416 



JOUENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGK GARDENER. 



[ November 5, 1874. 



board, leaving a space of G inches only between the top of the 

 stock hive and the bars of the aJj aster. In the two sides of the 

 hive are let-in broad racks of hard wood, and in the top box two 

 catches, taking into these racks, to retain the box at any height. 

 Windows give a full view at the back and sides of the adjuster 

 when in any position ; and lifting it causes no disturbance what- 

 ever to the bees, which continue to work uninterruptedly during 

 this simple operation. Perhaps I may modify the dimensions; 

 for, since inspecting the hives in the late Exhibition I have, as 

 well as many others, picked up many hints respecting sizes and 

 other details which maj' be advantageously applied to this hive ; 

 but the arrangement of frames in the stock box and bars in the 

 adjuster have been carefully carried out almost from the first, 

 as well a? the attachment of small pieces of guide comb or im- 

 pressed sheets of wax to the bars. 



After all there are disadvantages accompanying these large 

 supers. There is always great danger of combs averaging 10 or 

 12 lbs. weight separating from their attachments, for, of course, 

 frames are not available in the top box ; and again, the difficulty 

 of slinging the honey from such very large combs, unless one of 

 these valuable pieces of bee-furniture were made specially for 

 them, somewhat larger, unfortunately, than they already are. 

 No slingers were dreamed of when this hive was invented. 

 Then there is thegreat difficulty of sending into the market boxes 

 of Buch weight and dimensions, but for your own table nothing 

 could be more beautifiil than the sealed combs cut out as re- 

 quired. At all events one adjusting hive in your apiary, with 

 your whole attention when necessary devoted to it, would be a 

 source of great pleasure. There is no hive better adapted for 

 the uncertainty of a season's honey harvest. Tou might obtain 

 the first 6 inches in depth in a poor season, or perhaps half the 

 depth of the adjuster in a tolerable one; or, again, the whole 

 depth of 18 inches in a good season. 



I think I may look forward, if all is well, to show and explain 

 one of these hives at the next Crystal Palace bee show ; and 

 also, perhaps, see whether I cannot induce my bees to give me 

 a few of the beautiful shallow octagons similar to those which 

 our Scotch friends exhibited. Perhaps they will at the same 

 time obtain a few bell-glasses of honey equal or superior to the 

 one exhibited by — Geobge Pox, Kingsbridge. 



In your report of the Crystal Palace Bee Show of Sept. 17th 

 notice is taken of the excellent hive exhibited by Mr. C. N. 

 Abbott — a veritable Woodbury with improvements, costing 

 only 3s. You add, "If the spirits of the departed can take an 

 interest in things mundane, how gratified the shade of our late 

 esteemed correspondent Mr. Woodbury must be at finding that 

 no excuse can now be made by the poor man that scientific 

 hives are too expensive for his use." Now I think it is only 

 justice to our departed friend to say that complete Wood- 

 bury hives were manufactured by his carpenter at the small 

 cost of 2s. These cheap hives, however, were only dignified 

 with the name of packing-cases and used by Mr. Woodbury as 

 such, but they were as good as the cheap hives exhibited at the 

 Crystal Palace, and scarcely to be distinguished from them. 

 One of these packing-cases and a copy made by myself have 

 been in constant use in my apiary for ten years ; and although 

 the wood is only half an inch thick, they have proved them- 

 selves as good for wintering stocks as the more expensive and 

 most substantially constructed boxes. I prefer thin-wooded 

 hives for bee-sheds, as they need no ventilation when their 

 crown boards are covered with carpet or any warm material. 

 -R. S. 



Entries at the Cbystal Palace Show. — We are informed 

 that these amount to no less than 4373. 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Fowl's Crop Hasd {Constant lieader). — If the crop is hard and does not 

 empty itself in the proper roanuer, there is Bomething that has difliculty in 

 passing into the gizzard. It is generally hay, hair, or dry grass, which forma 

 a ball; at other times it is something indigestible that has been swallowed, 

 or something that awells liie sponge or cork. We have known an excessive 

 meal of wheat, followed by copious drinking, produce the same effect. We 

 have known cases where the crop has burst outwardly from the swelling of 

 food within it. As soon as you have read this get some warm, almost hot 

 water, and pour it down the bird'n throat, holding its head up that you may 

 be sure it reaches the crop; manipulate it delicately. If you find it becomes 

 softer continue, and as soon as it yields to presaure then give a tablespoonful 

 of castor oil. This generally gives relief. If nothing will soften it, then it 

 must be opened. Take a sharp knife or razor, and having picked the feathers 

 from the front of the crop in a straight line downwards, cut it open, remove 

 the contents, wash the inside with warm water; sew up first the crop, and 

 then the outer skin ; be sure to sew thera separately; sew them with coarse 

 thread, and rub the suture thoroughly with grease. The bird must be fed for 

 some time on gruel, and will soon recover. 



noDDAN Cock's Top-knot (Old Subscriber).— li is not a fault for a 

 Houdan cock to have such a top-knot as you describe. It is always made of 

 straight hackle f cithers. Poland and all crested-fowl fanciers have dreamed 

 for years of a cock with a hen's top-knot, but it has not been accomplished. 

 It is not the rule that colour comes with age in a Houdftn cock, but it often 



does. You may overlook the dirty buff and yellow, but red feathers ore 

 inadmissible. 



Points of Game Bantams {Wei'khj Rt'ader). — First be careful both cock 

 and pullet have legs of the same colour, then see that your cock has a scanty 

 tail, but with well-developed sickles; the tail should be carried sloping; the 

 wings close up, clipped to the body, andnot drooping like a Sebright; plumage 

 hard, and the condiiion startling. 



Fowl's Merits (fl. H.).—MX the other parts being equal, weight should 

 decide in favour of the older bird. 



ExHiBiTrNG Poultry {R. S. A.). — Shows are now so much better conducted, 

 and the feeding is so well understood, fowls do not suffer as they used to do. 



Canaby at the Nottingham Show. — In answer to several communi- 

 cations, we are of opinion that even if there is not a prohibitory rule, yet 

 those who exhibit birds not their own act deceptively- If the birds win 

 prizes the birds give a recommendatory character to the aviaries of the 

 exhibitors, and purchaeersareliableto bemisled. If "not the EXHiBrTOR's 

 OWN " were written legibly on a card and fixed on the cage, and the same 

 printed in the catalogue, there would be no objection to the showing another 

 owner's birds. 



Old Combs in Hxye (I. /. M.). — The combs in your hive are too old and 

 black for further use to bees. A swarm next year will do better in an emptj 

 hive than amid such combs. Melt them down for wax. 



Bees Deserting their Hite {A. Z.). — It is quite impossible to say 

 where your deserter bees are gone. They may have returned to the other 

 hive, but if they were in possession of the new hive in August, two months 

 after swanning, it is hardly likely. Have you been infefcted with wasps? 

 So me hiTcs about here have been ruined utterly by them. 



METEOBOLOaiCAL OB3EBVATION3. 



Caudeh Square , London. 



Lat. 51° 32' 40" N. ; Long. 0° 8' 0" W. ; Altitude 111 feet. 



REMARKS. 

 28th. — Foggy early, but soon cleared off; the day warm and fine; but rain at 



night. 

 29th. — Morning fair, but dull ; afternoon fine ; but the evening wet. 

 SOth. — Rain in the night and morning, and great part of the day; fine for a 



short time between 2 and 3 p.m., but wet afterwards. 

 Slat. — Bather hazy and damp forenoon ; drier in the afternoon and evening. 

 Nov. Ist. — A slightly dull day, and colder than it has been lately; foggy at 



night. 

 2nd. — Damp morning ; rain in the past night ; but fair by 11 a.m. ; and 



beautifully fine afternoon and evening. 

 Very little difference in the temperature from that of last week, but the 

 range has been rather less; there having been little sunshine the maxima 

 have been lower, and the nights ha\-ing been cloudy or foggy the : 

 have been higher.— U. J. Symons. 



COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— November 4. 

 The supply continues good, and meets every requirement, so that prices are 

 nearly statiunai'y* &ud do not influence the general transactions to any extent. 

 Continental produce cornea to hand in good condition, and receives consider- 

 able attention, especially for the northern markets. 



Apples ft sieve 1 oto 1 6 



FUberta lb. 1 16 



Cobs lb. 1 16 



Grapes, hothouse lb. 16 6 



Lemons ¥^100 8 16 



Melons each 2 6 



Oranges ^100 12 21 



S. d. B, d. 



Chestnuts bushel OtoO 



Pears, kitchen aoz. 2 B 



dessert doz. 10 8 



Pine Apples lb. 3 6 



Plums 4 sieve 3 4 



Walnuts bubhel 10 16 



ditto ^100 10 2 



Artichokes doz. 



Asparagus ^100 C 



French 



Beans, Kidney.... i sieve 1 



Broad bushel 



Beet, Red doz 1 



Broccoli bundle 9 



Brussels Sprouts 4 sieve 2 



Cabbage doz. 1 6 



CarrntA bunch 4 



Capsicums ^100 



Cauliflower doz. 8 



Celery — bundle 1 6 



Coleworts.. doz. bunches 2 6 



Cucumbers each 4 



pickling doz. 



Endive doz. 2 



Fennel bunch 8 



Garlic lb. 6 



Herbs bunch 8 



HorseradiBh bundle S 



VEGETABLES, 

 d. B.d. 

 0to6 

 



Leeks 



Lettuce doz. 



Muanruoma pottle 



Mustard & Cress. .punnet 

 Onions bushel 



pickling quart 



Parsley per doz. bunches 



Parsnips doz. 



Peas quart 



Potatoes bushel 



Kidney do. 



Radishes., doz. bunches 



Rhubarb bundle 



Salsafy bundle 



Scorzonera bundle 



Sea-kale basket 



Shallots lb. 



Spinach bushel 



Tomatoes doz. 



Turnips bunch 



Vegetable Marrows ..doE, 



B. d. B. d. 



StoO 



1 a 







