360 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ November 6, 1866. 



moment their horns were protruded with the view of commenc- 

 ing a march. Not one sting, however, was unsheathed against 

 them, nor did the slugs venture upon the comb. It was quite 

 evident from the manner in which they were annoyed by the 

 bees, that they would have retreated if they had known how. 

 Were these repulsive creatures met by bees at the doorway, I 

 have no doubt a retrograde movement would be reckoned 

 highly desirable. 



Wishing to remove a frame hive about a hundred yards. I 

 tried the plan suggested by " J- E. B. r ' at page 330, Vol. IX., 

 but did not rind it successful in preventing the bees returning 

 to their old stance. Not wishing to drive it I removed it to a 

 room for a couple of days, where the bees were allowed to 

 come out and fly against a window. By placing a little comb 

 containing honey at the entrance they were induced to come 

 out in great numbers, and after a little while they would 

 return to their home in a running stream. On removing 

 the hive to its new stance the difficulty was entirely sur- 

 mounted. I may now he permitted to take another glance at 

 foul brood. 



By referring to page 331, Vol. IX., the statement will be seen 

 that I cut out the brood-combs of a foul-breeding stock, and sub- 

 jected the combs containing honey to the fumes of sulphur. 

 Though not a cure, this process mitigated the evil to some ex- 

 tent during spring and summer— i.e., most of the young bees 

 hatched out ; but as the season has advanced the disease has ad- 

 vanced with it, and I do not believe the stock will ever be able 

 to work out its own cure. I cannot speak of it otherwise than 

 as being at this date (October 22nd), virulently affected, and I 

 give credit to Mr. Woodbury for predicting that tbere was little 

 or no chance of the complaint being eradicated by "partial 

 excision, even when combined with sulphurous fumigation." 

 After this summer's experience I should like to know whether 

 the "Renfrewshire Bee-keeper," or any other gentleman, 

 can testify to a foul-breeding stock having been cured without 

 the intervention of any purgatorial process. 



The '* Renfrewshire Bee-keeper" speaks of the diseased 

 pupae being reversed, and Mr. Woodbury admits that in some 

 instances they are so. Now, this is different from my ex- 

 perience. I found every bee dying after it had undergone its 

 metamorphosis rightly placed, and the pupie were also lying 

 as pupae generally are — sharp, but not reversed. In healthy 

 brood it is the " sharp " or tapering end that is towards the 

 cover of the cell. Regarding the ©rigin of this bee pest I can 

 only give conjectures. I may mention, however, that in June 

 last my brother put a second cast into a skep containing old 

 comb which was free of foul brood, but not in good condition. 

 I examined it a short time ago, and found it a mass of foul 

 brood and the bees defunct, the proprietor never having sus- 

 pected that anything was wrong with the hive. 



Before concluding, I may again inform a "Blackheath'an" 

 that my sparrows decline to feast on bees. I chilled a great 

 number and then presented them to a cock sparrow ; he just 

 looked at them a short time and went away. I once had a 

 starling that was passionately fond of drones. He caught and 

 devoured them greedily, but would not touch a worker bee. He 

 seemed to kuow the difference between them as well as myself, 

 and I never could deceive him into mistaking the one for the 

 other. 



Might not the sparrow raid of a " Blackheath'an " be, not 

 upon bees, but drones and ejected nymphs ? — R. S. 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



"Newmarket" returns "Y. B. A. Z.'s n greeting. 



Dorking Cock Lame from Corns (N. H.). — Shut him up for a time 

 •where he has only grass to run on, and let the floor of his roosting-place 

 be covered with hay. Examine his foot, the swelling is sometimes caused 

 by a thorn, sometimes by a small gravel stone having pierced the ball of 

 the foot. If this is the cause, it is easily removed. If it is a corn, it is 

 troublesome, and can only be rubbed down by one of the rasps used for 

 the same purpose by human beings. 



Cross between the Dorking and Cochin-China (Boadicea\— The 

 cross between either the Brahma or Cochin-China and the Dorking is 

 accomplished by putting the Cochin or Brahma cock to Dorking hens. 

 Dumpies are considered a distinct breed. Their merits are that they are 

 good layers, sitters, and mothers, but not more so than other breeds. 

 There is a curious resemblance in all but size between them and the 

 Japanese Bantams recently imported. In both cases the colours are 

 white and yellow, and brown. We do not think any colour is a test of 

 purity or otherwise. 



Brahma Pootra (A. Cliadiciek). — You must consult the authorities as 

 to the characteristics. If the bird has those characteristics it may be 

 accepted as pure. There is no other mode of determining whether it is 

 cross-bred. 



• Poultry -ho use and Yard (Dorking).— Yova plan seems to give all the 

 requisites for economical and successful poultry-keeping. The space 

 betwoen the gravel-pit and the stack-yard will give you 40 feet in length ■ 

 and you may, having eo much space available, take 15 in depth. The 

 height should not be less than 8 feet ; if more, so much the better. The 

 entrance should be at one end. Light should be admitted either by a 

 skylight or by windows, and there should be plenty of it. We prefer 

 skylights, and if covered with small wire-netting they will not be broken. 

 You will still require openings for ventilation. There may be flaps on 

 hinges, unglazed, but filled in with wire netting, so that in the Bummer 

 they may remain open all night, while during the cold winter months they 

 should be closed all night, but even then they and the door should be 

 opened throughout the day to purify the house. They should be at least 

 6 feet from the [rround, and so contrived as to provide a thorough draught 

 through the building. The floor should be of earth covered with some 

 inches of loose gravel mixed with bricklayer's rubbish. It should rise from 

 the door to the back. The house should bo supplied with laying-boxes, 

 which may be opposite the door. The porches ought to be within 2 feet of 

 the ground. They should not be fastened, but should rest on ledges on 

 the wall, so as to be easily removeable for purposes of cleaning. Poles of 

 about 14 inches in circumference sawn in half and placed with ther 

 side uppermost are il' t, it is required. Nothing of an expensive charac- 

 ter is necessary. Hnv ng stone at command, that material may be used 

 as a foundation and lor 2 feet above the ground ; all that is necessary 

 afterwards is good sound planking, which covered with gas-tar is very 

 durable. The fowls should have free access to the stack-yard, in which 

 they all delight ; it affords them food, dust-baths, and shelter in wet 

 weather. The position chosen for the house would place it against the 

 greenhouse and vinery. The artificial heat is not necessary. Ducks 

 should not roost with fowls. The stream need not be covered over. The 

 place is well adapted for Dorkings. Your Cochins and-Brahmas for winter 

 layers and early sitters maybe safely and profitably kept in any small 

 confined space. A fence 5 feet high, or even 4, will safely hold them, 

 as they have no desire to stray or go out. A roosting-house 12 feet square, 

 and an enclosure 30 feet by 20, would keep a dozen or more; but if 

 you want only eggs you may let them run with yeur Dorkings and still 

 keep them quite pure by having only Dorking cocks. The colour of the 

 eggs will always enable you to sort them. There is no necessity to go to 

 expense in making poultry-bouses, nor is there any return for doing so. 

 You should have a separate small house for sitting hens; you probably 

 have such, as any sheltered place will do, and if partially dark so much 

 the better. The hens must sit on the ground. 



Brahma Poothar Laying (W. S.), — Brahmas lay at from five to six 

 months, sometimes earlier. We have them now laying at that age, and 

 wo have known them lay at eighteen weeks. 



Breeding Dcckwing Bantams {Bantam). — May and June are the best 

 niQnths for breeding Bantams. We suppose you wish to introduce more 

 colour into your Duckwings, and therefore cross with a Black Red. The 

 best plan is to breed from Black Red oocks and Duckwing hens. Yon 

 must be guided by appearances afterwards ; but it is probable that, breed- 

 ing the second year from mother and son, you will obtain all you require. 

 Feeding Ducks ( ).— Your Ducks, now three months old, will pro- 

 bably lay about January. Good feeding will assist, but over-feeding will 

 prevent it. Give them good oats put in a vessel with some gravel ; vary 

 the diet by giving meal, and now and then a small quantity of tallow- 

 chandler's greaves. It is necessary they should have access to the pond 

 at times. 



Game Fowls' Tails and Breasts (R. Hawkins). — We sent your noto 

 to *' Newmarket," and he replies : — " Game fowls' tails should be neither 

 too long nor too short. Long-tailed birds are long-bodied in general, 

 which is bad ; and short-tailed birds are often ' broad-rumped.' Tails 

 should be well fanned and spreading, and well sickled, the sickle feathers 

 with a full round curve. Short tails or small tails are bad for exhibition 

 birds, and the large tail is most showy and most approved of as a rule. 

 Game fowls' tails should be carried erect and upright, which shows 

 spirit, as , drooping tail shows a want of spirit. The best and purest- 

 bred stri ■ of Brown Reds always have the red-brown breasts, throstle- 

 breasted Brown Reds being crossed with the Black-breasted Reds in 

 general. Brown Reds should be of a dark red in the cocks — hens, dark 

 brown and not black — very dark iron-brown legs ; fine, long, sharp heads, 

 and dark nails, light or white nails being bad. Ral brown-breasted 

 cocks are the most spirited and hardest birds.'' 



Apples for Pigs (An Old Subscriber). — Whether boiled or unbo'led, 

 we should give refuse apples to pigs ; but should prefer them boiled and 

 mixed with meiL 



Wolverhampton Poultry Show.— Mr. E. T. Holden, of Walsall, in- 

 forms us that he was the winner of the first and third in Spanish, and 

 not Mr. Beach. 



Sick Bullfinch (Iago). — I fear your Bullfinch has by some means 

 ruptured some of the delicate air-vessels of the body, by which means 

 the air has escaped under the skin. The best way to relieve the bird is 

 to puncture the skin with a fine pair of scissors and so let out the air, 

 being careful to avoid any of the larger veins. Rest and quiet will most 

 likely work a cure, but I would advise the withholding of all stimulating 

 or exciting food, as hemp or rape seed, and brandy. Give in preference 

 lettuce, chickweed, bread and milk sop, and a little Spanish liquorice in 

 his water.— B. P. Brent. 



POULTRY MARKET.— November 5. 



We have a good supply, and trade is rather improving. Grouse con- 

 tinue plentiful. Up to the present time we have had more Grouse from 

 Scotland than for many years past. 



a d. 8. A s. d s. d 



Large Fowls 3 to 3 6 Pheasants .....2 3 to 2 6 



Smaller do 2 2 3 Partridges 1 8 1 6 



Chickens 1 3 1 6 Grouse 1 6 1 9 



Geese 6 7 6 Hares 2 6 8 



Ducks 19 2 Rabbits 14 15 



Pigeons " « 9 Wild do 8 9 



