266 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



( April 3, 18C6. 



k ten-fraine hive, in a nnper of last year, and nbich veighed 

 381 lbs. nott, realising in the market 2s. per lb. 



Should any of our apiarian readers be desirous uf obtaining 

 a specimen of my hive, they may do so by application to Mr. 

 W. Pettitt, the practised apiarian and skilful hive-maker of 

 Snargato Street. Dover. I may also add, that Mr. Pettitt has 

 invented a metallic bar-holder for the tops of the frames to 

 rest in, at the back and front of my hives, but which may be 

 applied to any other frame hive for the same purpose. — 



SiBEhT-III-Tire-WOLD. 



CHANGING A NUTT'S TO A BAU-HH'E. 



Having been much interested by the account published at 

 page 234, in The Jodknai. of Horticulture, containing sug- 

 gestions for converting a Nutt's hive into a bar-frame hive, it 

 may be useful to ■' A Nkw Becinnek," as well as to others, 

 who, like myself, are advocates of the bar system, if I inform 

 them of some of my " doings " at alteration. 



I have several sets of " Pettitt'scollateral-hives," which con- 

 sist of two separate boxes. I saw away so much of the end of 

 each of these boxes, that on uniting the sawed edges I have 

 one box 21 j inches long internally, giving room for thirteen 

 frames, each IJ inch wide. I now take a pair of Pettitt's 

 patent metallic bar-holders, which I purchased from him at 

 Dover in the winter. These I screw on to the top edges of 

 the boxes, thus connecting them at top. The bottom edges 

 I connect by screwing strips of deal 1 inch square all round. 

 I have thus a hive 21 j inches from side to side, 11} inches 

 from back to front, and 10 inches deep, ready to receive thir- 

 teen bar-frames. I obtained the thirteen frames from Mr. 

 Pettitt, with one "dividing" frame, which is a panel fitting the 

 inside of the hive, and which enables me to contract or enlarge 

 the hive at pleasure. The top bars of these frames are of 

 sufficient length to project about half an inch through the 

 back and front of the hive. This projection gives much 

 greater power and facility in loosening and removing the frames 

 from the hive when required. Mr. Pettitt has also. I found, 

 adapted metallic bar-rests for the Woodbury and Laugstroth 

 hives, and I was so much pleased with his ingenious contri- 

 vance, that I purchased a few pairs, and intend to apply them 

 to my hives forthwith. — F. C. V., Weybridge. 



LIGURIAN BEES IN THE HOLY LAND. 



Olive oil, goats" hair, and tobacco, seem to be the principal 

 produce of the district ; the latter being exported in some 

 quantities by way of Acre to Egj-pt. Bee-keeping, also, is not 

 an unimportant item of industry, and every house possesses a 

 pile of bee-hives in its yard. Though similar in its habits, the 

 hive bee of Palestine is a different species from our own. We 

 never found Apis mellifica, L., our domestic species, in the 

 countrj-, though it very possibly occurs in the north; but the 

 common Holy Land insect, Apis ligustica, is amazingly abun- 

 dant, both in hives, in rocks, and in old hollow trees. It is 

 smaller than our bee, with brighter yellow bands on the thorax 

 and abdomen, which is rather wasp-like in shape, and with 

 very long antennic. In its h.abits, and especially in the im- 

 mense population of neuters in each community, and in the 

 drones cast forth in autumn, it resembles the other species. Its 

 sting also is quite as sharp. The hives are very simple, con- 

 sisting of large tubes of sim-dried mud, like gas-pipes, about 

 4 feet long, and closed with mud at each end, leaving only an 

 aperture in the centre large enough for two or three bees to 

 pass at a time. The insects appear to frequent both doors 

 equally. The tubes are laid in rows horizontally, and piled 

 in a pyramid. I counted one of these colonies, consisting of 

 seventy-eight tubes, each a distinct hive. Coolness being the 

 great object, the whole is thickly plastered over with mud, and 

 covered with boughs, while a branch is stuck in the ground at 

 each end, to assist the bees in alighting. At first, we took these 

 singular stnictures for ovens or hen-houses. The barbarous 

 practice of destroying the swarms for their honey is unknown. 

 When the hives are full, the clay is removed from the ends of 

 the pipes, and the honey extracted with an iron hook ; those 

 pieces of comb which contain young bees being carefully re- 

 placed, and the hives then closed up again. 



Everywhere during our journey we found honey was always to 

 be purchased ; and it is used by the natives for many culinary 

 purposes, and especially for the preparation of sweet cakes. It 

 has the delicate aromatic flavour of the thyme-scented honey 

 of Hybla or Hymethus. But however extensive are the bee 



colonies of the villages, the number of wild bees of the sanve 

 species is far greater. The innumerable fissures and clefts of 

 the limestone rocks, which everywhere flank the valleys, afford 

 in their recesses secure shelter for any number of swarms ; 

 and many of the Bedouins, particularly in the wilderness of 

 .Tudea, obtain their subsistence by leehunting, bringing into 

 Jerusalem jars of that wild honey on which John the Baptist 

 fed in the wilderness ; and which Jonathan had long before 

 unwittingly tasted, when the comb had dropped on the ground 

 from the hollow tree in which it was suspended. The visitor 

 to the W.idy Kurn, when he sees the busy multitudes of bees 

 about its cliffs, cannot but recall to mind the promise, " With 

 honey out of the stony rock would I have satisfied thee." 

 There is no epithet of the Land of Promise more true to the 

 letter, even to the present day, than this, that it was "a Und 

 flowingwithmilk and honey." — (Tristeam's 'Journal o/Trartli 

 in Palestine.") 



SnEFFiELD Poultry Show. — As will be seen by reference to 

 our advertising columns, it is again determined to hold a 

 poultry show at Sheffield, imder the management of a few of 

 the most spirited poultry breeders. It has the promised pa- 

 tronage of the Mayor and most of the leading families of the 

 district. The prizes in the aggregate amount to about £170. 

 The poultry premiums are £2, £1, and 10*. ; for Pigeons, 15». 

 lOf. and .5s. ; the Rabbits having prizes of £1 and 10». allotted 

 them. The show will be held in the Brownhill Cricket Grounds, 

 near the Botanic Gardens — a site undoubtedly the best suited 

 for the purposes of such a meeting of any in the neighbourhood 

 of Sheffield ; and it wiU take place on the 19th, 21st, and 22nd 

 of May next. As we are informed the Committee intend per- 

 sonally to carry out all arrangements, there can be little donbt 

 the meeting will be well supported. 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Fowls with Swollen Feet {li. F. JJ. — Appearances snch as yon 

 mention ftre often caused by improper flooring lo poaltry-houhcs — wood, 

 brick, asphaltnm, f;t<^ine, will all cause it. It is not natural for a fowl to 

 be nlwftvs standing on a bard surface ; the toe? are thereby spread out, 

 the ball of the foot comes to bear the whole weight, and the nails take 

 no hold of the jrround. Loose earth and gravel are proper flo'Ting, bat 

 none is good where the impress of the foot is not left wherever it is put 

 down. 



Ulcerated Eye axd Heap n." Fowls {W. G. B.).— You would enable 

 us to answer your question more easily, and probably more usefully to 

 yourself, if you told us what breed the fowls are. and whether all the 

 same; because a<i some are perfectly well, while others die, it is possible 

 that among the fifteen you have those which thrive in confinement, and 

 those that require a run. Put in your run two or three cartloads of road 

 grit, the scrapings or cutting;; ol the roadside ; do not spread them over 

 the place, but let them form two conical-shaped heaps as high as 

 possible. It will be the fowls' pleasure to scatter them in se.Trching for 

 grass, &c. Indian meal and potato -peelings are not good feeding, and 

 fowls thrive in spite uf it, rather than because of it. Alter your dietary 

 scale ; feed in the morning on meal, mixed with water ; at miiUliy with 

 whole com : in the afternoon with meal. Give Indian com twice a*week 

 for a change, bread and ale in very damp and cold weather. Animal 

 food is not necessary. Put some camphor in their water. (»ive the 

 sweepings of your table, and the kitchen scraps. If in spite "f all this 

 their faces still swell, wash with cold water and vinegar. We believe 

 that if yon follow onr directions yon will do well with your poultry. 



White Feathers re Spanish Fowls (C(*5fria).— It is not uncommon 

 for Spanish fowls to throw white feathers. It is most uncommon for 

 ^uch to be sold, and we have nut heard of it before. If when sold they 

 hfid no appearance of white the seller could not foresee it ; but if thcr« 

 were already spots, every breeder of Spanish is well aware tliey always 

 increase, and such birds should not be sent. They would bo laughed at 

 at a show. Mr. Boyle's are very good Bralimas ; so are Mr. Pigeon's, of 

 Lympstone. 



Dun Game Fowls (il. H.). — We do not know where Dnn Gnme fowls 

 are to be had. There used to be some in the neighbourhood of Liver- 

 pool, but we have seen none for years. They were kept by fly-ti^hers for 

 the sakeof their hackle?. 



Fowls Pecking off Each Other's Feathers (D. J.).— Y>m\t fowls 

 lack something, or else ihey are overfed. When they take in feathers 

 they are sufl"ering trovx fever, or plethora. In the first case, lUey eat all 

 sorts of unnatural things in the hope of finding a remedy ; in the second, 

 they have an unnatural cra\ing. Supply them with growing sods of 

 grass, and let there be plenty of fresh mould taken np with them; let 

 them have lime and bricklayers' rubbish in their haunts. If you have 

 lettuces, give some to them. Fowls will stand still to be eaten by their 

 companions. 



Bantams vnrn Cochins (Eftoracum).— You may let them run together 

 without fear of cross-breeding. As you object to dubbing, yon bad better 

 keep your other pets. Black Bantams. We know nothing about the book 

 you mention, and have no dependance upon its contents, excei't so far as 

 borrowed from good authorities. 



Pocltry Fuod, &.C. (Brahma).— By "crushed" we mean flattened by 

 being passed through a mill invented for the purpose. Your hen's egg- 

 organs were inflamed, and well they might, so fat as you say sny she was. 

 f>he died of apoplexy in consequence. 



Hives (B. i/ammon.it.— For cheapness and simplicity we advise yoa to 

 use Payne's. If you write to Messrs. Neighbour & Son, Regent Street, 

 London, they will send you a list of prices. 



