400 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ November 20, 1866. 



bees, so I ran in the slides and off with super and crown-board 

 in one, so as to reach the stock hive more readily. Here, as I 

 ■was aware they had built combs crosswise of the bars, I could 

 not do anything from the top : hence I lifted it off the board 

 on to another, cleared away the fallen combs (examining each 

 in case the queen should be amongst the mass), then cleaned 

 the floor-board, replaced the hive, now two-thirds empty of 

 comb, then its super, and the roof-cover on the top. I then 

 destroyed what trace I could of the mishap around the stand. 

 The nest day I had the satisfaction of finding that her majesty 

 was not absent, also that most of her subjects had made for 

 the interior. In a day or two afterwards a stranger could not, 

 from outward appearances, have known that the misfortune 

 had taken place. The super was abandoned by the bees, but in 

 the hive itself comb-building was carried on with rapidity. On 

 the 13th of September they were driven into a new square 

 straw bar-frame hive, making use of spare comb, and feeding 

 up to 25 lbs. (12 lbs. honey, 13 lbs. sugar and water). They 

 have built comb, stored the food given, and sealed part. I am 

 pleased to add that to all appearance they are doing well, and 

 now on fine days carrying in much pollen. Do you think they 

 are likely to go through the winter? I should add that for a 

 single stock they are strong, having hatched out brood when 

 driven. 



E, a first swarm from C on the 8th of June, was hived in a 

 square straw bar-frame hive, also of home make and 14$ inches 

 square, strong in numbers and well provisioned. This stock 

 is set by for wintering ; the only doubt about it is the wooden 

 top or crown of the hive. It has four openings for bell-glasses. 

 Would it be advisable to allow one or more of them to remain 

 open with a glass on during the winter ? 



I also wish to add my testimony to the facility of driving. 

 On the 4th of September A was driven into a new round straw 

 hiven, on the 13th of September D into a new square straw 

 bar-frame hive (having three windows it was watched with much 

 interest) ; on the 19th of September C was driven into a new 

 round straw hive — in each case no mishap or sting, indeed I 

 have throughout the season escaped. Two of these driven lots, 

 A and C, have been given to working men as an inducement 

 to adopt the better system, also as a proof of driving, to obtain 

 the honey without having recourse to the brimstone-pit. Both 

 are strong in numbers, and when driven the brood was found 

 to have been all hatched out. They have been fed with 47 lbs. 

 sugar and water, have built and stored the combs with the 

 food given, and on most fine days were seen to take in pollen. 

 Their respective hives have gained in weight up to the 23rd of 

 October, in the case of A 18 lbs. nett, and C 22 lbs. nett. 

 Seeing that so much has been done by these driven bees, I 

 think they may stand through the winter. Of course, had in 

 each case a second lot been added, they would have stood a 

 better chance ; nevertheless, I should feel obliged by your 

 opinion. Will common brown sugar answer for feeding driven 

 bees ? — Novice, South Northamptonshire. 



P.S. — My yield of honey and honey in comb is 92 lbs. from 

 four stocks, exclusive of 14 lbs. returned to D. 



[We think you managed to remedy the misfortune of the 

 13th July very cleverly ; nor does there appear any reason why 

 all your stocks of driven bees should not survive the winter. 

 There can be no doubt, however, they would have a much better 

 chance of prosperity had they been doubled or trebled at the 

 outset, and we, therefore, never attempt to winter a single 

 stock of driven bees. There is no objection to one of the 

 openings in the crown-board remaining open with a piece of 

 perforated zinc and a bell-glass over it during the winter, pro- 

 vided the glass stand in a feeding-trough or similar receptacle, 

 so as to prevent the moisture which condenses on it from find- 

 ing its way into the hive. We have never tried common brown 

 sugar for feeding driven bees.] 



Bristol and Clifton Pocltly Show. — Twelve silver cups 

 are offered, besides money prizes. Those exhibitors who have 

 not received schedules should apply at once to the Secretary. 

 The entries close December 15th. (See advertisement.) 



Wolverhampton Pocltby Show. — We are pleased to learn 

 that the Committee of this Show, after having paid the whole 

 of their liabilities, have the handsome sum of £51 7s. Id. 

 balance in hand. Such an amount of success rarely attends a 

 first attempt, and, considering the inclemency of the weather 

 when the Show was held, is doubtless much more than expected 

 by the Committee. At a well-attended meeting held on Wed- 

 nesday last it was unanimously decided to hold another Show 

 in October, 1807 ; and the Mayor of the town, J. Morris, Esq., 

 willingly undertook the office of President. 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Spur of Dorking Cock (.1. K. C.).— The spar being outside the leg of a 

 Dorking cock is a serious objection, and one that should prevent such a 

 one from being exhibited. A judge could only award a prize to such a 

 bird when he was tied to a choice of difficulties, and had a class of im- 

 perfections to choose from. This query was accidentally overlooked. 



Food Required for Foitls (A Reader]: — Yon should have stated 

 whether, although the farmyard is a small one, thrashing i- going on 

 at the barn door. The quantity of food to be given must be regulated 

 by that which they find in the yard. They may have either corn or 

 meal, or both. Two meals per day should be enough, if the yard yields 

 any food at all. One may be meal, and one whole corn, or when more 

 convenient whole corn may be given for a few days, and then changed 

 for meal. With the advantage of run and yard, a* pint of corn should 

 keep each fowl for a week in good condition. 



Breeding from Brahma Cockerel and Pullets (2tyro).~ If they are 

 not akin they may produce fine chickens, but if they are brothel and 

 sisters it is doubtful. 



Inducing Laving {T. T.).— Ground oats slaked with milk, the sweep- 

 ings of the table-cloth after every meal, cooked meat chopped fine, the 

 gristle and skin of any cooked meat, the knuckle of legs or shoulders of 

 mutton, and the like. There is a more stimulating food viz., tallow- 

 chandler's greaves; it answers the purpose, but injures the fowl. If you 

 use them the following is the plan :— Chop as much as you wish to give 

 quite fine, put it in a bucket, cover it with boiling water, and 1 1 1 e : 

 the mouth of the bucket with doubled sacks or any contrivonoe that 

 will prevent the escape of the steam. By the time it is thoroughly 

 sodden it will be cold, and is then fit to feed with. 



Poultry for a Farmyard (EaMon Sail). — We have seldom seen a 

 farmyard that had not half a dozen poultry-houses all ready made. Any 

 house that possesses the following qualifications is a poultry-house : — 

 Height from 5 to 8 or 9 feet: water-tight roof of any kind: ventilation 

 just under the rooi or within a foot of it; door at one end ; earthen or 

 gravelfioor; if opening into the yard, and near to stacks and ricks, so 

 much the better. The floor of the house should be higher than the level 

 of the yard, and should rise in all directions from the door. A calf-pen 

 often makes a good fowl-house. Roosting on carts and waggons and 

 under sheds and lean-to's is often uioi-e favourable to health than a well- 

 appointed house with all modern appliances. If, therefore, the birds are 

 safe from thieves or from foxes, we advise you to let them roost at will. 

 You will have to look after their eggs. Dorkings do well in a far nyard : 

 it is their place. Brahmas and Cochins are hardier, and very good 

 layers. Haniburghs, La Fleche, Houdans,and CreveCcaurs are exc Hen; 

 layers, but do not sit. All the latter lay larger eggs than Hamburghs. 



Scaly Substance on Fowls' Legs (Tom).— It only scaly rem ive it 

 by the aid of a sharp knife, and rub the place with mild mercurial oint- 

 ment. If you fear to cut, apply strong acetic acid to the substance once 

 daily until it can he scratched away, which will occur in a few days if 

 there is no enlargement of the bone. Warts can be removed in the 

 same mode. 



Catarrh rN Hamburghs (D. B. W.). — The sneezing, difficult bre tthing, 

 and discharge from the nostrils are symptoms of common cold or catarrh. 

 occasioned probably by exposure to the recent extreme vicissitudes of 

 weather. Give them bread soaked in ale, soft food only, and plenty of 

 lettuce leaves. Confine them during cold or wet weather in an outhouse. 



Crete Cceur Fowls (C. C. B.).— The best authority is M. Jacques, 

 and he says, " The plumage of the finest specimens quite black, in or- 

 dinary specimens partly white and partly yellow. The top-knot usually 

 becomes white at the back." There are a full description and drawings in 

 "The Poultry-Keeper's Manual.'' which you can have free by post from 

 our office if you enclose Is. 10<i . in stamps. Eggs in your account might 

 be charged a penny each throughout the year. 



Chilled Brood (IT.!.— We never knew chilled brood communicate a 

 bad odour to the surrounding combs. 



Sick Bullfinch (logo).— I should think the puffing up of tho skin 

 proceeded from some accident which had caused a rupture of some small 

 air-tube, so that the breath escaped under the skin. A cooling diet and 

 rest are all that I can further recommend. Avoid all excitement, 

 whether of food or exercise, until the patient is convalescent. — B. P. B. 



Boiling Salsafy (A Poor Cook). — The root is black outside, and care 

 is required in peeling it before boiling. Scrape it well, tailing care to 

 leave no spots, and then soak it in vinegar and water. Fill up a sauce- 

 pan with water, add to it 1 oz. of butter, four dessert-spoonsful of vine- 

 gar, and some salt ; set it on the fire, and as soon as the water boils put 

 in the salsify, and let it boil an horn-. Drain, and if it is whitish serve 

 with white sauce ; if dark, then with brown sauce. 



POULTRY MARKET.— November 19. 

 We have still but a sorry trade. The supply of Pheasants is larger as 

 the season advances. 



s d. s. d s. d s. d 



Large Fowls 3 to 3 6 Pheasants 2 to 2 6 



Smaller do 2 6 3 Partridges 1 4 1 (• 



Chickens 1 6 1 9 Grouse 1 2 2 



Geese 6 7 Hares 2 6 3 



Ducks 2 2 3 Rabbits 1 4 1 5 



Pigeons 9 10 Wilddo 8 9 



