442 



JOURNAL OF HOBTIGULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEB. 



r Jane 8, 1875. 



We do not discontinne our observations and experiments, and 

 now and again we learn eomething. Doctors are often in their 

 opinions wide as tlie poles asunder, yet like your authority they 

 are both "confident." A short time since two men wrote on 

 consumption. Mr. B said salt was a cure, and often a preven- 

 tive. Mr. H said the disease would be unknown it no one ate 

 salt. Twenty years ago two professional men came to us, asking 

 permission to pick out of a large number two experimental sets 

 of eggs. We agreed on condition that we should be told the 

 intention and the result. One wished for all cocks, the other 

 pallets. Both hatched a mixtiire of sexes. The old theory was 

 and is, the cock is hatched from a pointed, the pullet from a 

 round egg. Old cockers in the north and north-western parts 

 of England still profess to choose sittings to produce all cocks. 

 They are never right throughout, and they never publisli their 

 failures. Our experience goes to tell us that the first eggs of 

 the season — that is, the first laid eggs of the year, produce more 

 oocka than the subsequently laid eggs ; we cannot tell why, nor 

 can we discover any ditlerence between the first eggs and others 

 that come after. At the end of five days or a week we can tell 

 the fertile from the bad eggs by the first development of the 

 germ of life : it is plainly visible. Beyond that our knowledge 

 does not go. We promise we will go into some other experi- 

 ments, and we will communicate the result. Our present belief 

 is that it is impossible to foretell the sex of the chicken from any 

 examination of the egg. It is a pity it has never been tried 

 under circumstances that might bring about an authoritative 

 settlement of the question. It was tried by the ancients, but 

 although they have left on record the means employed and 

 believed in by those who used them, we have no record of 

 success, nor any rule that can be followed now. 



There are always amateurs who wish for young birds to bring 

 up under caged adults that have properties or talents they wish 

 to perpetuate. It is rather a troublesome process, and the young 

 in a nest are painfully alike. To rear a number of hens would 

 be labour lost. Practised and clever men who make such things 

 their study have discovered that at the time when the young 

 are abont half fledged, the top bird (and one is always above the 

 others) is always a cock.] 



BOILING EGGS. 



Mb. Eadclyffe, on page 402, gives us the Oxford mode of pre- 

 venting the white becoming tough. I have long followed 

 another method — namely, putting the egg into cold water and 

 allowing it just to come to a boil. Brande puts the coagulating 

 point of white of egg as low as l.'iO^ and it is certain that 212° 

 is quite unnecessary. Neither Mr. Radolyffe's plan, however, 

 nor mine will succeed unless there is a suiificient quantity of 

 water. The minimum quantity might be found out by experi- 

 ment. In my plan also care must be taken that the fire is not 

 too fierce, or the water will boil before the egg is cooked. — G. S. 



WEAK STOCKS. 



I HAVE two boxes of bees standing by the side of each other> 

 one weighing 20 lbs. without box and floor-board, but having 

 very few bees in it ; and I do not see them work or take any- 

 thing into the hive. I can see in at the window that there is 

 plenty of honey. ShaU I put a swarm into it if I have one, or 

 what would you advise me to do ? 



The other hive has a very small number of bees, and they have 

 no new comb, but only a few pieces made last year. I have 

 another hive which did nothing last year, it neither swarmed 

 nor worked in the super, aud they do not appear very promising 

 this year. I have some stocks doing very well. There have been 

 several swarms near me, but I have uot had one yet. — V. G. 



[Your three stocks are in a bad way. We should advise you 

 to examine the two first hives with " plenty of honey." Cut out 

 any mouldy or defective combs you may see, and put the first 

 swarms into them ; they will start well, and probably give you 

 a lot of honey later on. Do the same with the hive containing 

 only a few pieces of comb. You need not trouble about the few 

 bees that remain, as they will probably join the swarm without 

 the loss of a single life. Should there be any queen, it will 

 either be conquered if weak, or conquer and reign if strong.] 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



WlaHiW PooiTRT Society.— Is it customary with this Society Dot to pay 

 prize money to competitors after they have Rained the prize V I competed at 

 the last Show, gaioed two prizes, have written three times for the prize 

 money and have not got it.~J*jiE3 Kirkund, Sleicarton. 



Bdllfinohes Taken in the Nest (Hr. J. C.).— The best food on which 

 to rear young BulUiQohes when taken in the nest is rape seed mixed with 

 stale roll or buckwheat, grita, and a little plain biscuit, each steeped in milk. 

 The young should be removed when about twelve to fourteen days old, when 

 the tail feathers begin to push. Feed the birds early iu the morning and 

 frequcatly daring the day. If it is intended to learn the birds to pipe a tuue, 

 keep tliem entirely out of the sound of all other birds, as they quickly acquire 



any harsh notes, and which they will rarely ever quit. The male birds can 

 be known in the nest by the tinge of red ou the breasts, if you wish to select 

 them. The hen birds will also learn to pipe, but not so well as the males. 

 ^Mfen young Bulllinches be^^in to feed themselves they will get into voice and 

 pipe in their natural way. Yourjg birds should be treated tenderly, and they 

 gOon learn to know those who attend upon them. 



Stock of Driven Bees— Bees Clustered Ootside (G. L.). — We think 

 that your hive which was peopled in August last year, and which has droiies 

 in it now, is thriving and healthy. Probably the bees bailt some drone combs 

 near the centre of the hive, which are now yielding drones before the hive is 

 full. If it does not lill aud work better soon, you may suspect that something 

 is wrong. An examination of it internally will enable you to discover whether 

 it has lost its queen or is otherwise affected. Your other two hives are ready 

 for swarming, and will probably swarm on the return of warm weather. In 

 nineteen cases and nineteen seasons out of twenty such hives swarm. Cluster- 

 ing at thedooraof hives (rather sraaU) is generally a preliminary to swarming, 

 and not an indication that the bees will not swarm. If you have not time or 

 patience to watch and wait for the bees swarming of their own accord, you 

 could resort to the artificial swarming, which is so easy of accomplishment. 



Cheapest and Best Hive (J. Berrij). — No one can answer your question 

 without knowing whether you wish for honey or swarms, whether to see the 

 bees working, or whether you wish to prevent swarming. The cheapest hive 

 on the depriving system is Payne's straw hive and straw super. 



METEOROLOQICAIi OBSEBVATIONB, 



Camden Sqoare, London. 



Lat. 61° 82' 40" N. ; Long. 0° 8' 0" W. ; Altitode, 111 Jeot. 



REMAKES. 

 26th.— Rather dull till 4 p.m., after that time fine and pleasant. 

 27th. — Fine early, but Boon becoming dull, though still fair, and bo continued 



all day. 

 28th. — CJoudy early, rain at 9 a.m., dull morning ; fine for a ehort time in th© 



middle of the day ; heavy rain at 9 30 p m., and slighter rain after. 

 29th. — Bain in the past night, early morniog, and slight occasionally during 



the day, which was dark, cold, and disagreeable. 

 30th. — A very pleasant day, bright and sunny but not hot. 

 Slst. — A very line day throughout, but rather cool for the season, the wind 



being easterly. 

 June Ist. — A complete summer day, bright, sunny, and warm. 



Colder by 2'^ than the preceding week except under ground, which has only 

 decreased 0.2". The wt^ather generally pleasant, but rather cold for the time 

 of year.— G. J. Symons. 



COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— Jone 2. 

 The markets have been well supplied during the week, and a free supply 

 maybe looked fur now both in iruit and vegetables, the Contiueut and 

 Channel Islands sending heavy consigoments, especially of Early Ashleaf, 

 which are now eelling at 14s. to 21s. per cwt. The last cargo of St. Michael 

 Pines by one of the Mail; steamers has been disposed of at fair rates for the 

 season. 



FRUIT. 



Applea i sieve 



Apricots box 2 



Ulierries do. 2 



Chestuuts bushel 



Currants i sieve 



Black do. 



Figs dozen 8 



Filberts lb, u 



Cobs lb. 



Gooseberries quart 4 



Grapes, hothouse.... lb. 3 6 



Lemons Tf^ KiO 8 



Melons each 3 6 



i. d. s. d. 

 ; 6 to 3 6 

 





 

 

 



12 

 

 2 

 

 12 

 12 

 10 



4 

 

 

 

 

 



s. d. s. d. 



Mulberries lb. to 



Necarinea dozen 15 



Oranges i^lOO 5 



Peaches dozen 15 



Pears, kitchen.... dozen 



dessert dozen 



Pine Apples lb. 4 



Plums i sieve 



Quinces. dozen 



Raspberries lb. 



Strawberries lb. 3 



Walnuts bushel 8 



ditto ^100 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 





 3 

 8 



1 



SO 



14 



3) 











8 













 16 

 12 



1 6 



VEGETABLES. 



Artichokes dozen 



Asparagus ^100 3 



Frentih bundle 



Beans. Kidney.... 1*100 2 



Broad bushel 



Beet, Red dozen 1 



Broccoli bundle 



Brussels Sprouts J sieve 



Cabba^'e dozen 2 



Carrots bunch 



Capsicums ^+ 100 



Cauliflower dozen 



Celery bundle I 6 



Coleworts.. doz. bunches 2 



Cucumbers each 6 



pickling dozen 



Endive dozen 2 



Fennel bunch 8 



Garlic lb. G 



Herbs bunch 3 



Horseradisb bundle 



d. B. d. 

 3 Oto6 

 G 











6 







4 



















I) 



Leeka bunch 



Lettuce dozen 



Mushrooma pottle 



Mustard & Cresa. .punnet 

 Onions baahel 



pickling quart 



Parsley.... doz. bunches 



Parsnips dozen 



Peas quart 



Potatoes bushel 



Kidney do. 



Radishes., doz. bunches 



Rbubarb bundle 



Salsafy bundle 



Scorzonera bundle 



Seakale basket 



shallots lb. 



Spinach bushel 



Tomatoes dozen 



Turnips bunch 



Vegetable Marrows, .doz. 



s. d. 8. d. 

 4 too 

 10 2 



