312 



JOUBNAIi OP HORTIC0LTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 



1 October 1, 1874. 



given in these pages by unimpeachable eye-witnesses to the fact 

 that bees will occafiionally tolerate two queens in one hive, or 

 what is perhaps equally strange, that two queens will live peace- 

 ably together, sharing the duties of royalty and maternity. It 

 is only another instance of the old saying, that "there is no rule 

 without an exception," albeit it is equally true that " the excep- 

 tion proves the rule." Once only in my experience have I met 

 with a reported instance of a like kind, but it was hardly so well 

 authenticated. 



But it is chiefly in the science of bee-keeping as a profitable 

 enterprise, and the attention which has been drawn to it 

 publicly, that the year 1874 will be a notable one among bee- 

 keepers. The establishment of a British Apiarian Society is a 

 great fact, and it is to be hoped that no petty jealousies will 

 stand in the way of its receiving the adhesion and support of all 

 lovers of the "busybee." It has always struck me as unaccount- 

 able that England should have been so behindhand in this 

 respect, when our American and German brothers and cousins 

 have for so long set us a good example. Pray do not let us pass 

 by the present opportunity of retrieving our character for enter- 

 prise, but join the new confraternity with heart and purse. It 

 la something to find the Times give space for column after 

 column in consecutive numbers to a report of the Bee Show at 

 the Crystal Palace ; and now we have friendly reports coming 

 in, as from "D.," of Deal, whose tastes are various and extensive, 

 ranging widely in the domain of art-assisted Nature. 



Looking over the entries relating to hive-improvements, t am 

 somewhat surprised to find none in the direction of self-adjust- 

 ing hives, such as would give increase of space in an upward 

 direction by means of a sliding case. Hives of this sort would 

 be invaluable to those bee-keepers whose one object is honey, to 

 the discouragement of swarming. They might be called " tele- 

 scope " hives. I think I recollect some such hive being once 

 described in this Journal, but it seems to have hardly obtained 

 the attention it deserved — the principle of it I mean. Perhaps 

 some of your readers have made trial of a hive of this sort, and 

 would favour us with an account of it. — B. & W. 



BEE-KEEPEK'S CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER, 

 NOVEMBER, AND DECEMBER. 



Under proper management bees require no attention from 

 September till March. Every hive should be examined after 

 brood is all hatched to ascertain if there is any foul brood in it, 

 and also to see if it has bees and honey enough to go well through 

 the winter. Where feeding last month has not been attended 

 to, it should be done as soon as possible. I have so often pointed 

 out the danger of winter feeding that it need not be dwelt upon 

 here. In cold weather bees can neither impart wai-mth nor 

 food to their young ; it is, therefore, desirable to avoid stimu- 

 lating them unseasonably. By feeding them in October, 

 especially if the weather be warm, it is easy to get a late hatch 

 of brood. I frequently tried late feeding with a view to 

 strengthen weak hives, but finding the loss greater than the 

 gain have long since abandoned this practice. 



The earlier autumn feeding is over the better. As soon as it 

 is over, hives should be protected and covered well; indeed 

 bees cannot be kept too warm in winter out of doors. Soft dry 

 hay or grass 3 or 4 inches thick, placed compactly round every 

 hive under the outer covering, is a good protection from the 

 cold of winter. The earliest swarmers last summer in this part 

 of the world were those that were best covered and protected 

 during the previous winter. Last month your readers were 

 advised to contract the doors of their hives to keep out mice. 

 When snow is on the ground bees should be kept in their hives. 

 This cannot be too strongly insisted on. If bees come out when 

 snow is on the ground they fall into it and perish. When there 

 is no snow they may have a winter dance as often as they like. 

 — A. Pettigrew. 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



PtJXLETs Latino (Capt. L,). — It is early, but uot very unusual, therefore 

 we need not trouble you furtber, but are equEilly obliged by your offer. 



Old Bbahma Cock (F. J. C.).— We will not aay the five-year Brahma cook 

 is too old, but we should decidedly prefer something younger. We would not 

 breed from him at that age. 



Aerangement for Poultry- keeping (E. E. D.).— Fifty fowls should 

 have two acres if they are to be kept profitably. The information you quote 

 is quite new to us, and we cannot think it is correct. Small chitikena should 

 be fed at first on boiled egg, bread and milk, cooked meat, curd, and meal. Tbe 

 nest two months tlie chicken will cat more, but its food need not be so costly. 

 It will, however, far exceed three fartbinga per week. The penny per week for 

 an adult is marvellous, and on this email outlay she is to lay from '220 to 284 

 eggs, and these are to be sold at Is. 3rf. per dozen, making £1 4s. Gd. per 

 annum. Cost according to Beaton's penny " Poultrj' Book," ■l.s. Gd. Profit for 

 each hen, £1. As chickens are to cost one halfpenny per week for tn-o months, 

 then three farthings per week for two months, and one penny per week for 

 the rest of life, this will, we tbink, be found a correct calculation. We wish 

 the items of food had been given, with tbe addresnes of those wbo sold them. 

 Wo recollect when homipopatby first came to the surface, it was defined as " a 

 system by which the smallest possible dose was equal in its effects to the 



largest." One of the early humorous prints said that a guardian of the poor, 

 a tlioroaghly scientific man, applied the system to the dietary of the inmates 

 of the wi-rkhouso. He gave six drops of grnel to a pailful of water. The 

 inmates iocreaeed in weight. To gratify one of those philanthropic guardians 

 who are always spoiling the poor, he added to each pailful six drops of rum. 

 They made the inmates so quarrelaome, they were forbidden in future. Some 

 such system must have been invented or discovered for chickens. 



How TO Brand Homing Pigeons {A. K. C.).— The best way is to stamp 

 with printer's ink on the flight feathers of the wing. Get a "die" made 

 with your initials on it, and the number of the Pigeon, or, indeed, any mark 

 on it according to your fancy. With a very simple anangement of an inked 

 flannel pad with which to ink the die, you can hand-stamp the wing. A die- 

 sinker would be the man to make the instrument jou need. 



Belgian Hark Raj3bit — Lop-ear Slightly Wounded iTgnorance). — 

 A thoroughbred first-class Belgian Hare Rabbit should weigh from 7 lbs. to 

 8A lbs. They sometimes reach 9 lbs. They should as nearly as possible ap- 

 proximate to the Hare in colour, shape, aud habit. No visible white. Above 

 all, no lop to the cars. They should be bright hare colour between the 

 shoulders and towards the poll. They should sit as a Hare does in her form. 

 They should carry their ears like a Hare, both upward and dropping. The 

 small piece lost from tbe ear of the double-lop should not prevent you from 

 showing it. In all adjudication, that which is perfect ?«i(s( take precedence of 

 that which is defective, though the defect be the result of accident. There is 

 too great a tendency in the present day to seek for dii^honesty in exhibitions, 

 and to tack on disqualified tickets. It is a pity, aud it is often unjust. Where 

 a feather is wantmg in plumage which may be only of one colour there is 

 room for suspicion, and tbe bird should be passed over ; but where it is as 

 likely to be from accident as design, and where there is apparently nothing to 

 gain by it, it should be very leniently treated. 



Ligurian Bees (M. jj/.).— Your safest course will be to write to the dealers 

 in hives, Ac, who advertise in our columns. 



Feeding Bees (E. M. M.). — Perhaps your simplest plan for feeding your 

 bees is the bottle-feeder, as used and recommended by the late Mr. Woodbury. 

 You can get it from Neighbour & Sons, High Hclborn. Feed with a syrup 

 made by pouring a quart of boiling water on G lbs. of good moist sugar, n 

 too liquid add a little more sugar, if too thick a little more wa!er. Stir well 

 till the sugar is thoroughly dissolved. This is the fnod we are now using 

 ourselves. Bees will fetd from the bottle well in warm weather. The sooner 

 you feed the better. Cover the mouth of the bottle with a bit of coarse leno. 

 (M. N- Carr). — If you wish to preserve your bees in the empty hive, you must 

 feed continuously for a month, giving them as much as they like to consume. 

 They will require about 4U lbs. or 50 lbs. of sugar made up into syrup. Be- 

 member tbey have comb to make as well as to store the food. Unless you do 

 the work thoroughly you will but spend money in vain. 



Refuse in Deserted Hive (O. H.). — The piece of comb you sent from a 

 deserted hive is loaded with bee-bread or pollen, but is in a sweet and natural 

 condition. In this country bees gather far too much pollen, which occupies 

 cells in the centres of hives that would be better employed for breeding 

 purposes. The hive has, we think, lost its queen, and the bees have either 

 deserted it or, more likely, dwindled gradually away The deposit on the 

 board is simply bee-bread which has fallen from the cells while robber bees 

 were extracting honey from them. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, 



Camden Square, London. 

 Lat.5r32'40"N. ; Loag. 0^ «' 0" W. , Altitade 111 feet. 



REMARKS. 



2Srd. — Dull morning, wet forenoon, fair afternoon, and fine evening. 

 '24th. — Very foggy early, clearer by I) a.m., but dull; fine afternoon and 

 25ih. — Hazy morning, but a very bright day aud night. [evening, 



26th. — Very fine warm day, very little movement in tbe air ; hazy evening. 

 27th. — A woi'ra ana rather close day, hazy and dark at times, especially about 



noon, but at times the sun very bright ; lightning at 10 p.m., and rain 



at midnight. 

 28th. — Fine morning and very pleasant day, being much less oppressive than 



the one preceding it. Lunar halo at 9 p.m. 

 29th. — Fine forenoon, but dull afternkou. 



A fine warm week, the 2oth unulually hot for the date; rain still very 



slight. — G. J. tiYMONS. 



COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— September 30. 



No change, a good supply of everything. Trade quiet. 



Apples .J sieve 



Ajincots doz. 



CherrieH t* lb. 



Chestnuts bushel 



Currantrt. ^ sieve 



Black do. 



Fips doz. 



Filberts lb. 



Cobs lb. 



Gooseberries quart 



Grapes, hothouse.... lb. 



Lemons *' 100 



Bl^'luna each 



B. d. B. d. 



1 Otol 6 I Mnlbenies ^Ib. 1 



GOOD Nectarines doz. 3 



Oraoces ^+100 12 u 



Peaches doz. 3 



0, Pears, kitchen toz. 



dessert doE. X 



1 2 G PineApples lb. 2 



10 16 Plums 4 sieve 3 



10 16 Quinces doz. 



Raspberries lb. 



16 6 Strawl>enies ¥*■ lb. 



8 lij Waluuta butbel 10 



^ ij ditto v\m 1 



OtoO 

 6 





 

 



10 n 







4 

 



