234 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE. AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Mtrch ao, 1B66. 



HOW WE INTRODUCED IT.\XIAN BEES 

 WITHOUT LOSING THEM. 



1. We opened our hives to remove the black qaeens at times 

 when there were few bees flying — say early in the morning. 

 The conseqnence was, robbers did not " pitch in generally," 

 and we were not troubled with them. If honey forage was 

 abundant this precaution was unnecessary. 



2. If robbers did attempt to trouble us at all, we removed the 

 open hive into the house or somewhere beyond the reach of the 

 pests, and took out the black queen at our leisure. 



3. We always caged the Italian queen and placed the caj^e 

 between two ranges of comb, which contained an abundance of 

 honey, and left her caged there two or three days, then liberated 

 her cautiously. 



4. If we made an artificial swarm for the new queen, we did 

 it while the bees were flying freely. We did not set the hive, 

 containing a ^cant body guard and honey, where it would be a 

 temptation to robbers ; but set it on the stand of one of the 

 most populous colonies in the apiary, removing the hive of the 

 populous colony to a new stand considerably distant. The con- 

 sequence was that the workers returning from the fields by 

 hundreds, filled with honey, finding their home removed, and 

 in its place a new hive, new combs, and new queen, would soon 

 accept the whole. But, as a precaution, the queen was caged, 

 and the entrance contracted that it might be easily guarded. — 

 W. C. CoNDiT,— (Prairie Farmer.) 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Mandakix Ducks (K. D. T.).— The Ducks with raised feathers on their 

 wings are Mandarin Ducks. We do not know whether they are eaten in 

 China, but as they are nenerally worth £7 or £B per pair, we think it will 

 be some time before any one is qualified to give an opinion of their table 

 qnaiities in this country. 



JtJDGEs xsD Judging is Scotland.— We have received several letters 

 animadverting upon the communication entitled as above and sitmed 

 *'Ju8TiciA." Ever>' one of those Icttere denies the correctness of 

 " Justicia's" complaints. It isprobable that they were written under the 

 excitement of diHappointment ; but they have called attention to the 

 subject, and. as the lettern before us state that the jud(?ing at Paisley, 

 Jedburgh, Kelso, and other places gave general satisfaction, there is no 

 need for fearing that " Justicia's " comments will be detrimental to the 

 Scottish poultry shows. 



Poultry-keeping (Annif).—! will do ray best to reply to my fair in- 

 quirer. First, I would advise her to send seven stamps to the office of 

 **our Journal," and beg that a copy of " Poultry for the Many" may be 

 sent to her ; then let her master its contents. I would recommend her 

 to obtain a sitting of Black Bantam epcs from Rev. G. W. St. John, of 

 Woodstock ; if he has none, I dare say Mr. Cambridge, of Bristol, would 

 sell her some. " Annie " should look out for a broody hen. taking care 

 that she has nothing of the Spanish or Hamburgh breed in her. A 

 common half-bred Bantam would be the be<it. The hen would sit in any 

 quiet comer of an out-house, and may be shut in the whole twenty-one 

 days. For particulars of attention to sitting hen, management of chick- 

 ens, Ac, see " Poultry for the Many." The reason I recommend a sitting 

 of eggs is that there is a great charm in rearing chickens, and in watch- 

 ing their habits and dispositions. Then, too, fowls seem so thoroughly 

 one's own, having had them from the first. Black Bantams lay very 

 early. I have had them lay when twenty weeks old. They, if puUets, 

 are good winter layers, and their ei^gs, especially in the spring, are larger 

 than those of any Bantams I ever kept. But for the trouble "Annie" 

 might have with her neighbours I fihould. as she has a paddock, have 

 recommended Hamburt^hs, any of the four varieties, though I incline to 

 the Silver for the countrj-. At the end of the season let " Annie " save 

 her best cockerel and aU the pullets. I am sure she will never regret 

 becoming a poultry fancier, and I heartily wisli her all success.— Wilt - 

 BRIBE Rector. 



Food for Fowls (M.W.C.\"Thc sweepings of the com market are usually 

 too- fattening. Wheat, peas. Ac. are too much so. You will see what we 

 Bay to-day to another correspondent. Not having a single fact on which 

 to found an opinion, we cannot say why your hens do not lay. If more 

 than a year old, that may be the reason : pullets are more prolific layers 

 than old hens. 



Burp Cochtn-Chinab (C. D.).— Buff Cochins have qnaiities that will 

 always make them popular. Many cocks of this breed are bay; but the 

 proper colour is a golden. This, like imost correct things, is difficult to 

 attain, and other colours have become so common as almost to form a 

 role. 



G&OATS FOE CmcKENs (A. B. C.).— Groats are merely oats, kiln-dried, and 

 the out«r coat of the seed removed. 



Brahxa Pootras (/n^ufrfr). — Brahmas are better table fowls than 

 Cochins. They, in common with other fowls, should be killed at between 

 four and six mouths, according to season of the year. They ore eatable 

 after that nge ; but they are apt to be strong in flavour. The Dorking is not 

 crossed with any breed. As soon as it is crossed it ceases to be a Dorking. 



Chicken Hatching (E. F. O.).— Chickens usually come oat of the shell 

 at the end of twenty-one days; but we have known their appearance de- 

 layed until the twenty-third day, but the chickens were weak and grew 

 very slowly, From fresh egas the chicks are usually all out by the morn- 

 ing of the twenty-second day: the strongest get out flr?t. Remove the 

 empty shells and addled egp«. but leave the chickens in the nest for one 

 whole day. feeding the ben and supplyintj her with water, but give nothing 

 to the chickens ; they only require warmth during the first twenty-four 

 boore ater hatctLing. 



Hatchiso One Egg per Day (E. B.).— We suppoio by thl« phnue 

 wati meant that the incubator will hold twenty-one eggs, and that ii th« 

 number of days required for incubation. 



WiNt.K OF Fowls t Ifjnoramus).— The wing-coverts arc th«« fi>atheni that 

 overlap and almost hide them, especially at the abonlder and at the 6X- 

 tremititis, go that little of the wing is exposed, and that only the middle. 

 Floor or Poultrv-house {A Xcuf Su6«cn6<rf.— Either anphalt, bricki^ 

 or any other hard floorini^, is very in]unou«< to pnultrv. It bruise!* thair 

 feet and retains wet. Cover the floor 8 inches drvp with sand, and rake 

 off the dung daily. Or, a good plan is to have dry earth, and to diff in 

 the dung every third day, fur the earth deodorises it, and thcD the earth 

 may be removed at the end of three months, and used as a manure. 

 Fresh dry earth to be put into the hen*bou»e. The above answer will 

 apply Ui the quer>- of ** A SuBscaiBER." Sand to b« rakod only, or Ioom 

 earth to be frequently dug and changed, are the best flooring. 



Materials fob Ear.-sHELLs (Old Cocfc).— The best supply for laying 

 heus is a heap of bricklayers* limy rubbish. Oystcr-shcUi burned in the 

 fire until they can bo easily pounded, are also efficient In supplying cal- 

 careous matter for the formation of the egg-shella. 



Buckwheat {Brahma). — It is a common field crop in (tome counties. It 

 is also known as Brank. Whoever told you that it is Indian com did not 

 know what he was talking about. A little is not a bad food for fowls, but 

 there is nothing better than two daily feeds of barleymcal, mixed with 

 mashed potatoes, for soft food, and crushed oats or crushed barley once 

 daily. We never use mixtures the composition of which we do not Imow. 

 Fowls in Small Enclosure IAmaUur).--The number of fowU yoo 

 can keep in the space you name, 20 feet by 10, must depend much oq the 

 breed you select. Of Spanish, Brabmas, or Cijchins, you may keep two 

 cocks and ten hens. They will require but a small house, say 5 fe«t of 

 the 20 feet in length, and the whole height of 7 feet. The door, 

 24 inches wide, to be in one comer ; the perches at the other end 2 feet 

 from the ground ; three laying-boxes in front of the dour ; a good large 

 window in the bonse. 



Turkeys' Eggs bv Railway fP.V— The eggs will travel very well if 

 packed in moss, and there is little doubt of their batching if they are 

 well managed. 



MARKiNii Chickens (ChiiUau Vallon).~Kda\i birds are marked with 

 a ring of brass or iron wire round the leg, That, however, is a dis- 

 qualification nt a show, and must be removed before they arc sent to one. 

 A ver>- efficient mark, but one that is not perceptible without handling 

 the bird, is to mark the web of the wing with a hot iron, boring boles 

 through it. This mark never wears out or fills up- Another plan is, to 

 tie strong coloured thread in the web of the wing. This lasts a long time. 

 None of these are perceptible, and. consequently, do not disqualify. 



Silver Dorkings (/n^uir^r).— Silver-Greys belong to coloured Dork- 

 ings. The hen has robin breast, black and white-striped hackle, grey 

 feuthers with white abaft, light grey head. The cock has black breast and 

 tail, li;;ht almost white hackle and saddle, metallic bar on the wing on 

 white ground. Silver-Greys have long existed, but it is only of late years 

 they have had separate clashes. They are more bred in Scotland than 

 anywhere else. 



French Fowls (r. Z.).—The Cr<ve C«enr8 were known and k«pt in 

 England thirty years ago. The La Fleche and Houdau are a modern in- 

 troduction. We believe the La Fleche and Creve C<vurs to be belter 

 fowls than the Houdan, and more likely to meet your rcquirementa. 

 None of the white-shelled eggs are as thick or as hard as the brown. 



Bee-keeping {G. P.).— If you send five postage stamps with yonr 

 address, ordering '• Beekeeping for the Many," you will have it sent free 

 by post. It contains full directions. 



Feeding Bees (G. .7.. /Jirminjjhaml.— Now is about the time for com- 

 mencing spring feeding, and the Utter end of April for putting on supers. 

 We place no reliance whatever on the story of honey bees feeding on oil- 

 cake. 



HiVKs FOR Profitable Bee-keeping (A. B. C.).— We consider frame 

 hives to be the best, if vou can manage them. Should a swarm issue 

 from a frame hive it is easy, after temporarily hii>-ing it in a common 

 straw hive, to look over the combs in the parent stock, cutting out every 

 royal cell and destroying the voung queen or queens if there bo any. 

 Having done this, the swarm mav be returned by bein? knocked out on 

 the top of the exiv>sed frames, and will then probably either remain at 

 home altogether, or be so long deUyed as to complete the super. We 

 prefer bars seven-eighths of an inch in width for all purposes. In order 

 to Ligurianise your apian- vou require a pure Ligurian st'x;k to com- 

 mence with, and should then proceed as advised by Mr. Woodburj- lo 

 reply to ** W. L." in page 61 of our eighth volume. 



Altering a Nutts Hive to a Wooddurv Hive (A AVir B^^inncr).— 

 If vou lower your set of Nutt's boxes to 9 inches, and enlarge the pavilion 

 to Hi inches from front to back (all inside measure), it will accommo- 

 date eight Woodbur>' frames, and will form a useful hive without further 

 alteration of the -side boxes. In making a new hive we should prefer a 

 pavilion 14* inches from front to back, by 13 inches wide, to accommo- 

 date nine frames, and side boxes 13 inches square, fixed with eight bars 

 in each. Whilst altering the Nutt's hive the bees and their cnmbs 

 should be transferred to a Woodbury bive, whence they can be shifted 

 into their former domicile when the alteration is completed. The middle 

 of a fine dav in April is the best time for pcrforrainc the first of these 

 operations.' Stewarton hives are made of inch wood d<ivetailed tngether, 

 and although painted on the outside, some additional protection is 

 usually afforded them. " Bee-keeping for the Many " will be republished 

 in a few days. _^__ 



POULTRY MAKKET.— March 19. 

 Our supply is getting less, and the demand increases. Prices have a 

 tendency to riae. , . 



e. d. B. d : B. d. s. d 



Large Fowls 3 6 to 4 Guinea Fowls 2 6to3 



Smaller do 8 0„ 3 6 Partridges 0„0 » 



Chickens 2 0„2 6 | Hares 0„0 



Goslings 7 6„8 Rabbits 1 f.l 5 



DuckUngs 4 0„4 6 Wild do P"^ ^ 



I Pheasants 0„0 j Pigeons 8„0 9 



