1>34 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ September IS, 13GG. 



less than 6 inches in length, and were of more than pro- 

 portionate girth, of a mottled brown colour, and very tirm 

 substance. 



But how did they get in? In their full-pro wti proportions 

 it was impossible. Wnen very yonng and very small they might 

 have entered by the bee-hole, if they had dared; but how 

 came the inhabitants to allow their presence? And what faith 

 are we to put in the stones that bees not only kill such intruder*, 

 but also bury them in wax or propolis ? The front door to each 

 hive was about one-sixth part of an inch in height, and 4 inches 

 wide, and there was no other way by which the intruders could 

 possibly have gained for themselves an entrance. Of course they 

 might have been put in by some mischievous person; but this 

 seems unlikely. 



Since that I have met with many disappointments ; but have 

 now increased my stock to seven hives, and have never 

 hitherto been troubled with slugs again. Can any of your 

 readers remember to have seen a like occurrence r — Hampshire 

 R i roit. 



[These slugs, doubtless, found an entrance in the usual way — 

 viz., by the front door, albeit they probably slipped in without 

 knocking. We fancy that if you measure the height of tie- 

 doorway of your hives you will find it really more than you 

 imagine, since a worker bee, to say nothing of drones, could 

 scarcely force itself through an aperture only one-sixth of an 

 inch in width. We have often discovered slugs in weak hives, 

 but never once found them embalmed in propolis in what we 

 have been taught to consider the orthodox manner. They are, 

 doubtless, an annoyance and an injury to the bees ; but wc look 

 upon their presence as partaking more of the nature of an effect 

 than of a cause, believing that the stocks must have been pre- 

 viously dwindling, and that even if a slug found its way into a 

 strong hive it would be powerless to inflict such fatal injury as 

 you describe.] 



Extra Prizes for Partridge Cochins at Birmingham. — It 

 appears that the breeders of Partridge Cochins are determined 

 that their favourites shall not be placed behind the Butt's in 

 the prize list. They have, therefore, proposed to get up extra 

 prizes on the same conditions as those suggested by Mr. Toni- 

 linson for Buff Cochins. The following have already given in 

 their names— Mr. Tudmau, Whitchurch, and Mr. Stretch, Orms- 

 kirk. Subscriptions to be sent to Mr. Lythall, Birmingham. 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



SPANISH Cock's Face Red (flf. F. B.). — The white ftice of a Spanish 

 cock is a white bag containing a red one. It is very liable to injury from 

 the hens, as they sometimes peck it, nnd we have known a strip of it torn 

 trom top to bottom by lighting or accident. In cither case it has always 

 healed perfectly, leaving a mark anil scar, but never a red one. It generally 

 turns almost black, then as it heals it turns brown, becoming lighter day 

 by day till it is healed. As this is the moulting time of year, when 

 iah faces shrivel nnd become shabby, so have they a tendency 

 to become red. Many birds that have red about their faces will be 

 perfectly white for the winter shows. Our experience of this breed 

 induces us to believe it will be so with yours, and that the bird will not 

 be spoiled. 



Commencing Poultry-keeping — Keeping a Breed Pcre (Mechanic) ■ 

 -You have an excellent run. If, however, the fowl-house is to be in the 

 j ard. you must not allow the flooring of it to be paved either with brick 

 ■ stone, nor must it be floored with wood. As yon may not like to take 

 up the paving, you may adopt a safe and middle course by covering it 

 Cormore inches deep with dry gravel or grit. We should lie better able to 

 answer your question if you told us what yon require of your fowls 

 — whether to keep them principally for eggs, or to have them for all 

 purposes. If for eggs, Spanish, La Fleche, Creve Coeur, all great layers, 

 but non-sitters ; if very hardy birds. Cochins or Brahmas ; if the best 

 table fowls, Dorkings. Game are hardy, cheerful, and handsome, but 

 their pugna ;ity is sometimes very troublesome. If you want birds for 

 feather, have Polands and Hamburghs : but these do not sit. Your hen has 

 a cold, and requires a little attention lest it become roup. Give her some 

 bread steeped in strong beer. If others have the same right over the 

 piece of waste land that you have, and if they keep fowls, there is no way 

 of keeping the breed pure unless all parties agree to turn out only hens, 

 nnd to keep the cocks coutined to their premises. In these days when, 

 with few exceptions, all keep pure fowls, and take pains with the breed 

 and strain, such an arrangement should be sufficiently acceptable to in- 

 duce all to observe it strictly and gladly. It is quite sufficient for the 

 cock to be with the hens for a short time before roosting, ami for the 

 time between sunrise and turnin™ out. If this cannot be carried 6 it, and 

 others keep fowls, we are afraid that part only oi your ezp 1 * will be true to 

 ' eed you keep. 



Spanish Fowls \H. H.). — Although your description is that of very 

 $ood Spanish pullets, we do not believe they are pure. No pure-bred 

 Spanish sits. It is not unusual for cocks of this breed to lose their tails 

 for some months. They are bad moulters, and seem to * lace lost 

 feathers with difficulty. The nakedness is probably caused by the hens. 

 Tliey pick off the feathers. Supply them with sods of growing grass. 



Dumpies (H. O. E.).— We know of no Dumpies, but they are to be had 

 at the dealers'. They are generally, if good specimens, worth from 30s. to 

 40 <. each. We saw some near Dunoon recently. 



Fowls Plucking Feather-. [Constant Subscriber),— When fowls pick 



out and eat each other's feathers, it is a certain sign their stomachs are 

 out of order. Either they have had too much stimulating food or they 

 have not hail enough of green meat, such as lettuce. The habit will 

 give j ou some trouble, as so long as the naked flesh is seen they will 

 peck each other, nnd so long as it bleeds they will eat. Remove the 

 most determined cannibals, ami keep tbera away till all have finished 

 moulting. Let your fowls have plenty of lettuce, and if they have no 

 access to grass, let them have large heavy sods of growing grass cut with 

 plenty of earth. They will eat it all. If this does not cure them, dose 

 them well with castor oil. This will alter their habit. 



Improving Colour of Bantam Cock's Saddle {Bantam). — If you wish 

 to import more colour into the saddle of a Duck-winged cock you can do 

 it by means of a Black Red. If you wish to produce the remarkably rich 

 maroon colour sometimes met with, you must obtain a bird possessing 

 that property. 



Thorns Poultry Show. — A correspondent informs us that he had a 

 pen of Pigeons lOwlsi stolen at this Show, and that the Secretary sent 

 him the price claimed for them. It is au example which ought to be 

 followed by every Poultry Show Committee. 



Hastings Poultry Show.— Mr. Rust, and not Rush, took the third prize 

 for Cochin-Chinas. 



Food for Fowls to be Exhibited. — w I.P.8." wishes to know the direc- 

 tions of the Sussex millers who have stones dressed for the purpose, by 

 means of which they grind the whole of the oat so fine that it mixes 

 smoothly, although nothing whatever is taken from it. 



Caponising (A Subscriber).— It is so needless and so cruel a custom 

 that we have never sought for information on the subject. 



Diarrhosa in Pigeons (M. E . B.). — Give them three or four pieces of 

 whitening or chalk daily, each about the size of a pea, and feed them ou 

 old beans until the diurrhcea ceases. 



Book on Rabbits (Rustic).— You can have " The Rabbit Book " free by 

 post from our office if you enclose seven postage stamps with your 

 address. 



Bees Fighting [J. C. A.). — The bees were separated before they 

 reached us, being, moreover, much crushed in their transit through the 

 post. Hostile bees grapple one another with such tenacity, that when 

 in the extreme case of a regicidal attack we have decollated a would-be 

 regicide, we have still had considerable difficulty in releasing the unfor- 

 tunate queen from the incumbrance of the severed head, the mandibles 

 of which still held her in their vice-like grip. Your two stocks appear to 

 be too close together, and the skirmishes you describe arise most probably 

 from bees alighting by mistake at the wrong entrance. We know of do 

 English work on bees which meets your requirements. Mr. Langstroth's 

 book, or the last edition of Mr. Quinby's, both published in New York, 

 but obtainable through any English bookseller, will best answer your pur- 

 pose; but you must make allowance for the difference in cliuiate, Arc, 

 between England and America. 



Preventing Swarming (J. P. F.).— We believe that no mode of manag- 

 ing bees can be relied on to entirely prevent swarming. Giving ample 

 room in due season, with efficient ventilation during hot weather, will 

 sometimes, but not always, attain the desired end. You do not state the 

 actual size of the "roomy 1 ' glass on the hive, the bees of which hung 

 out without Bwanning, but we doubt if it were really sufficiently huge, 

 and to this cause, combined with excessive heat, we should be disposed 

 to attribute their idling outside the hive instead of working. Efficient 

 shade and ventilation are the best remedies for Bueh a state of things 

 A weak stock will very frequently receive a reinforcement, such as you 

 describe, without opposition, whether proffered by daylight or at dusk. 

 Your plundered stock had very probably become queenless before the 

 final assault took place. 



Space between a Hive and its Cover (J. Ii. Seyton).—An inch 

 between the hive and outer case is finite sufficient. We think you may 

 safely appropriate the honey in the two outside combs. 



Ants— Feeding — Covering (0. J.).— We frequently discover ants on 

 and about our feeding-bottles, but do not find them injure the bees. 

 Your bees will want no more food this year, but you should examine 

 them in the spring and form your opinion as to whether they require feed- 

 ing, and if so, to what extent. When robbers are about, crown-boards 

 should not be removed except in case of actual necessity, as. their attacks 

 i ccite the bees and render them very irritable. Worker-comb made bj 

 black bees will do equally well for Ligurians. As the c >mbs of both 

 varieties are absolutely identical, no difference whatever should be made 

 in the distance between the bars, it is well to leave no more than three- 

 eighths space between the bottom of the frames and the floor-board, but 

 ii an inch be left the bees are not likely to build combs there. The two- 

 inch space between the covering and the hives may be advant la 

 tilled up with dried grass, hay, straw, or any other non-conducting 

 material. 



Apples for Pigs (G. G.).— Apples may be given with perfect safety t ■ 

 pigs. As to their not eating other iood afterwards, we never found such 

 a result. If they did so for a while, abstinence would soon restore their 

 appetite?, . 



POULTRY MARKET.— September it. 



There i> little or no trade, or denaud for poultry. Grouse continue 

 abundant, and Partridges are plentiful. 



a d. s. d . s. d s. d 



Large Fowls 2 to 2 Partridges 



Smaller do 1 9 



Fowls 



Chickens 1 3 



Geese 6 



Ducks I 9 



1 4 to 1 6 

 Grouse 1 9 2 » 



H.n-s...; 



1 G Kibhits 14 15 



6 fi Wild do k u I 



2 Pigeons U 8 9 



