281 



JOURNAL OF HORTECULTUaE AND COTrAGE GARDENER. 



[ Sep^.ember 23 1375. 



seen one-third more Ligurians go home from work in a given 

 time than the blaokg. I have such belief in their superiority 

 that I intend tD liguriauiae the whole of my stocks this year. — 



J. H. HsniN'GTON. 



FOUL BKOOD. 



Foul brood may be found in many hives, and as it is destruc- 

 tive of all healthy action in them, bee-masters should be con- 

 stantly on the watch for its existence. Three weeks after swarm- 

 ing and the month of September, when all healthy brood has 

 been hatched, are the two seasons for thorough examinations of 

 hives. If then some cells be found with lids on them strong 

 suspicion should be excited. If the point of a skewer of wood 

 be pressed into these covered cells the foul brood or offensive 

 matter will become apparent. It has recently been described 

 as like the gravy of red meat in colour and appearance. Every 

 hive containing foul brood should be condemned and not kept 

 as stock. The bees should be united to other stocks or put into 

 clean hives and fed. 



The late Mr. Quinby was of opinion that the honey of hives 

 infected with foul brood carried the infection to other hives if 

 given to their bees. Oa this point we differ in opinion from 

 him. We have had swarms naturally and artificially from hives 

 containing foul brood, and though bees in swarming carry off as 

 much honey as they can, we have never found them carry the 

 disease to other hives. We have seen hives so extensively 

 diseased with foul brood that the honey could not be taken from 

 the combs separately by the hand of man. We have allowed 

 the bees of other hives to clean the honey from the brood in 

 such cases, but have never known the disease carried with the 

 honey. Mr. Qiiiuby was an able apiarian and an independent 

 thinker, but on this point I think he and others have failed to 

 furnish proof in support of their opinions. The readers of this 

 Journal will do well to examine their hives as soon as possible 

 to find if foul brood is in them. It it exists at all now it will 

 spread as soon as breeding commences. It is an incurable dis- 

 temper. — A. Pettigrew. 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Showikg a Dubbed Game Cockerel {C. T*. 5.).— A Game cock may be 

 shown after he hai been dubbed a fortnight, or even earlier. It is wonderful 

 how soon they heal. A hackle feather should be laid on each cat ; it stays 

 the bleeding and helps to heal the wound. We often turn birds out that have 

 been only dabbcl four days, and but for the black mai-ks that show the future 

 cicatrix no one would know they had been operated upon. We have no doubt 

 the lumping you mention proceeds from some injury, though it may not be 

 perceptible; perbaps a thorn, perhaps a small piece of glass. Pasis your thumb 

 over the foot, and see if he sbrinbs. Handle the leg from the foot to the in- 

 sertion of the thigh bone to see if there be any tender part. If there is 

 nothing to bo felt there is a sprain somewhere else, and he will get over it. 



Fo'WLs' Livers Ulcerated (WestcrofO.—'IhG fowls yon mention should 

 be very strong. Wo do not think your feeding is good enough for hens that 

 are laying and sitting. Insufficient or poor food always induces disease of the 

 liver in poultry or Game. That is tbe cause of the death of your birds. Eice 

 is bad food. If you make up your mind to feed only once per day, it should 

 be towards evening. In the morning a grass run affords three times as much 

 food as it does in the evening. They should be induced to seek it by having 

 nothing given to them. They have the day before them. If you feed just 

 before they roost you then enable them to get through the lengtheuinsj nights 

 "Trithout damage. We, however, advise yon to feed night and morning, maize 

 and barley mixed. An asphalt floor is bad, beoanse it is unyielding to tbe 

 feet of the birds, and because it affords no scratch. It causes disease of the 

 feet and knees, and induces paralysis. Gravel or road grit or common earth 

 mixed with some chalk are the best things. 



Mr. Bcrnell's Buff Cochin Cock (W. J. F.).— Both sums are correct, 

 for there wero two offers for the bird in question from different parties. 

 Neither of them was accepted by the owner. 



The Chief Points of a Goldfinch (C. F, F.).— The all-important point 

 in a Goldlinch, as in all others of the feathered tribe, is condition of plumaije, 

 without which other points of perfection are almost entirely useless. A cock 

 bird should be of good size for exhibition purposes, which is preferable to a 

 small one, and shows off the following points to greater advantage: — Head, 

 bright scarlet red, showing no white speck or mark on the throat, tbe back 

 part of the head and neai- tho back sides of the neck deep black ; beak, lar^e 

 and pointed; breast, the centre white, with the sides of the breast pure 

 brown; back rich brown; cheek and sides of neck white, the whiter the 

 better, in fact distinctness of colour throughout is much to be considered. 

 Larger coverts well-marked with pure yellow; feathers close and in good 

 bright condition ; wings and tail and feet perfect ; the thighs greyish ; 

 pinion feathers velvet black, with whitish tips, which ai-a smallest in old 

 birds; tail slightly forked and black, the two and sometimes tlie three outer 

 feathers on each side having a white spot in the centre of the inner web. In 

 some parts birds mai-ked as last specified are termed " three by-sixes," owing 

 to having three feathers on each 6ide of the tail spotted or mooned with 

 white. 



An Afflicted Parrot IMrs. Mallory, Woodcote).— From the remarks in 

 your letter we fear there is faint hopes of your Parrot ultimately recovering. 

 The affection in the throat and whistling and wheezing noise are very un- 

 favourable symptoms. Very likely the apparent obstruction in the throat 

 will become more evident, and a spasmodic ht may follow. If so, lay hold 

 of the bird around the throat and immerse it in a warm bath, and after 

 holding it in two or three minutes, syringe or spurt over the bird's neck a 

 little brandy. You may admiuister a few drops of castor oil. If yon have 

 ione 80 supply it with bread and milk as a general diet, and give a little ripe 

 frnit. No meat. Water will not be required. Discontinue the Indian corn, 

 more especially as the Parrot appears to suffer more after partaking of it. 

 For healthy birds it is good sound food, bat should be soaked before giving. 



When the sun ia shining at middaj give the bird a shower bath, after which 

 place the bird and cage before the fire, so that tho Parrot may baciaie warm. 

 Let tbe bird have rest by kee^piug the cage covered. A little weak brandy 

 would ho better than sherry, particularly whei the bird appears to suffer 

 after its food. The bird's illness in the cause of its ceasiug to talk. 



Sunflower Leaves for Rabbits (P. M.}. — The leaves and stalks are 

 good food for any animal that will cat them. 



Bees in Hollow Teee (D. Brcen). — As the hole or aperture in the tree 

 leading to the cavity containing the bees and honey ia so eratU (2J inches 

 wide), the easiest way of securing the honey would hi by killing the bees 

 with powder or brimstone, and then placiog a strong hive near the place, the 

 bees of which would soon fetch the honey from the tree and store it up in 

 their own hive. ■ Every particle of honey would be removed with but little lose. 



Feeding Beks (F. J.}. — By feeding your bees slowly, or at the rate of 1 lb. 

 of sugar every two days, they will be kept in a state of excitement for weeks, 

 and store-up very little food. By giving every hive 3 lbs. per day, the moat 

 of it will be stored-up, the excitemsnt in the hivo, tho cause of fighting and 

 defence, will la'^t but a short time, and the bees will speedily sett e- down to 

 the quietness of winter life. If you do not wish to promote breeding and 

 the consumption of food in your hives, the more rapidly they are led the 

 better in autumn. 



Wasps (F. W. H.).— Without being certain that we are correct, we have 

 always considered that wasps do not increase in size after emerging from the 

 pupa state. There are wasps of various sizes in each nest; the females are 

 the largest, and there are of them two sizes. These are produced later than 

 tho workers, and may have given rise to the opinion that wasps grow. 



19 th.- 



20 th,- 

 2lst.- 



morning ; fine in the middle of the day, but dark and close in the 

 evenin:? and night. 



-Misty till Sam, then fine, but close and uncomfortable ; cooler at 

 night. 



-Fine morning, but dull after 3 p.m., and rain abont 6 p.m. 



-Fine morning ; showery from noon till 2 p.m., and fine afterwards. 



■Miify and very dark all day; rain commenced aboat 7 p.m., and con- 

 tinued till nearly midnight, at times very henvy. 

 mean morning temperature rather higher than daring tbe last few 

 but the air damper. Very heavy rain on night of 21st.— G. J. Symons. 



COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— September 22. 

 A HE.\^T supply and trade quiet have prevented common goods being 

 cleared as well as we could wish. Foreign produce remains the Fame as last 

 week; but a large quantity of St. Michael Pines have just arrived, which wilt 

 fetch low prices on account of the hot weather we have experienced lately. 

 A better supply of Kent Cobs and Filberts this week at downward prices. 



Apples ) sieve 1 to 1 6 



Apricots dozen 



Cherries lb. 



OhPstnuts bushel 



(Warrants i sieve 



Black do. 



Figs dozen 6 2 



Filberta lb. 5 9 



Cobs lb. 5 9 



Gooseberries quart 



Grapes, hothouse.... lb. 8 5 



Lfimons ^100 8 12 



Melons each 10 5 



Molberries lb. 



Nectpjines dozen 1 



Oranges ^100 12 



Peaches dozen 1 



Pears, kitchen .... dozen 



dessert dozen 1 



Pine Apples lb. 3 



Plums J sieve 1 



Quinces dozen 



Raspberries lb. 



Strawberries lb. 



Walnuts bnsbel 8 



ditto ^100 I 



VEGETABLES. 



Artichokes dozen 3 



Asparagus ^100 



French bundle 



Beans, Kidney. . . . i sieve 1 



Broad I sieve 



Beet, Red dozen 2 



Broccoli bundle 



Brussels Sprouts J sieve 



i'abbage dozen 



Carrots bunch 



Cap«*icums l(»'IO) 1 



Cauliflower dozen 2 



Celery bundle 1 



('oleworts. . doz. bunches 2 

 Cucumhers each 



pickling dozen 1 



Endive dozen 1 



Fennel bunch 



Garlic lb. 



Herbs bunch 



Horseradish.,.., . bundle 1 



d. f 



Oto 























9 







Leeks bunch 



Lettuce dozen 



Mushrooms pottle 



Mustard & Cress pnonet 

 Onions bushel 



pickling quart 



Parsley.... doz. bunches 



Parsnips dozen 



Peas quart 



Potatoes bushel 



Kidney do. 



Radishes., doz. bunches 



Rhubarb bnirlle 



Salsafy bundle 



Scorzonera bundle 



Seakale basket 



Shallots lb. 



Spinach bnahel 



Tomatoes dozen 



Turnips bunch 



Vegetablfl Marrows doz. 



A 



6tol 



8 



21) 



6 12 





 

 

 















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d. R. d 

 4 too 

 6 1 



