464 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDE NEB. 



[ Jane 10, 1875. 



Lowe, nor Btiyboay else, would have repeated the assertiona of 

 all Bcientific bee-keepers to the contrary, without some hesitation 

 at lea'it, even if they were not actually convinced. I know that 

 Mr. Woodbnry up to quite the close of his life was still sceptical 

 on the subject.^B. & W. 



NEW BOOK. 



A Book for Bee-hcepers. B ij AhFRED RnsBBiDoE. 



In his introductory remarks Mr. Rusbridge tells us that " at the 

 special request of a wide circle of apiarian acquaintances " he 

 has "endeavoured to give in as concise and simple a manner as 

 possible a few hints relative to the ways and means necessary 

 to keep bees successfully, to get the maximum of pure honey- 

 comb at a minimnm of care and attention." We think Mr. 

 Rnsbridge has fairly succeeded in his object, and doubt 

 not that all who carry out his suggestions will be rewarded 

 accordingly. 



On the principle that " it is a good divine that follows his own 

 instructions," our author takes his pupil to his apiary at once, 

 describes the history and prospects of hive after hive, with an 

 account of the profits actually obtained. There is nothing very 

 new in the bill of fare set before us, but it is good wholesome 

 diet, which cannot fail to agree with all youthful apiarians 

 gifted with perseverance and a sound judgment. "A net profit 

 averaging from 100 to 300 per cent, annually on the capital in- 

 vested in keeping bees," is temptation enough to set everybody 

 bee-keeping. Good luck, we say, to all who embark in this 

 El-dorado enterprise. 



QUE LETTER BOX. 



Dare Brafmas (R. S.), — Thev are very Rood layers. If yon refer to onr 

 number published last October 29th, you will see fall particulars and wood- 

 cnta. 



Confined Space fdr Fowls (T. W. B. TT.).— There wonld only be room 

 for the number of fowls you propose to keeo to stand in the space you offer 

 lor them. You cannot k^ep in a hou'^e 9 feeb by 6 feet more than seven — a 

 cock and sis hens, i( you desire to keep them healthy. You have no room for 

 a hutch. If, however, you mean to describe the house only, and the fowls 

 are allowed free run, we say you may keep forty in perfect honlth if they are 

 kept clean, but even then we do not advise you to keep Rabbits in the same 

 place. You may lay it down as a rule, that if the health and well-doing of 

 fowls are concerned they mu'ft have a place to themselves, the only ex- 

 ception beinstwhere the roof afforis the convenience for a loft, which may be 

 devoted to Piyef^ns, but it must then be ceiled aud stopped so that no dirt 

 shall (all through. You would improve your house if you increased the ven- 

 tilation by haviog a thorough draught by means of opposite windows that 

 could always be open in warm weather. 



Brahma's Feet Swollen (F. T7.).— You should have told ua the age of 

 the cock. If he is an old bird we do not advise any treat-msnt. If he is young 

 the best thing you can do is to confine him where he can walk on soft grass 

 or a litter of hay. The dark blue comb is a serious symptom. It arises 

 probably from disorders consequent on enforc^ed inability to take exercise of 

 any kind. The corns should be soaked in warm wairer and may then be par- 

 tially picked off. The hole must be cleaned out, even if it is necessary to 

 enlarge it. It cannot heal while there is a gravel stone in it. The bird must 

 have a table- spooiful of cantor oil. and it must be a'icertained thit it has 

 operated effectually. The effect of this will be to remove the purple colour of 

 the comb. His diet must then be entirely of eoff. food, ground oats, or slack 

 barleymeal, occasionally some breid and ale. The feet should be poulticed, 

 and each foot wrapped in wash leather. The poultices shon'd be changed 

 daily as long as they seem necessary, and the bird should be compelled to take 

 some exercise by being driven to get on his feet. 



Croydon Poultry Show.— Mr. A. H. Etches was awarded the second 

 prize in the class for Dark Brahma cocks. Mr, R. Wilkinson informs us that 

 his Archangel Pigeons were "highly commende I," and not Mr. Cresswell's. 



Driving Bees (H. 0. M.). — Drumming is the usual mo^le of driving bees 

 from full hives, and from empty hives they are generally driven out by one 

 blow or thump on the crown of the hive. You did in the end what should 

 have been done at tirst, and you succeeded. In the first attempt you drove 

 the bees from the crown of the hive to its eide, and there they remained, 

 being unwilling to go further. The bottom hive being " dressed " with 

 syrup was no attraction to the swarm, but the dressing rTiSy have bindered 

 the bees from running. Your bees fancied they had run far enough, and 

 their determination to remain where they were has taught you the best and 

 speediest mode of removing bees from one empty hive to another. 



SwiRM— FfRST OR Second? (B. L. B.).— We think the swarm you have 

 is the second one frum your stock of bees. First swarms weigh from 4 lbs. to 

 Vlbs. each, seconds from 21b3. lo 41bs. each. The disappear .nee of the 

 clusters at the dror of your hive and the dimini&hed traffic which you 

 noticed were indications that the first swarm had gone. Neither of your 

 hives will be full enough f.jr supering for some weeks. As soon as a hive 

 begins to be overcrowded a single super should be put on it. If your hive 

 had been properly protected from the rays of the sun the combs would not 

 have melted and fallen down. 



Crested Norwich Canary. — Mr. Geo. J. Barnesby is not correct in his 

 description of fig. 92 when he f^ays Messrs. O. & J. Mackley'e Crested bird was 

 the bird which took fir^t prize last year at the Crystal Palace Show, first and 

 medal at Dadington. It was a hen, clear with dark crest, that the Messrs. 

 Mackley bought at the Norwich Show, and cnly awarded fourth there, 

 which afterward took firflt and medal at Darlingt'-n, not the cock. Nor did 

 it take first or second at Yarmouth or Lowestoft as stated. — W. B. Hovell, 

 Norwich. 



YouN'O TmtusnES Cramped (H. D. C.) — It is not an uncommon oecnr- 

 rence for Thrushes cr BlaokbirdJ either to be afQicted with cramp in their 



claws when brought up in cages where water vessels are continually kept 

 inside. Young birds especially are more liable than thrse of mature age. 

 The continual padiling abont in the damp paralyses their feet and brings on 

 a kind of rheumatism. If you have used a water vessel inside the cage, 

 remove it to the outside so that the birds may have access to it. If the 

 powerless state of their le^'s prevents them reaching the water vessel, supply 

 the birds for a time (until they gain strength in their legs) with the food 

 somewhat moist. Give the birds barleymeal moistened with milk alternately 

 with soaked hrea^, worms and scraped beef occasionally. Each day for a 

 week at least hold or immerse the bird's claws and legs in warm salt and 

 water (not too warm) for three or four minutes each time, and after faking 

 them out gently rub their shanks and claws with brandy in which a pinch of 

 cayenne pepper hai been put. Lower the perches in the cage to within 

 2 inches of the fl^or of the cage, over which should be strewed soft hay or 

 dry moss. Keep the birds dry and warm whilst so powerless in their feet. 

 Thrushes are very fond of bathing, and a bath is very essential, but it should 

 be supplied so that the cage bottom should not r^>main damp for some con- 

 siderable time afterwards. One plan is to attach a small cage — a kind of 

 ante-chamber — containing the bath, hooked on before the opening or doorway* 

 and when the bird or birds have bathed remove it. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, 



Camdzn Sqoare, London. 



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



REMARKS. 

 2nd.— Rather cloudy early, but soon clearing off gave ua a most beautlfol 



day and night. 

 Srd. — Another very fine day, but rather too warm and close to be pleasant ; 



thunder at a distance all the afternoon. 

 4th.— Fine early aud much cooler; fair all day, but rather stormlike in the 



afternoon, and cloudy at night. 

 5tli. — A. very fine day, and very pleasant from there being a cool breeze all 



day. 

 6th. — Very slight rain early, but soon cleared, and was fair all day, though a 



little cloudy between 8 aud 9 p M., and windy at midnight. 

 7th.— Not a pleasant day, being cloudy and very windy ; stormlike in the 



afternoon and evening. 

 8th. — Bright and fine all day, and at times very warm. 

 A fine warm week.— G. J. Symons. 



COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— Jone 9. 

 A LARGE supply of outdoor produce has arrived in the market daring the 

 week, and the supply from under glass has also much improved both in 

 qnalifcy and quantity, the onlv soircity at all felt being in first-class Peaches. 

 Considerable stocks of new P.>tatoes are now on hand fr.»m the Channel 

 Island'^, Malta, and Lisbon, at rates ranging from 12^. to 18s. per offt.; and 

 good old Potatoes can easdy be obtaiaed. 



B. d. 



Apples i eieve 2 Gt 



Apricots. box 2 6 



Cherries do. 2 



Chestnuts bushel 



Currants i sieve 



Black do. 



Figs dozen 8 



Filberts lb. 



Cobs lb. 



Gooseberries quart n 4 



Grape"", hothooae.. .. lb. 3 6 



Lemons ^ UiO 8 



Melons each 3 6 



Mulberries lb. OtoO 



Nec'arines dozen 15 30 



Oranges ti^ 100 5 14 



Peaches doztn 15 3) 



Pears, kitchen.. .. dozen 



dessert dozen 



PineApplea lb. 4 8 



Plums i sieve 



Quince'! dozen 



Raspberries lb. 



Strawberries lb. I 6 



Walnuts bufthel 8 12 



ditto ^100 10 16 



VEGETABLES. 



Artichokes dozen 8 Oto6 



Asparagus 1?^ 100 3 6 



French bundle 



Beana. Kidney.... r*" lOO 2 



Broad bushel 



Beet, Red dozen 2 4 



Broccoli bundle 9 16 



BruMsels Sprouts i sieve 



Cabbage dozen 2 



Carrots bunch 6 8 



Capsicums V 100 



Cauliflower dozen 4 8 



Celery bundle 16 2 



Ccdeworts.. doz. bunches 2 4 



Cucumbers each 6 10 



pickling doz.^n 



Rndive dozen 2 



Ftnnel bunch 8 



Garlic lb. 6 



H<^rbs bunch 8 



Horseradish bundle 4 



Leeks bunch 



liCttuce dozen 



Mushrooms pottle 



Muatard & Cress. .punnet 

 Onions bushel 



pickling quart 



Parsley.... doz. bunches 



Parsnips .. dozen 



Peas quart 



Potatoes bushel 



Kidney do. 



Radishes., doz. bunches 



Rhubarb bundle 



Salsafy bundle 



Scorznnera bundle 



Seakale basket 



Shallots lb. 



Spinach bashel 



Tumatoes dnKen 



Turiiip') bunch 



Vegetable Marrows. .doz. 



B. d. B. d. 

 4 too 

 



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 4 

 

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