 noted bird fancier to cure a deformity in the leg of my Canary. 

 His remedy was to amputate with a pair of scissors close to 

 the joint. Considerable bleeding followed, and he suggested 

 a hot wire, but this I considered adding one barbarity to 

 another, and instead I applied the perchloiide of iron, which 

 immediately arrested the hemorrhage. Therefore I recommend 

 it with full confidence as being a potent application in case of 

 injury to the combs of fowls by operation or accident, and one 

 free from pain. — Wm. Soi'Er. 



[We know a similar sized aquarium similarly managed, and 

 in the water of which similar plants vegetate, and in that 

 aquarium Gold and other fish, small tortoises, &c., are long- 

 lived. Is there not something deleterious in the water yon 

 employ for the aquarium ?] 



FEEDING BEES. 



Please to inform me if I had better feed my bees now (.Jannary 

 2.5th), or what I had better do. No. 1 weighs, exclusive of hive, 

 17 lbs ; No. 2, 19 lbs. ; No. 3, 11 lbs. ; No. 4, 18 lbs.— G. J. 



[We should consider the stocks amply provided with food, 

 with the exception, perhaps, of No. H, which, however, will doubt- 

 less do well enough until the latter end of next month, when 

 spring feeding may commence and the deficiency be made good.] 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Polish Fowls' Eggs (Sf. Edmuiiffi).~Vic recommend you to consult 

 our advertising columns, and to write to any one of the advertisers who 

 has taken prizes with birds of the variety you require. 



HouDANS (Jfmimre).— Write to Mr. Baily, 113. Mount Street, Grosvcnor 

 Square, f^. B. C). — We think you may safely keep Houdans if your 

 wall is 5 feet high. We do not find them disposed to stray or to fly. 



Spanish Pdllet's Comb Dbying-up ( ). — Your Spanish pallet is 



failing in condition. Nothing is more certain evidence of it than tbe 

 di-ying-up of tbe comb ; but judging from what you say, wo should look 

 for a quick return to health. If she has not a grass run, she should be 

 welt supplied with sods of gi-owing grass, with lettuce if to be had, and 

 with cooked meat chopped fine. 



I>UBBiNG A Game Bantam Cockepel (H.).— The skin under the throat 

 should not be touched at all. The comb, gills, and deaf ears must all be 

 taken off closely — as closely as possible, but the skull must not be laid 

 bare. The gills' must bo taken oil' so that when the wound is healed 

 there is nothing to show where they were. They should be cut off the- 

 skin under the throat. 



DOEKINO Cock (J. B. J. S.b— Tbe bird requires no other treatment 

 than that you are giving him. We do not for a moment believe he is 

 otherwise than a useful bird. Such complaints are common at this time 

 of year, but a little patience proves them to be groundless. 



Keeping Poultry for Exhibition (.Udji.^ic).— If you want to breed 

 prize poultry you must have a larger space for rearing chickens than that 

 you name. You have room for the parents, and sufficient to breed any- 

 thing of perfect quality; but the chickens want more space than 20 feet 

 square. You may rear good useful birds, but we fear there would be no 

 prizetakers among them. Your other arrangements are good. You will 

 find the knowledge you require in any of the poultry books. Be careful 

 by some means or other to provide your fowls with growing grass. 



Amount of Food for Fowls and Dccks (Constant Reader). — We 

 cannot say what amount of food your Ducks and fowls require, because 

 we do no't know how much they find in the farmyard— for instance, 

 whether threshing is always going on, whether hogs are being fed — in 

 fact, whether food is to be bad for tbe looking-for. Ducks do well on oats. 

 The fowls will want barley. Their appetite must guide you as to quantity. 

 As a rule they require more in winter, and less as the weather improves 

 in temperature, and the nights become shorter. 



ScUHF ON Legs of White Cochin-chinas (.5«rrry).— The scurf of 

 which you complain is caused by the action of snow on the legs. It will 

 soon disappear from the legs of the pullets ; it will [remain much longer 

 on the legs of the hens. In some cases it becomes chronic. Time will 

 cure it, but stimulating ointment accelerates recovery. 



Oldham Show.—" In last week's Journal the Messrs. Newbitt are ?e- 

 presented to have taken the third prize in Any other variety of Ducks. 

 My Buenos Ayrean Ducks were by mistake penned in their pen, which 

 should have been empty, as they did not send tbe Ducks they had entered. 

 Mr. Charlesworth's pen of Brown Call Ducks were by mistake put into 

 my pen. They were highly commended, and mine took the third prize. 

 —'Samuel BuitN, Whitby." 



Chinchilla Rabbit Skins (TT-L,).- WV do not know the present price ol 

 Chinchilla Rabbit skins. They are articles of export, and vary in price. 



LlGURlAN Bees {Novice). — We do not know any one on the Continent to 

 whom you could apply. Advertise for the information. 



Dead Bees Thrown out of a Hive (.1 Subucriht-r).— The mortality, 

 about two hundred, is rather large, but so far does not appear to be serious. 

 Wo presume your bees do not want for food, but a few ounces of diluted 

 honey or simple syrup presented to them in an inverted bottle on fine 

 and mild days may be of service, and can in any case do no harm. 



Bar-frame Hives — Centrifugal Machine (A Lover of Ifecs).— We 

 believe the only English patent ever gi-anted for bar-frame hives was 

 obtahied by Major Munn, We do not know the date of this patent, but 

 have little doubt that it expired long ago. Mr. Woodhurj' promises a 

 description of the German centrifugal machine. If you write direct to 

 him at Mount Radford, Exeter, he will furnish the required particulars 

 as to price, &c. We readily answer all queries on apiarian subjects, and 

 record all that is new. 



