396 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ November 7, 1865. 



escaping the sad fate of her predecessor, laid eggs, I believe, 

 when twenty-one days old. I am, however, unable to fix the 

 date with absolute certainty, having added a hrood-eomb about 

 the same time containing eggs recently' laid by another queen. 



The seventh, hatched the same day as the sixth, laid eggs 

 on the 28th of September, being then twenty-two days old. 



The eighth, hatched 7th September (thirteenth day), laid eggs 

 on the 29th of September, being twenty-two days old. 



It will be perceived, therefore, that I have been successful 

 with seven out of my eight late-bred queens, all of which are 

 now at the head of good stocks, and, what is not a httlc curious, 

 all have been fecundated by small di-ones bred in worker cells. 

 It is true that during the first half of the month of September 

 I possessed a very few full-sized drones, but these being in 

 the hive presided over bj' the fifth queen, were tiu-ned out and 

 destroyed by the workers, as before stated, immediately on her 

 first laying drone eggs. I have the strongest reasons for be- 

 lieving that the di'ones in every hive in my neighbourhood had 

 been destroyed long ago, and have, therefore, no doubt what- 

 ever that, at any rate, all except the fii-st (and most probably 

 this one also) of these late-bred queens owe their impregnation 

 to the abnormal drone offspring of the Ligiu'ian queen above 

 referred to. This fact confirms the conclusion to which the 

 post-mortern evamination of small di'ones had ah'eady impelled 

 me — viz., that notwithstanding their diminutive size, they are 

 perfectly competent to the performance of every male function. 

 — A Devonshire Bee-keeper. 



NUTT'S COLLATEE^VL HIVES. 



In answer to " W. W." respecting any information on the 

 management of Nutt's collateral hives, and that being the only 

 kind in my apiary, it is with great pleasure that I offer him my 

 experience for the last five years with them. First, then, we will 

 suppose him to begin with a stock in the pavilion in spring; 

 and as soon as he perceives that they begin to increase in 

 numbers — say early in May, take one of the side boxes and fix 

 a nice piece of clean comb to the roof or frame, or dress it with 

 a little syrup. Having replaced the box in its position, and 

 made all secure, withcUaw the dividing-tin, and if it is a mild 

 spring the bees will commence building combs in a short time. 

 When you perceive that they have three-parts filled the box 

 vrith comb, treat the other box in a similar manner ; but be 

 sure to keep the ventilators closed in the side boxes till the bees 

 have begun working in them for a few days, when they may be 

 opened gradually as the warm weather advances, the object of 

 the inventor being to prevent swarming, and to obtain pure 

 honey by means of the ventilation in the side boxes. The 

 only instance that I know of a Nutt's hive swarming was in 

 the summer of the present year, when a friend of mine, on 

 leaving home for a few days, neglected to draw iip the tin of 

 the second box, when it threw a small swarm, but this retmned 

 to the hive again in the evening. 



I would advise " W. W." to adopt the suggestions which our 

 valuable Editor gave me two years ago, and which I have 

 adopted with success — that is, to fit his collateral boxes with 

 bars or frames ; by so doing he can make artificial swarms, 

 take a comb of honey, or strengthen a weak stock, as circum- 

 stances require. I may add, in conclusion, that my hives and 

 boxes are rather smaller than the size stated by " AV. W.," and 

 limake them all myself of a winter's evening. There is but 

 one entrance, and that in the floorboard under the middle 

 bos, which latter I never move only to clean the floorboard 

 in spring and again in autumn, when X take ofi the side boxes, 

 and if " W. W." or Mr. S. Brierley, chance to be in my neigh- 

 bourhood, I shall feel much pleasure in showing them my apiary 

 and all connected with it. — T. Sedgley. 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



DucK-rooTED Game (AVuicc).— If you refer to our Xo. 225. published on 

 Ihe Iftth of July, you will find at jiage 5S not only a description but a 

 drawiuR of the "defurmity. 



Cochin-Chinas with Crooked Tails (Eftoracwm).— No ailment in 

 poultry is more hereditary than this deformity, which arises from spinal 

 curvature. On no account breed from any bird with this malformation. 

 We advise you to add fresh blood to your stock. The deformity is probably 

 derived from the cock you mention who carries his tail on one side when 

 walldng. As you have no other, and, as he does not so can-y his tail 

 when at rest, you ni.iy I'C successfal with him in the exhibition pen. 



Brahma Pootra Hen (A. H. D.). — This hen with a hanging abdomen 

 we fear will never recover, she is ruptured, and has also disease of the 

 egg organs. If she do not die, shewUl never lay, and is, therefore, value- 

 less. 



Feeding Turkeys for Exhibition {Retriever).— Keei> your Tiu-keys in 

 a small place, and feed them generously on jfround oats and a Uttlo 

 bean meal slaked in water. Whtre a number are kept, a pig trough is a 

 good thing to feed them out of, and a pig stye is not a bad phice, if the 

 sheltered part is high enough for them to roost comfortably. They must 

 have plenty of clean straw that they may not injure their plumage. A 

 cock nnd two hens to exhibit with good hope of success should weighs 

 if old birds, from 5-1 lbs. to 60 lbs., if birds of the year, 40 lbs. to 45 lbs. 



Points in Rouen Ducks {Idem).— Boncn Ducks should be exactly like 

 Wild Ducks but larger. The bill of the drake should be yellow, washed 

 over with light sea green, so lightly as to allow the yellow to be seen 

 through it. That of the Duck should be yellow with a dark mark on it, 

 like that on a horse liean. They should weigh from 7 lbs. to 7J lbs. each. 

 The Ducks must have no white whatever in their plumage ; the Drake 

 only the ring round his neck, uo.whiLe feathers in the wings. Feed them 

 on oats, gi'avel, and you may give some raw flesh if you will. 



Golden-pencilled and Silver-pencilled HAaiBrnau Cocks {W. B.). 

 — The comb is one of the principal X)oints of a Pencilled Hambm'gh cock. 

 It must be full of points, well piked behind, and turning upwards, quite 

 firm on the skull. The colour of his plumage (should be rich ; the tail 

 ample, and with black f;Toimd ; the principal feathers edged with gold or 

 silver as the breed may be; bright blue legs, and cheerful caiTinge. 



Pigeons Unwell ( J. T. Cooke).— As your Pipeons do not moult freely, 

 it may be as well to alter theii- diet. Leave off the beans and barley for 

 a time, and give wheat and buckwheat for a change. A little hempseed 

 may assist them. I suppose yoiu" Pigeons are sheltered from the cold 

 winds, and have access to water for bathing. As to canker in the mouth 

 I thinli it arises from an impure state of the blood, and is, I think, also 

 infectious. See that the mice do not taint the food, that theii' water is 

 clean, and let them have salt to peck. If they have not been accustomed 

 to salt you must be careful at first, otherwise thoy may be so gi-ecdy after 

 it, as to eat more than is good for them. Cleanliness will assist their 

 rcovery. You can dissolve some chlorate of potash in hot water and 

 mix with their diink, let them have only that to di'ink for two or three 

 days, then wait a day or two and ti-y it again. As to a local application 

 to the diseased parts, after remo^-ing the pus, rub in salt or touch mth 

 canstic— B. P. Brent, 



Pigeon-cote on a Pole {Pi! John.'), — Mr. Rogers, of the City Road, 

 makes this sort of Pigeon-cote, but such are only fitted for the hardier 

 sorts, and those that do not breed in cold weather. They may be made 

 square, octagonal, or circular, and two, three, or four stores high, with 

 some finish to the top, The square form is, perhaps, the best, as the nest 

 places can then also be made square, and they should be 9 or 10 inches in- 

 side. The other shapes are not so commodious on account of the nests 

 all going off to a point towards the centre of the cote. We would recom- 

 mend in preference a loft over the stable, and the entrance to the south- 

 ward may be made as ornamental as you please. — B. P. Brent. 



TuRBiT Pigeons with Moustache [J. R.Rob iiison}.— There is a hreed 

 of Pigeons in Germany resembling Tm-bits having the moustache like the 

 Trumpeter, and I have no doubt that breed originated In the mixture of 

 those two varieties. The continental Pigeon fanciers are very fond of 

 making varieties by crossing and combining the different properties of 

 various sorts in the same individuals. Thus they breed Jacobins with 

 the addition of the moustache. Barbs with the ruffle of the Turbil, Fan- 

 tails with silky plumage, &c. No doubt Mr. Robinson's Turbits have some 

 German blood in their veins, and that some ancestor many generations 

 b?.ek had the moustache which has just now reappeared. Should he con- 

 tinue to breed from the same old ones he will most likely have some more 

 yoimg ones with the moustache, and should he be successful in rearing 

 a pair he may then be able to establish a new variety of Turbit. I have 

 a pair of feather-footed Black Mottled Rollers. They are paired, mother 

 and son, and fii-st-rate Rollers, yet last year they threw a Red Mottled 

 cock with tm-ned cro^vu, and this year they have again a turued-crown 

 nearly black young one. If any one has a desire to breed a variety of 

 Rollers with tm'ned crowns, these two are at their service. Their parents 

 tumble so much that they cannot fly weU. — B. P. Brent. 



Flying Pigeons [S. A. 6'.).— Not ha^^ng seen your Pigeons, and as you 

 give no description of them, I cannot tell what sort they are. You had 

 better obtam the " Pigeon Book," pubhshed at this office, and sent free 

 by post for nineteen postage stamps. That will enable you to find out 

 what sort they are, and gives more information than space can be found 

 for here. The only Pigeon I know of by the name of Ruff, is a coarse 

 Jacobin, and these are the worst of flyers. You must not attempt to fly 

 them with the Tumblers. If what you call sandy are Short-faced 

 Almonds, as you have been told, they are too delicate for long or high 

 fljing; but you can train your Blue Tumblers as directed in answer to 

 " Hiuh-flyer," last week. If you persevere with them for a few months 

 after they have their new feathers and full wings A^lthout success, you 

 had better put them in a pie and buy a better sort. Some of the common 

 Tumblers have no dash in them, and are so lazy that it is only waste of 

 time to try and train them. Obtain a few well trained birds of a good 

 flying breed, so much depends on pedigree. — B. P. Brent. 



"Pullets Laying — Profitable Breeds (Ibid). — Pullets commence 

 laying at from five to nine months old, according to the time of year at 

 which they are hatched. As to the sort to keep, so much depends on 

 fancy that you had better have the '* Poultry Book," which will shoi-tly 

 be X'nblished, and choose for yourself. All are good under favourable 

 circumstances, none will succeed in adverse ones. If j-om* space is con- 

 fined, and you only require eggs, Spanish or Polish will suit you; but it" 

 you want chickens then Shanghaes, either Cochins or Brahmas. If you 

 have an extensive ran, then the rose-combed everlasting layers, com- 

 monly called Hiimburghs, will prcduce the most eggs. For general pur- 

 puii)oses I prefer White Dorkings^'. — B. P. Brent. 



A\u0D FOR Hi%i;s {Israel Todd). — Red deal, well seasoned, and fully 

 three -fourths of an inch thick, is suitable for making wooden hives. 



LONDON MARKETS.— NovEJiEER (i. 



s. d. 8. d 



Large Fowls 3 0to3 6 



Smaller do 2 „ 2 6 



Chickens 1 6 ., 1 9 



Ocese 6 „ fi (i 



Ducks 2 „ 2 S 



Pheasants 2 „ 2 6 



B. fl. s. a 



Grouse 1 6 „ 3 



Partridges 1 2„1 U 



Hares 2 6 ., S 



Rabbits 1 4 „ 1 5 



Wild do 8 „ 9 



Pigeons S „ 6 



