324 



JOUBNAL OF HORTIOULTUEB AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ AprU 22, 1876. 



What doea "if" indicate? It is that "if" we are seeking to 

 remove. 



I will here repeat that it haa not been proven that Lignrians 

 are better breeders than common bees, or better workers. They 

 may be, but we have no evidence of it. I have seen, perhaps, 

 the largest hive that was ever peopled by bees is this country 

 filled with brood by common bees from side to side. There was 

 as much brood in this hive as we can find in four or six ordinary- 

 sized bar-framers, and this may be seen again and again. 

 Where, then, is the evidence that common bees are not ao good 

 breeders as the other sort ? 



Our friends are " nonsuited," and will remain nonsuited 

 till they produce a witness iu court. We ask them to produce 

 evidence, and encourage them to do so by assuring them that 

 such evidence would gratify ns and others very much. 



I intimated last year that my own apiary would be converted 

 into an experimental one, but owing to family affliction and 

 other causes it has not yet been done. But I will here suggest 

 a simple experiment to test whether the Ligurian queens lay 

 more eggs than those of common bees. Let a swarm of each 

 sort be put into a hive filled with empty combs for three or six 

 days, and then count the eggs laid by each. Three such simple 

 experiments would go far to settle the question, and it would 

 give me pleasure to lend a helping hand by placing hives of 

 empty combs and swarms at the call of those who may be 

 willing to take the matter up. More I cannot do at present. — 

 A. Pettiobew. 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Chickens Dead in the Eggs (C Brown). — As the hens sat steadily and 

 ■were not allowed to be off too long, we have little donbt that the dryness of 

 the wooden nest-boxes raised from the floor, rendered the shells too hard for 

 the chickens to break. See what we say to another correspondent to-day. 



Incubator (B. P. Q.).—U we inserted your letter we must do similarly for 

 others who have employed those ot other makers. All incubators will hatch 

 eggs in proportion to the careful management and other circumstances. 



Sitting Nests— Perches (Blstree). — Sitting hens should sit on the 

 ground. Chickens never come out so well and so strong as when a hen 

 steals her neat. In that case it ifa always on the ground. Even where the 

 hen sihs in a bos or basket which stands on the ground the bottom of the nest 

 should also be a large sod of grass cut with plenty of earth to it. Bad 

 porches will cause crooked breasts, but they are also indicative of weak con- 

 stitution. Perches should be within 24 inches of the ground. A fir pole 

 14 inches in circumference sawn in half, placed with the round side upper- 

 most, and with the bark left on, makes an excellent perch. 



Sneezing in Fowxs (J. TT.).— We advise you to adhere to Brohmaa. 

 They are subject to none of these disorders. Your old birds will probably 

 recover, at leaat partially, as soon as the east winds leave us ; but we have no 

 hope of the chickens growing up well if they too sneeze. Your present 

 treatment will be to keep the birds scantily supplied with water, to feed on 

 ground food, and if the unkind weather returns to mix some good strong beer 

 with it. We presume your fowls are in confinement. If so they must be 

 daily supplied with large soda of growing grass cut with plenty of earth. It 

 is likely this may be a remanet from the roup ; that would not alter the 

 treatment. 



Geese this Spring (H. H. C.).— Our experience is the reverse of youra 

 We have never known the eggs produce better. Where the seses are properly 

 kept, and where gander and Geese have been used tiigether, we do not believe 

 in the failure of eggs. We know that a strange gunder put down to Geese 

 will not take to them directly, and the first eggs should not bo set ; but after 

 an acquaintance is formed, if all the eggs foil either they are frosted or the 

 Geese have sat badly. 



Substitute for Canary Seed (W. M. Gro«c).— Canary fanciers have 

 of late been put to their wit's ends as to finding a really good substitute for 

 canary seed, owing to it being so enormously high in price. We have no 

 hesitation in recommending millet seed as the very best substitute for 

 canary ; it can be used advantageously with hemp, rape, linseed, and groats. 

 For several weeks past we have almost entirely diHCuutiiuied the use of 

 cauary seed, and our birds never appeared in better healt-h and condition. 

 Our reason for so doing has been that we have not wished to encourage the 

 extravagantly high price of canary seed. Millet seed partakes mora of the 

 properties of canary, being nourishing and warm. It is not an oleaginous 

 seed, but possesses a §turch-like property, and is suitable for supporting both 

 bone and muscle. The white millet is the best for cage birds, being sweeter 

 and more preferable than the yellow kind, which is more suitable for fowls. 

 The Spice Birds, Java Sparrow, and other small foreign birds you name will 

 thrive well on '* two of millet and one of canary." A piece of salt about the 

 size of a Spanish nut may be placed in the cage occasionally, whether your 

 birds be well or unwell. The birds will not partake of more than will benefit 

 them. The system requires a certain saline supply, which is requisite for 

 keeping the blood in a proper healthy state ; disease thereby is often checketL 

 We recollect being once asked, " What is the size of a lump of chalk V " Our 

 idea was that it meant a large piece. By the same rule we may suppose that 

 a 'lump of salt" means a large piece. In our remarks upon "Canary 

 wheezing," p. 2sH. we believe we advised the necessity of putting inside the 

 cage a " small piece of salt " to supersede the sugar [lump of course), there- 

 fore we are not sure that a lump of salt would be needed by your birda. 



Java Sparrows (M. H. F.}.—We have always had a great fancy for these 

 very beautiful close-feathered cage birds, but we never put up a pair for 

 breeding purposes. If you intend so doing, supply them with white millet 

 seed and a little egg and biscuit mixed, in addition to their usual rice and 

 canary seed. 



Bees Killed hy Culd (C. H.). — The bees you found with pollen on their 

 let!8 beneath the llit.;ht-board were chilled and benumbed by cold. Those for- 

 warded for examinatiun appear to be young bees, chilled and killed on making 

 their first attempt to work. We have found many such chilled into a motion- 

 less state on the ilight-board, and therefore quite unable to crawl into their 

 hives. Young baes, like young chickens, cannot bear much cold. If bees 



simply chilled and motionless, be placed in a warm place their powers will 

 speedily be restored. 



Bar-framed Hives (F. J., Cork). — You cannot do better than order one 

 of Abbot's " new frame bar-hives," which are really marvels of cheapness and 

 excellence of workmanship. The cost of hive complete with roof, reversible 

 floor-board, and two Crystal Palace prize supers, can be had of Mr. James 

 Lee, Bagahot, for £1 17s. Gd, but you can have a still cheaper hive on the 

 same principle, uf Mr. Abbott, Hanwell, W , for 6a. 6d. We have both these 

 hives and can hardly imagine anything better. Common English bees are 

 very good indeed. Doctors differ as to whether they or the beautiful Italian 

 bees are superior in point of honey-gathering powers. Fifteen shillings is 

 not too much to pay for a thoroughbred Italian (or Ligurian) queen. 



Bees in Common Hives (B. L. B.).— Let your bees swarm naturally, and 

 put the swarms into the hives you wish them to filL Probably they will 

 swarm twice, but if they swarm once only you may fill another hive by driv- 

 ing all the bees out of the old hive into it three weeks after the first swarm 

 shall be had. Thus two good swarms will be obtained, and the honey from 

 the old stock. If a second come off naturally you will have bees to put into 

 your three new hives ; but do not attempt to divide a swarm with a view to 

 multiply your stocks. Neither can a stock be created by placing a bit of 

 broodcomb in an empty hive without a swarm. Brood requires botti warmth, 

 and food, and will perish in the absence of bees to impart them. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSEBVATI0N8, 



Cauoek Square, London. 

 Lat. 61° 82' 40" N. ; Long. 0^ 8' 0" W. ; Altitude, 111 feet. 



REMARKS. 

 14th.— White frost early ; then bright till 9 A.M., when it came over very dork, 



and so continued until II a.m. ; bright and fine afterwards. 

 15th. — Fine morning; day rather dull at times. 

 16th. — Cloudy morning, but fine pleasant day. 

 17th. — White frost; miaty early; bright warm day; misty evening. 

 18th. — Cold in early morning, with traces of frost ; beautifully fine day. 

 19th. — Warm and bright throughout the day. Air very dry, as the foUowing 

 figures prove :— 



9 a.m. 



11.30 



0.80 pm. 



l.SO P.M. 



2.10 P.M. 



S.O P.M. 



5.U P.M. 



y.o P.M. 

 2Utli. — Air not so dry, nor so clear 



evening air quite thick; clearer at night. 

 A very fine and absolutely rainless week. — G. J. Symons. 



son temperature lower; and in the 



COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— April 21. 



A slight improvement in trade has token place, rough goods being in very 



fair request. Continental supplies are much favoured by the present weather, 



and comprise Asparagus, Beann, frame Potatoes, Artichokes, young Carrots, 



Turnips, the usual varieties of Cos and Cabbage Lettuces, Endives, and Green 



Peas. 



fruit. 



Apples jBiere 



Cbestnnts Dushel lU 



Filberts Ih, U 



Cobs lb. 



Grapes, hothouse lb. 1- 



Lemons =^ 10") 8 



Melons ea*>" " 



B. d. B. d. 



6toS 6 



Oranges Ip- 100 



Pears, kitctien doz. 



dessert doz. 



Pine Apples lb. 



Plums k sieve 



Walnuts ir lUO 



ditto bushel 



Artichokes dozen 



Asparagus ^^''i?^ 



French bundle 



Beans. Kidney.... ^ mo 



Bruad bushel 



Beol, Red dozen 



Broccoli bundle 



Brussels Sprouts i sieve 



Cabbage dozen 



Carrots bunch 



Capsicums V 100 



Cauliflower dozen 



Celery bundle 



Coleworts.. doz. bunches 

 Cucumbers each 



pickling dozen 



Endive dozen 



Fennel bunch 



Garhc lb. 



Herbs bunch 



Horseradish bundle 



VEGETABLES. 



B d. s. d. 

 OtoG 



10 

 15 



Leeks bunch 



Letluce dozen 



Muabruuma poltle 



Mustard & Creaa..punnft 

 onions bushel 



pickling quart . 



Parsley..,, doz. bunches 



Paramps dozen 



Peas quart 



Potatoes butihel 



Kidney do. 



Radishes., doz. bunches 



Rhubarb bundle 



Salsafy bundle 



Scorzonera bundle 



Seakale basket 



shallots lb. 



Spinach bushel 



Tumatoes dozen 



Turnips bunch 



Vegetable Marrowb..doz. 



