418 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ November 27, 1866. 



even fall lower than usual without danger of the bees on the 

 outside of the cluster becoming chilled, just as an oven in a 

 mild atmosphere needs not so much fuel as during severe cold. 

 The queen and nurses, therefore, which dwell in the centre of 

 the cluster, derive from it a greater degree of warmth during 

 cold than in mild weather, and may in this way be impelled to 

 the deposit of eggs and to the nurture of brood. 



It may be remarked, however, that it is only the hatching 

 out of brood which can be beneficial to the bee-keeper. Thus, 

 egg-laying is desired in order that the stocks by its means may 

 not only be kept from retrograding, but may even make pro- 

 gress. If, however, breeding stops at this stage by reason of 

 the stores of honey and pollen falling short before the tempe- 

 rature of the outer air permits of their being replenished, 

 then are the disadvantages of early breeding found to be greater 

 than its advantages. 



On the Degree of Warmth Necessary for the Bee. — The 

 limits of temperature within which a single bee can exist have 

 been far too widely extended. It cannot be denied that bees 

 are capable of a short flight with the thermometer at 45°, or 

 that they may, at any rate when heated, take wing and return 

 quickly to the hive when it is] even a few degrees colder ; but 

 the question is, At what temperature can they exist singly for 

 an extended period outside the hive ? And it is certain that 

 they may become chilled at aB high a temperature as 62°, whilst 

 with the thermometer at 52° they gradually lose the use o€ 

 their limbs until they can neither crawl nor eat. When, how- 

 ever, Herr Schoufield extends the opposite limit to 134°, he 

 evidently goes much beyond the truth. Such a more than 

 semi-boiling heat permits very little animated nature to quit 

 the shade, but least of all is the bee able to withstand it. 

 Herr Schiinfield has evidently confounded the heat communi- 

 cated to solid bodies with the temperature of the surrounding 

 air. Never but once have I seen the thermometer stand so 

 high as 134°, even when exposed to the full noontide heat, but 

 even then it was certainly only the adjacent window-frame and 

 the thermometer-bulb which had become so heated from long 

 exposure to the sun in a confined situation, as I am satisfied 

 that the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere did not 

 exceed 100°. As heated air becomes rarefied, and therefore 

 lighter, it ascends, its place being constantly supplied by that 

 which is cooler. Hence the shimmering haze which overspreads 

 the plains when exposed during a calm day to the glowing heat 

 of a summer's sun. Thus does continual fluctuation produce 

 a continual balance of the disturbed equilibrium ; the bees 

 themselves assisting, when exposed to the burn:ng rays of the 

 sun, by fanning with their wings and driving the heated air 

 behind them, and in this way producing a cooler temperature. 

 That bees do not drown readily is well known, but put tliem 

 in water heated to 134° and observe the consequence. Herr 

 Schoufield may convince himself, by careful observation and 

 experience, that the extremes fixed by him at 45° to 134° are 

 much too wide, and should be reduced by nearly one-half — to 

 the Bmits of 59° to 105°. — Dzierzon. 



(To be continued.) 



to a hollow mouthpiece fitting into the entrance of the hive, 

 and when taken off filled with drones is plunged in boiling 

 water. —A Devonshire Bee-keefer. 



DESTROYING DRONES. 

 There is no doubt that a multitude of drones is a useless 

 encumbrance in any hive, and a great drawback to its pros- 

 perity. Setting aside as exceptional those cases in which 

 drone-breeding is encouraged, and the drones themselves care- 

 fully preserved with the view of promoting the true fecundation 

 of Italian queens, we may, I think, unhesitatingly conclude 

 that as a general rule a superabundance of the male sex among 

 bees is merely an unprofitable incubus upon the resources 

 of the commonwealth. The most economical mode of limit- 

 ing the number of drones in a hive is to substitute worker 

 for drone-comb, permitting but little of the latter to remain. 

 In this way but few drones can be reared, and the food which 

 would be expended on the brood is of course saved. This mode 

 of limiting drone-production being only practicable in hives 

 with moveable combs, a method of destroying adult drones may 

 sometimes be useful, and I have therefore no doubt that it 

 would be serviceable to many if " C. H. E." would make public 

 the contrivance by which he has succeeded in catching drones 

 without interfering with the workers. I may state that Ger- 

 man bee-keepers attain the same object by attaching to each 

 hive a square or globular chamber formed of wire, the meshes 

 of which are too small to allow a drone to escape, although 

 they permit the workers to pa?s through them. This is affixed 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Incubator (IP. H. M.).— We never before heard of Duncan's. (W. T.). 

 — Minasi's incubator can be seen at work at the Crystal Palace. It has 

 been favourably noticed in different papers, and drawings havo been 

 given of it. The naptha requires to be renewed every forty-eight hours. 

 Thermometers are supplied with it. Gas cannot be used without the 

 burners. With only ordinary attention success is certain. They will 

 not be cheaper at present. It.is about 42 inches long by 36 wide, and 

 40 high. 



Cochin-china's Comb on One Side (Crcive).— The lopping of a Cochin- 

 china cockerel's comb is a sign either of bad constitution or bad breed- 

 ing. It is an exceptional case. They are often crooked, but seldom lop 

 over. Fasten it in an upright position with silver wire. Feed on peas, 

 oats, and barley, all whole, and dry bread. You may give him milk to 

 drink, but very little water. This is the treatment, but we doubt of 

 success. We must add that a Cochin-China cock with a lopping comb is 

 not worth saving. You must tell ns the breed of the Rabbits you need. 



Perches (Cymbeline).—A barred floor, the bars 2 feet apart, rather 

 rounded, and not less thau 5 inches in diameter, is best for Brahma 

 Pootras and all others of the Cochiu-China race. If perches are used they 

 should be of the same size and not more than 2 feet from the ground. It 

 is a good plan to have perches jointed together so as to form a frame, 

 moveable for cleaning-purposes, &c as shown in the •' Poultry-Keeper's 

 Manual." For smaller breeds the perches should not be less than 

 3 inches in diameter ; fowls merely require to hold, not to clasp their 

 perch. There is no advantage in' having perches far from the ground, 

 and so having them is the cause of many injuries. If foxes are feared, 

 close the loop-hole at night. 



Ipswich Poultry Show. — From your report of this Show it appears 

 that the judging of poultry commenced about 3 p.m. As an exhibitor of 

 fowls, I should like to know' whether it is fair, either for the judge or ex- 

 hibitors, that prizes should be awarded so late in the day. It is im- 

 possible to judge birds of plumage, such as Game, Hamburghs, &c, in 

 the dusk or by gaslight, which must have been the case at this Show ; 

 and when we consider that some of the birds would be sent off by the 

 middle of the day on Monday, and not penned till Wednesday afternoon, 

 it is not very likely they would show to the best advantage. Although 

 the schedule was liberal," committees should recollect that the best birds 

 are not likely to be sent to shows that are mismanaged.— An Exhibitor. 



Crushed Oats (.4 .S'l/^rribfi-).— Crushed oats are the best of all food 

 for poultry. A little Indian corn may be given in severe weather, hut as 

 a principal food it is too fattening. 



Books (J. B. Benton^.— Of works on bees No. 2 certainly. The other 

 book you name is no authority on poultry. 



Pickling Onions (L.E., Novice).— To prevent the acrid fumes affecting 

 the eyes of the person peeling onions for pickling, let the onions be kept 

 in boiling water for a few minutes before peeling them. 



Cows Remaining a Long TniE Dry (II, M.).-~ We fear the case you 

 mention arises from indifferent feeding rather than from any inherent 

 fault in the situation. Cows do not always have calves every twelve 

 months, and supposing one to have gone twenty or twenty-four months 

 between having calves, to be three months dry previous to calving is not 

 unusual, especiallv in winter, when the food to encourage milk is less 

 plentiful than at o'ther times. Cows in uiiik will yield a greater quantity 

 by having bran mashes, brewer's grains, or similar soft moist food, but 

 the milk will be poorer in quality. Oats, on the contrary, improve the 

 quality, but they are expensive. Avoid turnips, as they communicate a 

 taste to the milk, and cabbages still more so. Carrots are less offensive, 

 and mangold wurtzel after February does no harm, but the sweetest milk 

 is obtained from cows not overfed, although, of course, the quantity 

 is small. We hope to return to this subject at an early opportunity. 



Coarse Hay by the Seaside (Idem).— There can be no question that 

 good well-made hay from upland meadows of the interior is better than 

 the coarse bentv hay of the salt marshes, or land which not many years 

 ago was such; "at the same time this hay has its value, and it is very 

 likely that such hoy is more suitable for the cattle of the neighbourhood 

 than* that brought "from a distance. Generally speaking, the opinion of 

 persons on the spot ought to he respected, even when they are ignorant 

 of the reasons for giving such an opinion. We fear you have not much 

 chance of turning a salt marsh into an upland meadow; but if it can be 

 laid dry, a good manuring and sowing a better class of Grass seeds over 

 it might improve it, but the Grasses common to the coast will to a great 

 extent prevail ; still when good they arc by many said to possess higher 

 fattening powers than the inland ones. Cattle brought from a distance 

 seldom do well on such pr.sture, or, if they do, some disease often sets in. 

 Seaside cattle. I ring people, are distinct communities, and it 



is seldom an extreme change is beneficial. 



POULTRY MAPdvET.— November 20. 

 A moderate supplv, and a bad trade. Game plentiful, and wild fowl 

 coming in, principally from Holkind. We have had many winter birds m 

 Hi, market during the past week. If prognostications are worth any- 

 thing, there are indications of the return of Snipe* to England. The 

 sportsman and gourmet will be glad to see the verification of the signs. 



s d. E. d I b. d B . tj 



Large Fowls 2 6 to 3 Pheasants 2 3 to 2 £ 



Smaller do 2 2 6 | Partridges 1 J 1 » 



Chickens 1 6 1 9 Grouse 1 9 2 " 



Geese 5 6 6 I Hares 2 6 2 9 



Ducks 1 9 2 1 Rabbits 1 * \ \ 



Pigeons U 8 9 Wild do 8 9 



