372 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENER. t Ifoyember 4, 18B9. 



Now in " Bee-keeping for the Many," page 5, and in many 

 other places, it is said that on no account are yon to put hives 

 into beefaonses, bnt to keep them oat on a stand nitb a milk 

 pan over them to throw o£f the wet. Will you kindly give me 

 the benefit of your experience on this point, and let mo have 

 an answer in yonr next number ? Also, as to bee hives ; the 

 Times " Bee-keeper " highly recommends the Ayrshire box hive, 

 which consists of several boxes, but says they warp if exposed 

 to the sun and rain. Do yon think I could keep them without 

 a house ? An answer to these questions will greatly oblige your 

 subscriber. — A n s. 



[Dr. CumminR, the so-called " Times Bee-master," is no 

 authority on the subject of bees, and it is therefore by no means 

 surprising to find him wrong in his statemenls. So far from 

 bee-houses being a positive necessity, their disadvantages are 

 considered by many to outweigh their advantages. If hives 

 with iixed combs are alone used, a closed bee-house will effectu- 

 ally shelter them from the weather, and from extreme cold in 

 winter, but care should be taken to make the entrances as dis- 

 similar in appearance, and place them as far apart as possible, 

 or great loss of life will occur in the spring from workers mis- 

 taking their hives, and more serious consequences may follow 

 similar mistakes on the part of young queens returning from 

 their wedding flights in summer. Where the moveable comb 

 system is in use, however, almost the only possible, certainly 

 the only convenient, bee-house is, either a verandah or a lean- 

 to shed erected against a wall with sufficient room to operate 

 behind the hives, and closed at the ends, but open in front, or 

 covered only with pheasant ^ire, in which must bo left good- 

 sized semi-circular orifices in front of each hive. We ourselves 

 have no bee-house, but cover each hive with a light wooden 

 outer case and roof such as delineated in page 18 of the last 

 edition of " Bee-keeping for the Many." The Stewarton hive 

 is a good one, but requires the protection either of a bee-house 

 or an outside case.] 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Fowls Dying (W. It.).— The feeding of your fowls is good enough for 

 any poultry, and a yard full of stable dang has always been held to be 

 the great desideratnm for the health and well-duing of fowls. ■S\hero a 

 nnmberof previonsly healthy birds are taken with the same Fymptomsi, 

 and die of the disease of which these are the evidence, we look abont for 

 the canse. Axe boot-tops cleaned there? and is the water thrown out 

 where the fowls can get at it ? This may be the canse, if they drink it. 

 Are their crops full and hard when they are taken ? If so, they are crop- 

 bound, or there is a stoppage somewhere. It is from somethinB that is 

 picked up and eaten, or something that is drunk. If there were any 

 general cause, its effects would be general, and all the birds would suffer ; 

 but here it is evidently something that is picked up, and that kills. 

 There is, in onr opinion, no fault in the health of the fowls, and we 

 doubt not close observation will enable you to discover the cause of the 

 mortality. The treatment we advise you to adopt, is to purge them 

 thoroughly as soon as they are taken ill, and then to administer stimu- 

 lants. Unless we are mistaken, their evacuations are green and slimy. 



White Base of Tail Feathers of Pabthidge Cochin Coceebel 

 (Fred).— It is not desirable, but it is hardly a disadvantage. 



Tail Feathees not Escaping fbom theib Case (Xrtc Bc{iinneT).— 

 Moisten the part where the faulty feathers grow with plain ointment ; 

 spermaceti will do. A heated condition of body often hinders the proper 

 formation of the principal feathers. That can be remedied by opening 

 medicine, or by change of food. Lettuce is excellent feeding for fowls 

 when moulting; meat, peas, and hempseed are very bad. Sometimes 

 the feathers cannot pierce the skin, and then they grow under it, looking 

 like a worm crawling about. Such never becomes a healthy feather, but 

 it may be assisted if a stoat needle be put under it, and brought throngh 

 the skin. As a rule, the formation of faulty or diseased feathers ia a bad 

 sign. 



Indian Corn for Fowls (A. L.).— Oar experience of feeding on maize 

 has not been confined to poultry. We have also fed pigs on it. "When 

 we attempted to feed on Indian monl. none of our animals would eat it. 

 They would pick up the whole com ravenously, but they would not touch 

 the meal. The Irish Turkeys are fed on potatoes. They are exceedingly 

 fat, but they have no flesh, and their livers are immense, both in size and 

 fatness. We fed some Geese for table purposes on Indian com. In 

 appearance they were beautiful, but thev proved very imposters when 

 put before the fire ; all the fat disappeared, and the lean assumed and 

 retained the colour, appearance, and toughness of indJanrubber. It is a 

 good help, but it is bad if it is the sole food. Wo prefer ground oats to 

 barley, and think when the mixture is given it should be in the propor- 

 tion of one-third of Indian meal to two-tliirds of ground oats. Wo believe 

 that it is the most economical feeding to give the best of everything, and 

 we have more faith in oats and barley than in maize and potatoes. Maize 

 is much liked by poultry when whole, and it very useful in severe weather, 

 because the small birds cannot swallow it. 



Fowls and the Foot-and-mouth Disease (C. JE. J.).— We have heard 

 of no case where tho foot-and-mouth disease of cattle has been com- 

 municated to any biped. We cannot think the chickens can have caught 

 it, and in snch case we mupt seek tho cause among ordinary things. 

 With the changeable weather we have now, many things aro injurions 

 that would be innocuous in settled summer weather. Damp and cold 

 reign now in places that aro frequented and sought In hot wenther for 

 the eat© of their coolness. Do the fowls roost properly ? Arc thev pro- 



tected from draoghtfl ? Is the flooring of their hoote of earth 7 Hlddlings 

 mar bo good food In sommor, bnt yoa may leave it off now. Give oat 

 and barloymeal slaked, and if, when the weather cbangee for bitter east 

 wind, yon give a Utile utrong beer, It will do no harm. We do not com- 

 pass your meaning when you say '* they have no crop." If yon will make 

 that a little clearer, it may help us to advise yon more folly. In all snch 

 cases as you describe we nse stimulants, beer and even wine, freely. 

 They keep the bird up. and enable it to live tbroogh the crisis of the dis- 

 order. Wo also administer pills of camphor with marked benefit. 



TrRKKTS WITH SWOLLEN Hrads ( (»'. 7".).— In all probability your 

 Turkeys when young wore left to the tender mercies of tfaelr mother, 

 knd she hod her liberty. Whenovcr this is tho case, the brood suffers. 

 The hen should bo confined till the young are old enough to shift for 

 themselves. Tho ben has no idea of incasoring strength, and will drag 

 her poor brood about till they have perished. Tho survivors have swollen 

 heads and knees ; they do not thrive, and aro jnet as yon describe yoors 

 to be. Keep them very dry, cspeciftlly let them have a dry roosting 

 place, give them plenty of broad and ale, let them have every night for 

 four nights two pills of camphor, each as large as a horse bean, and let 

 them have camphcr in all thoir water. This will cure it ; it wonld have 

 done so moro easily had it been adopted at an earlier stage of the dis- 

 order. 



Destbotino Egos' Vitauty (H^ntrt/ir).— Many means are tried; we 

 take our chance. Some take a fine needle and pass it through the egg 

 from end to end, others shake each eng vigorously. We believe there is 

 no certain mode of destruction, unless you spoil the egg for breakfast 

 purposes. 



Fattening Dokkinos (Jd«m).— Yon may have fowls in good condition 

 fed and treated as yours are ; but if you want them to be (at, they shonld 

 be shut up and fed with ground oats slaked with new milk. Give no 

 rice nor whole oats. Buy Baily's book on fowls. It describes the whole 

 process. 



Two Nails on One Toe fC.).— It wonld be hard if the pullet lost, bnt 

 it must be considered a disadvantage. If it be only an extra nail it 

 would very likely escape notice. 



Exhibiting Dark Brahmas (H. B.).— Tour fowls aro good enough for 

 the selling class. The flrst described is small, but the description ia that 

 of a good bird. You state this bird has no vnlture hock. Are we to 

 infer from that, that tho heavier bird has '.' If ho has, that in our mind 

 would at once settle the question. The vulture hock would weigh more 

 against him than the extra pound and a half in his favour. Supposing 

 the larger bird has no vulture hock, we should exhibit him In preference. 

 You have been rightly informed about the wing; a perfect wing shonld 

 he as you describe, and it Bhould have no brown. The defect in your bird 

 is trifling. It is with fowls, as with other things, much easier to describe 

 perfection than to find it.— B. 



Book about Bees (Sultan). — "Bee-keeping for the Many," published 

 at this office, price id. The simplest hive for taking honey is Payne's 

 Improved Cottage Hive made rather larger than therein described, say 

 16 inches in diameter, by 8 or 9 inches deep. 



Minorca or An-dalusian Fowls,— "H. F." wishes to know where be 

 can obtain some cheaply. 



Matching Different Pigeons. &c. (H. Ekel''^}t).—k yellow cock and 

 black Barb hen wonld probably breed a yellow and black in each nest, 

 bu*. if there were black blood in the yellow, more blacks, and vice verttK 

 A crested Barb and a smooth head would probably breed point beads, 

 and so spoil both, or, it might bo, one smooth and one crested. A yellow 

 Jacobin cock and blue hen would produce a very bad colour. Wo are afraid 

 a cock Pigeon unfertile with one ben would bo so with any other. Of 

 course, you are sure the defect is in him. We tried a very valuable cock 

 Jacobin with several hens, but in vain. 



Cankeb in Pigeons (W. N. H.).— Apply a strong solution of alum with 

 a feather twice a-day. If the (^welling become loose, remove it, and again 

 apply the alum and water. Feed your bird very sparingly, and pull out 

 some of tho feathers of the tail. 



GEB3IAN Bee Jocbnal (C. F. B.).— You can havo it through Messrs. 

 Trubner& C , I ooksellers, 60, Paternoster Row, London. 



Parsnips for Cows (B. B.).— Take some up and store in sand, to use 

 when the ground is hard frozen ; but the major portion may be left in the 

 ground, and taken up as required. They are not injured by frost. 



Sattnette Pigeons. — Mr. A. H. Stewart has enclosed to ns a letter 

 from Mr. Noyu in which it is stated that Mr. Stewart bought of him the 

 Satinettes which gained the first prize at Bingley Hall in lH*>s. He sold 

 Mr. Yardley another pair which he, Mr. Noye. thought were the best. 



Gold and Silver Fish (Riw).— We do not think that they would live 

 in rain water discoloured with soot. Charcoal put in would have no 

 influence for their well-doing. 



Z^BRA WAxwnsGS tA Subfcrib^r, S. 7*.).— We do not know of any 

 instanceof the Zebra Waxwing birds breeding in confinement. Wo should, 

 however, treat them tho same as we do Canaries, by putting a pair in a 

 spacious cage, and giving them boxes to form their nests in. Their food 

 should be chopped egg boiled hard, bruised hempseed, mawseed, and 

 crumbs of bread. 



Elder Wine not FERiiENTiNG {C. G.).— Violent fermentation ia not 

 needed. If left open in the ca^k for abont a month and then bunged 

 down, the quiet gentle fermentation renders it vinous. If, however, yon 

 wish for a strong visible fermentation put into tho wine a toast mbbed 

 over with yeast. 



POULTRY MARIvET.— November -3. 

 The qoantity of poaltry hfi9 increased, nnd we bare a dall trade. 

 November is generally *' tho winter of oar discontettV and it opens as 

 thongh the present wonld be no exception. 



s. d s. 



Large Fowls S 6 to 4 



Smaller do .SO 3 



Gbiekens 2 2 



Geese 6 7 



Dncks 2 3 



Fhoasanta 2 6 3 



s. d s. d 



Partridges 1 4 to 1 6 



Oronso 3 2 6 



Pigeons 7 8 



Hares 2 6 SO 



Kabbits 14 IB 



Wilddo 8 9 



